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Banned Book Night 2026

ALSO celebrated local authors and the freedom to read at our 4th Annual Banned Book Night on April 17. In our small way, we shone a light on the importance of diversity and free speech through storytelling. Book bans often target marginalized groups and communities. The erasure of these stories deprives us of the opportunity to develop critical thinking and empathy and undermines freedom of thought and expression. 

This year, we had a wonderful panel of authors. Coltrane Seesequasis, Stephanie Anne, Jennifer Whiteford, and Charlotte Gray were each exceptional. We had a breadth of genres and perspectives represented with our diverse author panel. Lady LaProfeta performed her original poems. The audience was mesmerized by her slam poetry. What an extraordinary poet, artist, and advocate. 

We sold 86 tickets. It was a full house. What a wonderful success!

If you missed it, I encourage you to join us next year. 

Thank you to our sponsors and donors, our board of directors, staff and volunteers. Thank you to Octopus Books for joining us and to Chef Ric's for the delicious food. 

We exceeded our fundraising goal of $10,000. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket. I am already looking forward to next year's event. 

Accessibility and Inclusion

Accessibility and inclusion are important to ALSO. Our board of directors and staff strive to bridge the communication gap between Deaf and hearing staff members, creating a culture of collaboration, support and inclusion.  ALSO was asked to talk about the new Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) Service offered through ASIGN.

Continuing Education Graduation

Congratulations to the ALSO students who received their highschool diplomas on June 12, 2025: Rasha, Kenneth, Nick, David, Nisrine, Marcia, Robert, Jessica, Luly, Mohammed, Shadia, Lisbeth, Davika, Yousif, Ozal, Andrew, Walter, Tom, Raymond, Sakeena, Samira, Nicolas, Andrew, Jennifer, Hyani, Kelsea, Sherrady, and Lindsay. We are immensely proud of each one of you. Special congratulations to David who won the Student Success Award, and Robert who won the Student Recognition Award.

Banned Book Night 2025

We hosted our third annual Banned Book Night on Friday, April 11, 2025. This year our event featured local authors, Kevin Hearne, Dr. Monia Mazigh, Suyi Davies Okungbowa and Dancia Kendra Susilo reading from their favourite banned books. The idea for Banned Book Night originally came from conversations about ALSO. We work with adults who feel they don't fit into more mainstream programs and who often struggle to find their voice or place. Books that have been formally banned or shadow-banned are stories that deserve to be told. We aim to give voice to some of these stories. With just over 90 tickets sold and $10,000 raised, ALSO's Banned Book Night was a huge success!

Thank you to the authors who donated their time, talent and voices to our evening. Thank you to our sponsors, ACL Accounting and Consulting,  ASIGN, Boss Electric, Canine Clubhouse, Cooperators Insurance, Karma Dharma, and McCay Duff LLP for supporting this amazing evening. Thank you to our events committee, who were spectacular. Thank you to our volunteers, Mark Underwood, Chris Newton, Shalma Reynolds and the ALSO Board of Directors. Thanks to Greg, Octopus Books, and Christophe Elie for his wonderful music. Thank you to Chef Ric's for the fabulous food. Thank you to the Ottawa Public Library and Sonia Bebbington. Thank you to all of the businesses that donated to our silent auction. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets or donated to support the event. 

Fraud Prevention Workshop

Thank you to RBC for presenting their Fraud Prevention workshop to ALSO's Deaf Adult Upgrading Program. RBC not only provided the presenters, but they paid for the ASL interpreters. The session was well attended and very informative.

Grad Ceremony 2024

Banned Book Night 2024

Photo Credit: Simone Edwards-Forde

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make From the Ashes a great success. We raised just over $11,000!

The evening was entertaining, informative and educational. 'Nathan Burgoine, Kate Heartfield and Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth read excerpts from their chosen banned books. 'Nathan read from Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford. Kate read from Salma Writes a Book by Danny Ramadan. Nili and her daughter read from Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. Denise Deshaw signed an excerpt from And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole. The audience engagement was excellent with much discussion following each reading.

With 80 tickets sold, it was a full house. We were very fortunate to have Christophe Elie play his music throughout the evening. He describes his music as political folk. His performance was exceptional. Our MC, Mark Underwood, came from Montreal to be with us. He volunteered with ALSO many years ago. It was a pleasure to see Mark again. The event was catered by Chef Ric's at the Ottawa Mission. The food was delicious.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Boss Electric, ASIGN, McCay Duff LLP, ACL Accounting and Consulting Services, Cooperators Insurance, Canine Clubhouse.

Thank you to the businesses/authors/artists/supporters that donated silent auction items : Perfect Books, Lawrence Hill (author), Frances Itani (author), Isobel Bisby (supporter), Kevin Scully (supporter), Salon Fiorella, Merivale Vision Care, Vistek Ottawa, Massine’s YIG, Capital Wave Water Polo Club, Kae McColl (artist), Kristen Nguyen (artist), Alexis Boyle (artist), Mama Shell’s Cakes, Jennifer Mae Bennet (makeup artist), Ann McElroy - Ottawa Valley Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild, Powerhaus Fitness Studio, Juice Dudez, Doozy Bougie Candles, True Bijoux, Total Nutrition Diva.

Thank you to the Ottawa Little Theatre for lending us the stage, and the Ottawa Public Library for their display of books. Thank you to everyone who helped with the event and to everyone who bought tickets. It was an amazing night.