Jessica Ruano

“This recognition that we are not alone in our grief—this is what guides me on my healing journey.” Read Jessica’s story, in her own words, of coping with suicide loss, and how community-based #MentalHealth services helped along the way.⤵️ unitedwayeo.ca/news-and-stori…

June 27th is #CanadianMulticulturalismDay! 🌏🍁🌎 Tune into @CFRAOttawa to hear #MASC artists @StutiWith and @closalguero talk about what it means to share their culture with schools and communities across #Canada. Listen LIVE at 10:35am: iheartradio.ca/580-cfra/shows… #ottarts

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Did you miss seeing the show in person? #SkinSongs co-creator and composer Angela Schleihauf has uploaded the sound score to skinsongssoundscape.eventbrite.ca 🎙️🎶 If you listen to the recording while looking at the photos, it's ALMOST like seeing the live show 🥰

"#SkinSongs was a powerful, incredibly unique, and full-bodied multimedia experience." Thanks for this lovely review @apt613! It's an honour to be featured in your incredible publication that elevates local arts and culture. #ottarts #womenintheatre apt613.ca/review-tactics…

@ArielTroster @happygoatcoffee WHAT. So many memories on that corner...

PSA: My #queerness is not a ‘mature theme’. If my 3-year-old can handle it, so can yours. Happy #PrideMonth! #Pride2023

@AskWomenAnyQs The one thing sexual violence prevention advocates tend to have in common is: hope. To me, that’s the opposite of a ‘downer’. I’ll be in rehearsal for #SkinSongs, but I hope you have a great event!

Heard from folks worried our next AWA will be "a downer." Nope. Our events always uplift, inspire, create hope. Don't believe us? Come and see for yourself. eventbrite.ca/e/lets-unpack-…

Maggie. She brings so much depth and thought to an issue that we really haven't handled well as a community. We are thrilled to chat with her on May 30th. @OCTEVAW @Bar_Robo @enchantenetwork @MarnaNightingal @JessicaRuano @AmandaParriag @JulieSLalonde eventbrite.ca/e/lets-unpack-…

"Hey Jessica, do you want to perform in a show this summer...?" "Hmmm... I'm not sure I have the time..." "It involves climbing a tree in a dress." "COUNT ME IN." #SkinSongs in #StrathconaPark #Ottawa June 1-11, 2023 Tickets: skinsongs.eventbrite.ca #ottarts #ottnews #TACTICS

TONIGHT! #MASCArtsAwards is SOLD OUT, but you're welcome to follow our highlights from the comfort of your home. We'll be live tweeting from @CanadasNAC. from 4:30pm to 9pm 🗨️ Looking forward to celebrating all the nominees! 🏆 #ottarts #ottnews #artseducation #artinschools

Grâce au financement du Programme d'appui à la francophonie ontarienne (PAFO) @ONgouv, nous avons eu quelques mois bien remplis pour organiser des tournées pour les artistes #MASC. Voici un retour en arrière, lorsque @cinvivo a donné une performance époustouflante à @ES_DSJS !

Kuljit Sodhi est un gars bien occupé ! Il donne des ateliers de #danseBollywood dans le cadre des trois festivals #MASC et a également créé un clip vidéo pour #ArtsEnFolie2023 🎥 En savoir plus @tvROttawa : masconline.ca/fr/kuljit-sodh… #danseOttawa #danseOntario #MYAIF2023 #FDMS2023

But I’ll say this: An out-and-proud transgender teen in England named Brianna Ghey was murdered in broad daylight in her local park last month. So regardless of how you feel about queer and trans people, I think we can all agree that children are better off alive than dead.

Look, I don’t have all the answers. I only have questions. And I generally think it’s a good idea to question our core beliefs once in a while, as challenging as that can be. But that’s especially hard to do on social media where there’s lots of yelling and not much listening.

“Silence only emboldens those who are screaming,” Manon Phaneuf, Ottawa parent of a transgender child. So I’ll speak clearly: Queer, trans, and poly people have existed secretly, but we have always existed. We are your neighbours and colleagues. We have families and loved ones.