Project Description
Many sectors of Canada’s economy, such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and care-giving, rely heavily on the labour of migrants. For many years, Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) has brought migrants to come to Canada to fulfill our labour shortages in these sectors. Although the work and the demand for this work is permanent, the workers are given only temporary migration status within strict limits, making them targets for exploitation and abuse.
Mixed Company Theatre, and the Collaborative Network to End Exploitation are working on a collaboration that will share the stories of these workers, with interactive audience participation. Our hope is to empower action for policy change that will make so-called Canada a more fair and equitable place for all.
Our artists have participated in the CNEE’s Migrant Worker exercise to gain a deeper understanding of the typical challenges a Migrant Worker experiences in travelling to Canada, and the exploitation and oppression they face daily in the workplace upon arrival.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, we are intending for our playwright to participate in interviews with Migrant Workers and conduct supplementary research to develop a Forum Theatre script to catalyze positive change in the lives and working conditions of Migrant Workers.
This script will be presented in a community reading for feedback culminating in a final script which we are aiming to tour throughout Ontario.
Webinar
On May 23rd, 2024 we hosted informational webinars to introduce this project to educators and community leaders. Check out the webinar recording below for more details and a sample of our interactive theatre techniques!
You can also sign up for the CNEE’s mailing list here to receive updates on the project: http://www.cnee.ca/mailinglist
Resources
Book the CNEE’s Migrant Worker Exercise for your group: https://www.cnee.ca/migrant-workers-exercise/
Justice for Migrant Workers Informational Video: https://www.cnee.ca/video/
Essential but Disposable Labour: Migrant Workers Exploited in Canada Podcast: https://www.cnee.ca/podcast/
Partner
