From Online to IRL: @OnCanadaProject leverages International Women’s Day to host their first in-person events and Community Builder for Progressives in Toronto Looking To Find Their Community
Canada’s “informed bestie in the group chat of life” edu-media Instagram account hosts their first in-person fundraiser events this International Women’s Day in Toronto with support from American authors, speakers, and filmmakers Saira Rao & Regina Jackson.
Toronto, Ontario | Tuesday, February 27 - To honour International Women's Day and the intersectionality that feminism involves, On Canada Project (OCP) is hosting its first in-person events in Toronto to encourage sharing, connection, and action around race, gender, and justice. Both fundraising events directly support the organization’s one-of-a-kind educational media and community programs platform.
Founded and Launched in Mid-2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to address public health communication inequities, OCP, a grassroots, volunteer-run initiative powered by diverse Canadians aged 18-35, has continually evolved to meet our community's changing needs. Initially focused on crucial COVID-19 information, we've expanded our scope to broader societal issues, reflecting our adaptability and commitment to serve. OCP MEDIA is an award-winning media platform, and acts as Canada’s ‘informed bestie in the group chat of life’, creating engaging content on culture, news, and politics in a conversational tone. After two years of grassroots, volunteer-driven action, OCP is making the bold transition into an ‘accidental’ social enterprise to help ensure the organization is sustainable so its impact can be long-lasting.
This progression has allowed OCP to hone its focus on its community’s needs as our world faces rising inequalities and injustices. OCP’s upcoming initiatives, including the intentional creation of digital third spaces and learning opportunities free of judgment, are born out of community calls held over the past year. These spaces help activate and empower people to show up as better allies to themselves and others, fostering an environment where compassion, community and action meet.
“We listen to our community of ~200000 people, and what we consistently hear is how overwhelmed people feel as they witness and experience increasing inequality, injustice, systemic failures, oppression and censorship in our country and world, and how lonely and, in many cases, dehumanizing the experience has been,” says founder Samanta Krishnapillai, “We want people to know that they aren’t alone and that finding the right community is an essential part of both taking care of our selves and creating the change we want to see in the world!”
"As someone deeply invested in dismantling systems of oppression, I am moved by On Canada Project's mission and their dedication to sparking change. Their International Women's Day events are a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of addressing feminism with an intersectional lens. I'm proud to stand with OCP in this essential work," says Saira Rao, co-author, executive producer and star of Deconstructing Karen, and former 2018 candidate for Democratic representative of Colorado. Saira Rao and Regina Jackson are flying into Toronto specifically to help On Canada Project with this fundraiser.
Through carefully curated event experience design, the team at OCP is working to cultivate an experience that results in people feeling seen, being able to meet new people in a post-2020 world, and being part of something bigger. “The event is part of a larger community-building initiative by OCP that attendees will hear more about. Think of this event as the start of a community rather than a one-and-done event,” Krishnapillai says.
“We know that when people feel overwhelmed, it can be easier to lean out and avoid the discomfort that comes with looking at the chaos in our world. Trust us, we get it. The only thing that makes it easier is having a community to navigate that chaos with. We’re asking folks who feel like something is wrong in the world and feeling isolated in their existing networks, to lean in with us. To choose community building, humanity and kindness – for themselves and each other. You aren’t alone,” says Krishnapillai.
On Canada Project is hosting its fundraising events during International Women’s Day because feminism is inherently intersectional, and as inequities and injustices rise, it’s an important opportunity to not only remember the ongoing need for women’s rights but to recognize that no woman is free if injustice of any form persists in our country or world.
Join @OnCanadaProject for the first in-person event at SOHO House Toronto and the Toronto Reference Library on March 5 & 6 for a dynamic, value-aligned celebration and nurturing of humanity and community!
For media inquiries, contact:
Samanta Krishnapillai, Founder
[Email] together@oncanadaproject.ca
[Phone Number] 647 933 5289
[Website] oncanadaproject.ca | ocp-inc.ca
The Opposite of Loneliness Promo Graphics For Event
A fireside chat & community-building event centring around equity and freedom for everyone. Featuring local community leaders, artists, and personalities, such as Hamilton MP Sarah Jama, community builder Keosha Love, Chloe Brown, Justine Yu, and more, alongside Saira Rao & Regina Jackson, stars of Deconstructing Karen.
Radical Conversations on the Future of Feminism Promo Graphics For Event
A screening of “Deconstructing Karen,” alongside a panel discussion with its creators and stars, Saira Rao and Regina Jackson to help attendees unpack themes that arise. The evening concludes with a mixer for intentional connection, sharing and engaging with community members looking to drive societal change.
Location: Toronto Public Reference Library
Date: March 6, 2024
Time: 6 PM to 11 PM
Tickets : Eventbrite Link
About OCP INC
On Canada Project Inc. (OCP Inc.) is a pioneering social enterprise challenging the conventional non-profit model to foster societal transformation in Canada. Founded in April 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by Samanta Krishnapillai, OCP Inc. has rapidly evolved into a multifaceted organization comprising OCP Media, the Social Good Collective, and Good Trouble Studios. With a mission to democratize access to information, promote social justice, and empower community action, OCP Inc. leverages a unique blend of media production, community engagement, and strategic consulting to address complex social and political issues.
OCP Inc.'s approach combines academic rigour with creative innovation and lived experiences, ensuring rapid response to societal shifts and the needs of diverse Canadian communities. As a for-profit corporation, OCP Inc. maintains autonomy and flexibility, allowing for dynamic innovation in education, activism, and community building. With partnerships spanning various sectors and a strong digital presence, OCP Inc. consistently reaches millions, inviting, educating, and empowering Canadians toward collective action and meaningful change.
Our Award-Winning Media is best viewed on Instagram.
About Samanta Krishnapillai | Full Bio & Images Here
Samanta is a creative problem solver and an accidental entrepreneur who actively challenges the status quo. Samanta is a compassionate communicator who invites everyday people into critical conversations about the future of our country and world. Sam’s passion stems from her lived experience as a first-generation Tamil Canadian, paired with her BHSc/MHIS, which illuminated the giant gaps and inequities in our system. Sam challenges herself and the people around her to show up fully and unapologetically as their full selves.
