... Weaving the Tapestry of Community One Thread at a Time

Saskatoon Open Door Society hosts THREADS, an annual cross-cultural online conference that offers community tools to cultivate a more inclusive environment in Canada and across the world.

Speakers and performers share their diverse stories in knowledge talks accompanied by art, film, storytelling, dance, music, theatre, poetry, philosophy and more.

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Emmanuel Anglican Church together with Saskatoon Open Door Society are excited to invite community to gather at Emmanuel the first Monday of each month, to explore a series of cultural conversation videos selected from the vast THREADS video library. This video screening series is designed to gather community together to listen, learn and evolve, fostering a greater understanding and connection within our local community, ultimately providing an opportunity to learn and grow together.

We welcome ALL community to join us as we share these insightful videos that delve into diverse cultural perspectives and experiences.

THREADS... listen - learn - evolve

We invite you to view this brief program trailer, prepared specifically for the 2025 cross-cultural THREADS conference, highlighting the rich and powerful content that we will draw from to share with community at Emmanuel, shaping our new monthly THREADS Video Screening Series.

THREADS - Program Trailer - 2025 (duration 2:49)

A Community Video Screening Series Designed to Encourage Meaningful Dialogue Across Cultures

THREADS IN COMMUNITY

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Where: Emmanuel Anglican Church, 607 Dufferin Avenue, Saskatoon

Dates: The first Monday in the month of Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Nov and Dec.

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., including time for group or panel discussions and Q&A following the videos.

There is no cost to attend, and pre-registration is not required. Come once, twice, or come each month... join the conversation - we look forward to welcoming you! Light refreshments will be offered.

*Note: When the first Monday of the month falls on a holiday, THREADS In Community viewings will take place on the second Monday (April & September).

There will not be a THREADS In Community event in October, due to the live streaming of THREADS - an annual cross-cultural online conference taking place in October. Please visit Saskatoon Open Door Society to register for the online conference.

Next event date is Monday, May 4th

2026 VIEWING EVENT SCHEDULE

#1 - February 2nd - Shared Existence and Cross-Cultural Understanding

#2 - March 2nd - Belonging, Heritage, and t he Stories We Inherit

#3 - April 13th - The Stories We Tell, The Stories We Carry

#4 - May 4th - Seeing Through Stereotypes

#5 - June 1st - Listening, Learning, and Unlearning

#6 - September 14th - TBA

#7 - October 5th - No In-Community Session

#8 - November 2nd - TBA

#9 - December 7th - TBA

Coming Up Next...

#4 - Video Screening and Group Discussion

Seeing Through Stereotypes

Date: Monday, May 4, 2026

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Emmanuel Anglican Church, 607 Dufferin Avenue, Saskatoon - please enter at Door B

No Charge Event - light refreshments will be offered

Video Screenings (Approx. 40 min.)

Video 1: "Civilized Like Us? Media Coverage of Conflict": Featuring Steve Chao, Award-winning Journalist and International Correspondent

This video examines how media coverage subtly reinforces stereotypes about different parts of the world, especially during conflict. It reveals how some regions are portrayed as "civilized" and others as chaotic or less human, shaping whose suffering feels relatable and whose does not. Media framing, what is shown and what's left out, has a powerful influence on public perception and can reinforce simplified, biased narratives about entire populations.

Video 2: "They are Just Like Us: An Indian Woman's Journey to China"

This personal story challenges preconceived notions through lived experience. The speaker begins with assumption about another culturem only to discover unexpected similarities and shared humanity. The phrase "they are just like us" highlights how stereotypes often dissolve through direct contact, revealing how much of our thinking is based on distance rather than reality.

Video 3: "A Foot in Two Worlds

This video explores identity from the perspective of someone navigating multiple cultures. It shows how stereotypes don't just affect how we see others, they also shape how individuals are seen, categorized, and sometimes misunderstood.

Group Discussion (Approx. 30 min.)

Valuable time will be reserved for group discussion and Q & A

#5 - Video Screening and Group Discussion

Listening, Learning, and Unlearning

Date: Monday, June 1, 2026

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Emmanuel Anglican Church, 607 Dufferin Avenue, Saskatoon - please enter at Door B

No Charge Event - light refreshments will be offered

Video Screenings (Approx. 43 min.)

Video 1: "Echoes of the Ancestors: An Indigenous Call for Climate Action": Featuring Danii Kehler, Indigenous artist and advocate

The video shares how Indigenous knowledge and ancestral teachings offer a different way of understanding environmental stewardship, one rooted in relationship, respect, and reciprocity. Through personal insight and cultural perspective, it invites viewers to reconsider how we engage with the natural world and to recognize the importance of listening to Indigenous voices in conversations about climate and the future.

Video 2: "Shifting the Screen Sector through Authentic Voices": Featuring Jennifer Podemski

This video explores how the screen sector has historically portrayed Indigenous peoples and the impact of those portrayals on identity and perception. Through her perspective as a creator and advocate Podemski highlights the need for Indigenous voices to be centered in storytelling, both in front of and behind the camera, and invites viewers to consider how media can move toward more truthful, respectful, and inclusive narratives.

Group Discussion (Approx. 30 min.)

Valuable time will be reserved for group discussion and Q & A