Stefan Christoff
Encyclopedia
Stefan Christoff is a journalist, community organizer and musician based in Montreal, Quebec.
and the creative arts. Between 2000-2002 Christoff coordinated the Howl! Festival of Art and Revolution. After launching in Montreal in 2000 the festival titled after the Allen Ginsberg
poem Howl also took place in Toronto, Halifax and New York City in 2002.
Christoff is also involved in the Artists Against Apartheid concert series in Montreal, a cultural event series that featuring celebrated artists from across the musical spectrum performing in solidarity with Palestine. Past performers include Lhasa De Sela,the Palestinian hip-hop ensemble DAM and the celebrated Montreal hip-hop ensemble Nomadic Massive.
Throughout 2001-2004 Christoff was a key activist in the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees, a network in Montreal organizing to pressure Canada to stop all deportations of Palestinian refugees seeking status and sanctuary in Canada.
Also Christoff has been active with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led movement of activists working to oppose the daily workings of the Israeli occupation in Palestinian lands. In 2003 Christoff traveled to Palestine to work with Palestinian civil society groups and the ISM but was detained and deported to Jordan.
in Montreal in April, 2001.
In 2007 Christoff's photo exhibition Lebanon: Open Skies of Struggle on Lebanon
featuring photographs from numerous trips to the Middle East, exhibited in Montreal, Winnipeg at the Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre and Saskatoon.
After traveling to the Philippines
in 2007, to participate in a grassroots election observation mission in Manila for the mid-term elections, Christoff produced a second photo exhibition documenting urban landscapes and social movements in the Philippines. Christoff's photographs on the Philippines opened in Montreal in the fall of 2009, showing at local cafes and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM
). Christoff's exhibition on movements in Manila features artistic photography from the Philippines and was sponsored by Montreal-based Filipino community organizations, such as the Centre for Philippine Concerns contributing to local efforts in Montreal to raise awareness on the political killings in the Philippines in recent years. In February 2010 Christoff exhibited the photos to positive reviews and opened the exhibition with a reading from Filipino author Miguel Syjuco
.
Arts
As a social activist and artist Christoff has been involved in numerous efforts to build links between grassroots activismActivism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and the creative arts. Between 2000-2002 Christoff coordinated the Howl! Festival of Art and Revolution. After launching in Montreal in 2000 the festival titled after the Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
poem Howl also took place in Toronto, Halifax and New York City in 2002.
Christoff is also involved in the Artists Against Apartheid concert series in Montreal, a cultural event series that featuring celebrated artists from across the musical spectrum performing in solidarity with Palestine. Past performers include Lhasa De Sela,the Palestinian hip-hop ensemble DAM and the celebrated Montreal hip-hop ensemble Nomadic Massive.
Activism
As an activist Christoff has been deeply involved in numerous grassroots organizing initiatives in Montreal. Specifically Christoff has been involved in various migrant justice campaigns in Montreal, organizing with communities, families and individuals struggling against deportation from Canada and for full citizenship rights for non-status people.Throughout 2001-2004 Christoff was a key activist in the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees, a network in Montreal organizing to pressure Canada to stop all deportations of Palestinian refugees seeking status and sanctuary in Canada.
Also Christoff has been active with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led movement of activists working to oppose the daily workings of the Israeli occupation in Palestinian lands. In 2003 Christoff traveled to Palestine to work with Palestinian civil society groups and the ISM but was detained and deported to Jordan.
Photography
As a visual artist and photographer Christoff has exhibited throughout Canada, including a first exhibition as a visual artist at Casa del PopoloCasa del Popolo
Casa del Popolo is a notable bar, bistro, and music venue in Montreal, on Saint Laurent Boulevard. Its name is Italian for "House of the People".It was established in September 2000 by Mauro Pezzente and his partner Kiva Stemic...
in Montreal in April, 2001.
In 2007 Christoff's photo exhibition Lebanon: Open Skies of Struggle on Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
featuring photographs from numerous trips to the Middle East, exhibited in Montreal, Winnipeg at the Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre and Saskatoon.
After traveling to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 2007, to participate in a grassroots election observation mission in Manila for the mid-term elections, Christoff produced a second photo exhibition documenting urban landscapes and social movements in the Philippines. Christoff's photographs on the Philippines opened in Montreal in the fall of 2009, showing at local cafes and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM
Université du Québec à Montréal
The Université du Québec à Montréal is one of four universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Basic facts:The UQAM is the largest constituent element of the Université du Québec , a public university system with other branches in Gatineau , Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec City, Chicoutimi, and...
). Christoff's exhibition on movements in Manila features artistic photography from the Philippines and was sponsored by Montreal-based Filipino community organizations, such as the Centre for Philippine Concerns contributing to local efforts in Montreal to raise awareness on the political killings in the Philippines in recent years. In February 2010 Christoff exhibited the photos to positive reviews and opened the exhibition with a reading from Filipino author Miguel Syjuco
Miguel Syjuco
Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino writer from Manila and the Man Asian Literary Prize grand prize winner for 2008 known for his novel Ilustrado.-Personal Life and Education:...
.
External links
- Christoff Targeted by Government Surveillance, Harassment Ahead of G20 Summit - video report by Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...