The Shoe Project
Presented by SkirtsAfire in partnership with YWCA Edmonton, with support by Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre who was the first to bring this project to Edmonton.
Shoes accompany us on our journeys. They are with us wherever we go, they say who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. These performances will open your heart and transform your perceptions of what it means to be Canadian.
Saturday, March 7 @ 7:30pm (Followed by a Catered Reception by Culina Catering!)
Sunday, March 8 @ 1:30pm (ASL Interpreted) 
Sunday, March 8 @ 7:30pm
Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission
Gateway Theatre
8529 Gateway Blvd
Tickets on sale now!
Adults $29.99, Students/Seniors $24.25 (plus applicable fees). Limited Pay-What-You-Will tickets available. Group discounts available for 6+.
Due to limited capacity, we highly recommend securing your seat in advance!
Festival passes available now. Get 3 shows, 5 shows or an All Access Pass!
Thank you to Servus Credit Union for supporting accessibility through our Pay-What-You-Will program.
The Shoe Project is a national initiative that amplifies the voices of Canadian immigrant and refugee women through storytelling. Whether selected by choice or imposed by circumstance the shoes we wear can make or break a journey, shape our experiences, and open doors to our future. The Shoe Project 2026 is Edmonton’s fifth live iteration of this compelling project. In November, a group of immigrant and refugee women began working with veteran Canadian playwright Conni Massing to write stories of their arrival and adaptation to Canada centered around a pair of shoes they have worn. Once their stories were complete, each woman worked with Voice & Speech Coach Alyson Connolly, and they now tell their story for audiences in a revelatory public performance.
“I have never imagined I could be standing in front of an audience sharing a personal story in English. The Shoe Project has been the most empowering experience of my life.” — Natalia Rodriguez Bussi, Uruguay
“I’ve been blown away. Those women are amazing, their stories [are] bold and brave and filled with humour, love, and all the travails of making their journeys here. I loved the various shoes, the boots, the “slippers”. What an outstanding project!” — Catherine Mitchell, publisher
THESE PERFORMANCES WILL OPEN YOUR HEART AND TRANSFORM YOUR PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CANADIAN
Featuring:
Shenin, Bangladesh
Sasha Kim, Ukraine
Najiba, Afghanistan
Mounira Koujah, Syria
Mona Alshaab, Syria
Irene Akumagba, Nigeria
Eve Christine, Uganda
Dera, Haiti
AyanaStrong, Burkina Faso
HEYA, South Korea
Artistic Team:
Nancy Kirugi
Project Coordinator
Artist Adopted by
John L. Pressey
Amena Shehab
Project Coordinator
Conni Massing
Writing Mentor
Alyson Connolly
Voice & Speech Coach
Featuring:
Shenin
Bangladesh
Sasha Kim
Ukraine
Najiba
Afghanistan
Mounira Koujah
Syria
Mona Alshaab
Syria
Irene Akumagba
Nigeria
Eve Christine
Uganda
Dera
Haiti
AyanaStrong
Burkina Faso
HEYA
South Korea
The Shoe Project’s mission is to advance education by providing programs, courses, workshops and seminars to immigrant and refugee women to develop their written and oral skills, as well as their leadership skills.
Thank you to The Shoe Project for their guidance and contributions towards the Edmonton chapter of this initiative and to YWCA Edmonton for continuing the journey.
Venue Sponsor
The Shoe Project is Sponsored and Supported by:
Butler Family Foundation
