Friday, Nov 27, 2026
Paul Phillips Hall, Fernwood Community and Arts Association
1923 Fernwood Road
Doors:  7 PM; Program: 7:30 PM

Join us for a first hand report from a Salt Spring Islander’s visit to Ometepe Island, Nicaragua. 

Since 1988, Salt Spring Island has had a “sister island” friendship with
Ometepe, a tiny volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe-Gulf Islands
Friendship Association (OGIFA) imports high-quality, fairly traded coffee from two cooperatives there. Over the years, proceeds from coffee sales have supported projects ranging from horticultural expertise, to rural health-care training and emergency relief. Come hear the story of this long established solidarity project between Salt Spring Islanders and the coffee growers of Ometepe.

Everyone is welcome! 
Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee.
Donations gratefully accepted. 

Friday, October 30, 2026
Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road
Doors:  7 PM;  Program: 7:30 PM

Come meet Leocadio Jurarán from the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA). Join us to hear about the struggle for land and a dignified life for Guatemala’s rural communities.

Leocadio Juracán is the CCDA’s former general coordinator and currently leads the CCDA’s agrarian justice team. He has been at the forefront of the struggle for Indigenous campesino rights in Guatemala and internationally for decades.

Everyone is welcome! 

Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaragua and Guatemala solidarity trade coffee.

*Cafe Justicia (Guatemala) coffee available to sample and purchase. 

Free admission. Donations gratefully accepted. 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC) with BC CASA and CCDA.

Friday, Sept 25, 2026

Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road

Doors:  7 PM;  Program: 7:30 PM

Join us for the first Cafe Simpatico of the fall season. A representative of the Temporary Foreign Workers organization, Dignidad Migrante, will discuss current issues, organizing and the many services offered by the organization.  

Everyone is welcome! 
Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee.
Donations gratefully accepted. 
Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

Friday, May 29, 2026
Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road
Doors:  7 PM Music by Virgo Rising
Program: 7:30 PM

Join us for an evening with Gorilla Radio host Chris Cook. 

From his harrowing experience in the belly of the mainstream news, to the far-fringes of the Indy Media Center movement, and campus/community radio, the Gorilla’s progress is the story of our fractious times of war and rumours of the same.

Don’t miss this opportunity for a behind the scenes look at Gorilla Radio dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in State and corporate media.  

Everyone is welcome! 

Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee.

Donations gratefully accepted. 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

Friday, April 24, 2026
Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road
Doors:  7 PM, Program: 7:30 PM

This month CASC is pleased to present Joe Barrett and the launch of his new book, “A Fight for Justice,” a story about the multi-year struggle for fairness by Latin American workers who excavated tunnels for the Canada Line. Please join us. 

Everyone is welcome! 
Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee.
Donations gratefully accepted. 
Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

Friday, March 27, 2026

Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road
Music: 7 PM, Program: 7:30 PM 

Reports from political activists who recently travelled to Cuba are on the program this month. We’ll start with Victoria photographer Mike Crawford’s slide show of his trip with Friends of Cuba in February and follow with first-hand observations on all that is facing Cuba now. As always, comments and discussion will follow. 

Everyone is welcome! Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee. Donations gratefully accepted. 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

Friday, February 27, 2026
Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road
Doors:  7 PM, Program: 7:30 PM

Dr. Charis Kamphuis is an attorney with the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW). Working closely with indigenous communities, she has advocated before international courts and regulatory bodies.  

At Cafe Simpatico, Charis will discuss the harms caused by industrial resource extraction in Latin America, including ways that legal systems enable impunity. She will suggest how Canadians can support affected communities.

Everyone is welcome! Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee. Donations gratefully accepted. 

www.facebook.com/vcasc/  www.victoriacasc.org 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC) 

Friday, January 30, 2026
Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road
Doors: 7 PM, Program: 7:30 PM 

Please join us for the first Cafe of the new year. The focus is on El Salvador and how the president, Nayib Bukele, uses social media marketing to portray El Salvador as safe and growing economically. The reality tells us otherwise. The “state of exception” and its use to round up low level gang members, thousands of innocent people, and instill fear will also be discussed. 

From his own perspective, native Salvadoran, Francisco Canjura, shares his views about El Salvador and why we should be concerned. 

Everyone is welcome! Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee. Donations gratefully accepted. 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

www.victoriacasc.org

https://www.facebook.com/vcasc/

Friday, November 28, 2025

Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community Association & Arts, 1923 Fernwood Road

Doors open:  7 PM; Program 7:30 PM 

Join in for a presentation featuring author and activist Alison Bodine discussing why Venezuela is under attack by the Trump administration, the history of U.S.-Venezuela relations and how supporting Venezuela is an urgent task for all peace-loving people in Canada. Alison’s presentation will include multimedia and videos direct from Venezuelans.

Alison Bodine is a social justice, antiwar and Palestine solidarity activist and author based in Vancouver, Canada and organizer with Metro Vancouver United for Palestine (MVUP).  Alison is a founding member of the Venezuela Solidarity Network (venezuelasolidaritynetwork.org) and author of the book Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Venezuela  (Battle of Ideas Press). Alison has been an international elections observer in Venezuela on five occasions, including the 2025 regional and legislative elections, travelling to Venezuela a total of 12 times since 2018.

Everyone is welcome! Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee. Donations gratefully accepted. 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

www.victoriacasc.orghttps://www.facebook.com/vcasc/

Friday, September 26, 2025

Join us for the first Cafe of the fall season as several researchers discuss the politics, history and economics of Central America. Bring your comments and questions

Paul Phillips Hall at Fernwood Community Association & Arts, 1923 Fernwood Road

Doors & music:  7 PM; Program 7:30 PM . 

Everyone is welcome! Refreshments including Fair Trade Nicaraguan coffee. Donations gratefully accepted. 

Sponsored by Central America Support Committee (CASC)

https://www.facebook.com/vcasc/