By Will McGuirk

Well its becoming obvious we are going to have to reach out far and wide to find allies, community and friends to try build a new network from the connections in this Year of Fear the Other. Hillside is as good as any although I believe better than most, to begin the Herculean task to tie that Gordian knot of camaraderie.

We are going to have to look within and without, in neighbourhoods and beyond borders, to find each other. I’m reluctant to put such pressure on a festival but anytime I have had the opportunity to be on the Guelph island with the good folk who are that festival I come away energized, buoyant, optimistic, faith restored, so yes this year please, because this year, of all years we really need to find the hope.

Bells Larsen

DijahSB

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Lex Leosis

Petite Noir

Ryan Young

Susan O’Neill

Sebastian Gaskin