Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival: The Heron’s Journey

The Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival presented by the Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice is pleased to present the Canadian premiere of:

Adam Booth’s

The Heron’s Journey

The Heron’s Journey combines spoken storytelling, quilting, paper sculpture, and intentional movement. Meet the title character Lake in various forms of self-discovery on his journey from boy to heron.

This performance art piece shares an allegory filled with magic, challenges to opposition, and transformation.

Audience members have found themselves deep within the story, echoing themes such as immigration, orientation, ability, spiritual freedom, and self-awareness.

After the performance, the audience will be invited to stay for a talkback discussion session about the story.

Also Featuring local storytellers, Somia Sadiq and Rylie Nepinak

Appropriate for ages 12 years and older.

Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm

Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage Theatre | Prairie Theatre Exchange

is the 2022 West Virginia Governor’s Arts Awards Folk Artist of the Year. His original stories blend traditional mountain folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia. Career highlights for 2025 include being the featured keynote presenter at the Sydney Australia International Storytelling Conference, being a featured artist for the fourth time at the US National Storytelling Festival, and having his original multidisciplinary program The Heron’s Journey featured on the 2024-2025 Mid Atlantic Arts Touring Roster.

First hosted in 2006, the features regional, national, and international storytellers, and encompasses a School Program and Public Events in both English and French.

Made possible by the funding support of The Winnipeg Foundation, the Winnipeg School Division, the Blankstein Fund for Storytelling Dialogue (University of Manitoba), the Muslim Legacy Fund, and St. Paul's College Foundation. The French Festival is made possible by a grant from the French Second Language Revitalization Program funded collaboratively by the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice