The Thistle is a youth-run arts and activism centre. We operate in four main ways:

We are open in the afternoons and evenings for drop-in. Please see signs on the door, big white board and website for hours.
We run classes and projects of all kinds. There is lots of information available about what’s going on and how to sign up. If it isn’t totally obvious, ask someone.

We run full-time, paid training programs during the day, focused around arts, community work, etc.   If you are interested, write matt@purplethistle.ca

Also, lots of groups, big and small, use the space for meetings, conferences, gatherings or as a work-space. You are welcome to meet here, just run it past the collective

First, come on in and check it out. See what we have, see what kinds of stuff people are working on, see what you’d be interested in using or learning how to use.  

Pretty much. Use your common sense and ask questions. But if something doesn’t explicitly direct you not to use it, please feel welcome. That includes everything – all the supplies, the computers, all the equipment. If you don’t know how to use something (darkroom, Oxberry, sewing machines etc.) find out when the next class is or who can teach you – there should be signs up – but if not, ask the staff person.

Pretty much. If not it will be obvious. But all our classes and supplies and equipment are almost universally free for everyone.

Please don’t take our supplies or equipment home – unless there is an obvious sign-out procedure. But if you make something – say a painting or lino or zine – then for sure, its yours.

AND, Make sure to give us your email contact so we can tell you about upcoming events and classes, etc.  you can send carla an email here: carla@purplethistle.ca

At least once a year, and sometimes twice, we run a Service Canada-funded Skills Link program called Dream Seeds, it is exclusively for young women and is organized around art and community organizing.

Participating in this project is a full-time job that runs from 9 - 4:00 every day in the centre for between 5 or 6 months each, pays full-time and has multiple components, including employment support, college entry, project start-up help, mentorships, internships and much else.

There is always significant interest in these programs, so if you are interested, please write matt@purplethistle.ca for more information and/or to get signed up for the next one.

No. we’re run by young people, but people as old as 50 drop in to use our computers and such. The whole idea is to break down ageism and age-based stereotypes. If we enforced our own versions of those that would suck. Above any of the stuff we put on grants, the thistle is a freeskool and a resource centre. There are some times when we’re trying to build a safe space for youth (and for other people, ie. Queer youth, non-white youth, young women, etc.) and when that’s the case it will be explicitly stated.

Come to a meeting to meet everyone. Our meetings are really relaxed. We don’t ask that anybody have all the answers or even know where to start.

Read our Volunteer policy here.

We love it when people come to ask a lot of questions- young people especially. We ask that you think before you start talking (a lot goes on at our meetings, and we try to make them short.) If you and some friends have an idea for a project, but need a leg up for supplies, space and mentor support, come to the Thistle. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make your own program there.

We run on a ‘no assholeism’ policy. Mistakes are encouraged; but racism, sexism, classism, homo/trans phobia, ableism, and all other forms of aggression will be challenged.

Yeah, we take money from shady characters. It’s a bigger philosophical issue: pragmatism within the Almighty Dollar System versus lifestyle politics and ideological purity. Capitalism makes everything a personal choice about what you’d rather sacrifice in any given situation. In this case, we’re more concerned with having an alternative-to-school than we are about not depending on the government for cash.