By Alison Horn

Urban Planner is Torontoist’s daily guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every morning. If you have an event you’d like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you’ve got any—to events@torontoist.com.

Photo taken during the filming of Operation Imani: Ideas for Sustainable African Development, by Joe Fitzgerald.

FILM: On the heels of a well-attended Ottawa screening, filmmaker Greg John is bringing his first independent documentary to town for two evenings. Operation Imani: Ideas for Sustainable African Development follows John onsite in northern Tanzania as he works with the Imani Vocational Training Centre in an effort to establish complete sustainability and self-reliance. Throughout the fifty-five minute film, John explores creative solutions to poverty in Africa with an emphasis on simple but innovative technologies. Proceeds from tonight’s screening at the Royal (as well as tomorrow evening’s screening at Revue Cinema) will be donated to the school and community that John has worked so closely with since 2005. He’ll be in attendance for the screenings, so stick around for a post-film discussion and Q&A session. Royal Theatre (608 College Street), 7:15 p.m., $10 (tickets available at the door or online).
COMEDY: Laugh in the face of cancer at the “Canadian Comedy Award Nominees vs. Cancer” fundraiser tonight, with proceeds being donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The roster for this evening’s event includes this year’s nominees Debra DiGiovanni, Nathan Macintosh, Bobby Mair, Martha O’Neill, Harry Doupe, Nile Séguin, Ron Sparks, Laurie Elliott, and Alan Park. The Rivoli (334 Queen Street West), 8:30 p.m., PWYC.
CRAFT: Although it’s the dead of summer, it’s never too early to start thinking about fall fashion, especially with the purl jam that’s happening at the Knit Café tonight. The newly renovated coffee shop and crafting space is hosting a free—usually thirty-dollar—scarf workshop, as part of their summer workshop series. The only catch is that students are asked to acquire their materials (yarn and needles) at the café. Beginners will knit the night away, learning how to begin and end a project, as well as a basic knit stitch in between. Knit Café (1050 Queen Street West), 6:30–9 p.m., FREE (register by calling 416-533-5648).
ART: The Garage Collective, a multi-art experimental group celebrating its first anniversary this summer, presents Dites-moi pas!. The show, which runs nightly through Saturday, includes performances and installation by collective members David Bateman, Shannon Maguire, Kathleen Reichelt, Christina Kozak, 253, and Wes Ryan. The group’s work—sampled here—includes a mélange of music, writing, and visual and performance art, all coming from within the confines of a “cement box” turned art space. The Garage (469 Bathurst Street, side entrance), 9 p.m., PWYC ($5–10 suggested).
TORONTOIST: Before heading off to one of the aforementioned events, swing by the Globe Bistro to join Torontoist staff and readers for the fourth edition of the patio series. With much to discuss—from hipsters to hairless creatures—it should make for an interesting evening of banter, bites, and beverages. Globe Bistro (124 Danforth Avenue), 5:30 p.m., FREE.