Atwater Library and Computer Centre

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Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Sociologist Brian Webb gives a talk on “The Life and Times of Camillien Houde”. A colourful and controversial figure, Houde served four terms as mayor of Montréal, starting in 1928 and ending in 1954. The talk is based on material first presented at the McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL).

Friday January 18, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Peter F. Trent, Mayor of Westmount, discusses his book The Merger Delusion: How Swallowing Its Suburbs Made an Even Bigger Mess of Montreal / La Folie des grandeurs. Both English- and French-language versions will be on sale at the event. For more information, see the publisher’s website.

Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Dr. J.S.S. Armour recounts the remarkable history of The Royal Montreal Curling Club, founded by Montreal Scots in 1807 and still going strong more than 200 years later, making it the oldest active athletic club in North America. This celebration of Montreal’s Scottish heritage on the eve of Burns Day will include a tribute to the memory of the Immortal Bard.

Friday, February 1, 2013 at 12:30 pm
To mark the start of BLACK HISTORY MONTH, the IMANI Gospel Singers, directed by Marcia Bailey, perform a program of spiritual music and discuss the evolution of Black gospel music. For more information about the group, see www.imanigospelsingers.com.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Patrick J. Hansen, director of opera studies at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, gives a presentation on the exciting work being done at Opera McGill.

Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 12:30 pm
To celebrate VALENTINE’S DAY, Barbara Lewis performs her song revue “Passionate Heart, never too late for love…” featuring well-known songs that will make you fall in love all over again with your man, your woman, an idea, a dream … For more information, see http://www.singing-tips-with-barbara-lewis.com/barbara-lewis-in-concert.html.

Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 12:30 pm
For BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LaFlorya Gauthier discusses her new biography of Isaiah T. Montgomery, a former slave who founded her home town in Mississippi in 1887.

Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Author Taras Grescoe discusses and reads from his work, including his latest book, Straphanger: Saving Our Cities and Ourselves from the Automobile, winner of the 2012 Quebec Writers’ Federation Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction. With funding for the author from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Sister Patricia Simpson recounts the remarkable story of Marguerite Bourgeoys and her lead role in the development of Montreal, then Ville-Marie, in the second half of the 17th century.

Friday, March 15, 2013 at 12:30 pm
For ST. PATRICK’S DAY, Dr. Dana Hearne presents readings from the best of Irish poetry and fiction, accompanied by the music magic of Andriu MacGabhann (Belfast Andi) and Patrick Hutchinson.

Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 12:30 pm
David A. Wilson, Professor of History at the University of Toronto, gives a talk on D’Arcy McGee, based on his award-winning two-volume biography, Thomas D’Arcy McGee: Passion, Reason, and Politics, 1825–1857 and Thomas D’Arcy McGee: The Extreme Moderate, 1857-1868. He will end his presentation by playing the Lament for the Death of the Hon. D’Arcy McGee, composed by James Stephens.
With funding for the author from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Douglas Gibson, the renowned editor and publisher, presents “Stories About Storytellers”, drawing on his 2011 book by the same name. He recounts touching and funny experiences with several of Canada’s greatest writers and politicians — among them, Alice Munro, Alistair MacLeod, Mavis Gallant, Robertson Davies, W.O. Mitchell, Hugh MacLennan, Pierre Trudeau, and Brian Mulroney.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:30 pm
World traveller and photographer Victor Breedon gives a talk on walking in England and Scotland with a 22-minute video of walking the Thames Path from source to sea.

Friday, April 19, 2013 at 12:30 pm
To celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday, Wes Folkerth, Associate Professor of English at McGill University, gives a talk entitled “All I have to do is act naturally: in search of the natural fool in Shakespeare.”

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Gregory McCormick, Programming Director, gives a preview of the 2013 Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival. For more information, see http://bluemetropolis.org/.

Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Bamboo Jazz performs a delightful selection of jazz standards. The musicians are Jeffrey May on silver and bamboo flutes and congas; Mike Rud on guitar; and Marcin Garbulinski on bass.

Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Award-winning journalist John Lownsbrough looks back at the glory that was Expo 67, drawing on his highly-praised book The Best Place To Be, part of Penguin’s History of Canada series.

Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Ann Pearson gives an illustrated presentation on the life and art of Georgia O’Keeffe. The talk is based on material first presented at the McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL).

Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Literary biographer and memoirist Denis Sampson discusses how diverse novelists have recalled the discovery of their own literary voice. Denis Sampson’s biographies of Brian Moore and John McGahern will be on sale at the event.
This event is jointly hosted by the Atwater Library and the Quebec Writers’ Federation’s Writers Out Loud series, with funding for the author from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Alexander Reford gives an illustrated presentation about the many attractions of Les Jardins de Métis/ Reford Gardens, founded by his great-grandmother and now operated by a not-for-profit charitable corporation that he leads.

Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Nora Hague, Cataloguer/Photographic Archivist with the Notman Photographic Archives of the McCord Museum, gives an illustrated talk about 19th century Montreal photographer William Notman.

Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Life purpose and healing coach, meditation and yoga teacher Jackie Roberge gives a presentation on “5P’s to Make Life-enhancing Changes”. Some of the points she will cover include strategies that you may be unconsciously using to avoid looking at what is or is not working in your life; how fears can hold you back or how you can use fears to help propel you forward; the importance of taking responsibility for where you are at, and how that can empower you; and the role of passion and how it can lead you to their life purpose.

Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Bloomsday Montreal presents BLOOMSDAY CABARET: Love’s Old Sweet Songs. Sopranos Beverly McGuire and Kathleen McAuliffe with tenor Ashley Foot, accompanied by Kris Epps on piano, perform favourite parlour songs from the turn of the 20th century, and actors read lyrical passages from James Joyce’s Ulysses and Dubliners.

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