Lunchtime Series – January to December 2022

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Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Award-winning writer Helen Humphreys gives an illustrated presentation on her latest book, Field Study: Meditations on a Year at the Herbarium.

Thursday, January 20, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
The Marvels of Spain Through My Lens: Photographer and traveller Muslim Harji shares touching stories and vibrant photographs of his travels in Spain.

Thursday, January 27, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Pediatric emergency physician and writer Samir Shaheen-Hussain discusses his book Fighting for a Hand to Hold: Confronting Medical Colonialism Against Indigenous Children in Canada, winner of two 2021 Quebec Writers’ Federation awards.

Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Josh Freed, award-winning filmmaker, writer and journalist, discusses his sensational new book POSTCARDS FROM PANDEMICA: Our Crazy Covid Years.

Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
PHOTOGENIC MONTREAL: Co-editors Martha Langford and Johanne Sloan give an illustrated presentation on their new book about “how photography imagines Montreal’s post-industrial identity.”

Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
THE SCIENCE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES: Dr. Joe Schwarcz, the popular author and Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, gives an illustrated presentation.

Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
MONTREAL ART DECO – Sandra Cohen-Rose gives an illustrated presentation of the city’s rich art deco legacy.

Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY PROGRAM – Author Ariela Freedman discusses her brand-new novel LÉA, based on the life of famed Quebec activist Léa Roback (1903-2000).

Thursday, March 10, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Celebrating JOYCE 100 at the Museum of Literature Ireland – Live from Dublin, Margaret Kelleher and Simon O’Connor, leaders of Ireland’s magnificent Museum of Literature (MoLI), discuss their exhibitions and activities marking the 100th anniversary of the publication of James Joyce’s ULYSSES, the great and challenging novel depicting the events of a single day in Dublin.

Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PROGRAM: Newfoundland musician and writer Ed Kavanagh performs favourite Irish and Newfoundland songs, and talks about his instrument, the harp.

Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
EXPLORING THE MONOLOGUE: Writer and performer John Arthur Sweet talks about how he came to specialize in the monologue as a literary/theatrical form, and presents an array of his monologue work.

Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
THE SUGARMAKERS: Louise Abbott presents her short documentary film giving an intimate look at how one family in the Eastern Townships has produced high-quality maple syrup for over a century. Co-presented with Erin Holmes, a member of the farm family who is interviewed in the film.

Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Montreal journalist Christopher Neal discusses The Rebel Scribe, his new biography of American foreign correspondent Carleton Beals (1893 – 1979) with a focus on his coverage of US intervention in Latin America.

Thursday, April 14, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
RADICAL RESTHOMES: WE’RE NOT ALONE – Janet Torge of Radical Resthomes shares information about seniors’ innovative housing arrangements around the world and gives the Montreal update.

Thursday, April 21, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHDAY EVENT – Amanda Kellock, Artistic Director of Repercussion Theatre, gives a presentation on the Bard and shares plans for Repercussion’s Shakespeare-in-the-Park summer tour.

Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Historian Steven High gives an illustrated presentation on his new book about the neighbourhoods on either side of Montreal’s Lachine Canal: Deindustrializing Montreal: Entangled Histories of Race, Residence, and Class.

Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Singer and songwriter Martha Wainwright discusses her memoir, discusses her memoir Stories I Might Regret Telling You in conversation with interviewer Anne Lagacé Dowson.

Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Peter McAuslan gives a talk on his memoir Brewing Better Beer with the story of how he and his partner Ellen Bounsall built a successful brewery in Montreal and ran it for 25 years, changing the course of the brewing industry.

Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
MONTRÉAL. CAPITAL CITY
By Zoom: For the Atwater Library Lunchtime Series, Louise Pothier and François Gignac of the Pointe-à-Callière Montréal Archeology and History Complex give a presentation on their beautifully illustrated book MONTRÉAL. CAPITAL CITY about when Montreal was the capital of Canada from 1844 to 1849.

Thursday, May 26, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Lisa Mintz, Executive Director of urbaNature Éducation (UNE), gives a presentation on UNE and the St. Jacques Escarpment Eco-territory.

Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
Peter McNally reflects on the remarkable 70-year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Alexander Reford, Director of Reford Gardens – Jardins de Métis, gives an illustrated presentation on his new book Elsie Reford: 150 Passions.

Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Author Frank Mackey gives a talk on his new book The Great Absquatulator, which masterfully tells the true story of a 19th century impostor and world traveller who was born into Nova Scotia’s Black community. Montreal Gazette reviewer Ian McGillis hailed the book as “a feat of historical sleuthing, dogged archive-digging and sure-handed storytelling.”

Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Author and cartoonist Terry Mosher (Aislin) discusses his new book on the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series with sketches and reminiscences of his experiences 50 years ago in Moscow.

Thursday, September 15, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Historian and writer Roderick MacLeod gives a talk about the history of an important Montreal institution that served the community for over 150 years, drawing on the book he co-wrote with Gary Aitken. In collaboration with the Grace Dart Foundation.

Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Cellist Joshua Morris and pianist Wei-Tang Huang perform a program of Debussy, Rebecca Clarke, and Frank Bridge sonatas.

Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Jacquelyn Sundberg, Outreach Librarian with McGill Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections, talks about how play can bring life and learning to libraries: “Game On! Play at the Library.”

Thursday, October 6, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Esteemed filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin screens her 2021 film HONOUR TO SENATOR MURRAY SINCLAIR. Senator Sinclair was the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Author Connie Guzzo-McParland discusses her new book, An Opera in 3 Acts Starring Gino Quilico: A Biography, with a presentation by Gino Quilico himself.

Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
CRIME FICTION: Montreal-area members of Crime Writers of Canada talk about the evolution of the crime/mystery/suspense genre from Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie to today, and how their work fits into the spectrum. Del Chatterson, A. J. Fotheringham, Russell Fralich and Ann Lambert will take part in lively discussion.

Thursday, October 27, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
MEDIA LITERACY and AGEING: Dr. Kim Sawchuk, Concordia University Professor of Communication Studies, discusses the intersection between age, ageing, and communication technologies.

Thursday, November 3, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
JAZZ STORIES: Author and radio personality Stanley Péan discusses his book Black and Blue, translated from the French by David Homel. He will comment on evolution of jazz and tell behind-the-scenes tales of some of the greatest jazz musicians.

Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
WARTIME MUSIC: On the eve of REMEMBRANCE DAY, ethnomusicologist and musician Craig Morrison discusses and performs songs of parting, longing, and reunion, songs of hope and cheer, songs of military life and ones that honour the fallen and express the wish for peace.

Thursday, November 17, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Award-winning writer and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald discusses her new novel Fayne.

Thursday, November 24, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
COPING WITH INFLATION: For Financial Literacy Month, Lynn Bennett, retired financial planner and financial educator, discusses inflation and gives practical suggestions for coping with rising prices. Q&A.

Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Author Patterson Webster gives an illustrated presentation on her book, Autobiography of a Garden, which “blends history, horticulture, and art, encouraging readers to make their own surroundings more beautiful and more meaningful.” — publisher McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
“The Simple Joys of Christmas” CONCERT: Inspirational singer Barbara Lewis and Toronto-based pianist and singer Doug Balfour present touching and fun Christmas songs.

Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Gifted actor Brett Watson does a dramatic reading of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas.

 

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