Atwater Library and Computer Centre

With funding from Status of Women Canada, we are partnering with schools and community groups to help girls and young women (under 25) achieve their economic potential. A highlight of the project we have been conducting for the past several months was the very successful “Girls of the Hood” conference that attracted some 100 young women to the Library on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

Organized by participating girls for girls, the conference showcased neighbourhood projects with the goal of helping girls and young women overcome barriers to economic prosperity. Mélanie Joly gave the keynote address on “Dare to be yourself” and there were panel discussions on entrepreneurial women, re-envisioning the world through activism and art, community groups fostering economic empowerment, and women in alternative or non-traditional careers.

During the conference Dawson College student Nicola Sibthorpe, our event day social media manager, “live” tweeted highlights and took snap shots for the conference’s instagram feed.

During the winter of 2014 we worked with people with memory loss to make a digital record of significant things in their life. The end product was a CD or “virtual memory box” celebrating each client’s life. The hope is that the CD will later trigger memories and stimulate conversation.

Popular computer instructor Liz Perrin is leading this exciting project with the help of volunteers. For more information, please contact her at liz@atwaterlibrary.ca.

The Saturday, October 8, 2011 issue of The Gazette featured a major spread on the Atwater Library with ten drawings by Aislin, the award-winning political cartoonist and author, and text by award-winning reporter Marian Scott. Click to see Montreal Gazette A1 and Montreal Gazette B4, B5.