Toronto Public Library Events
Christene Browne: Philomena (Unloved)
Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Cedarbrae Branch, Toronto Public library, 545 Markham Road, Toronto
Toronto filmmaker, Christene Browne, reads from her second novel, Philomena (Unloved). A poignant story about Philomena Jones, who was born in the Caribbean but abandoned by her mother and left at the mercy of her grandmother who, after raising many children and grandchildren, is not capable of dedicating herself to another child. Love-starved, Philomena is easy prey. Abused by her pastor, Philomena begins a descent into mental instability. She leaves the islands for America, but ends up homeless and battling mental illness. Released from a psyche ward, Philomena is sent to a supportive housing facility for women. In this most unexpected of places, she finally realizes her dream of family.
Christene Browne is a well-respected and internationally acclaimed Toronto independent filmmaker and was the first Black woman to direct a feature film in Canada. In 2011 she was awarded the Visionary award by the Women's International Film & Television Showcase for her ground-breaking documentary series, Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language which features Noam Chomsky. She is currently completing a feature documentary on Toronto's Regent Park - the oldest and largest Canadian housing complex and developing an animated film on the early life of famed Canadian author Austin Clarke. This is Christene's second novel.
For more information on Christene Browne: https://www.christenebrowne.com/
André Alexis: Days by Moonlight
Date: Thursday, Feb ruary 21, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Atrium, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto
"Gulliver's Travels meets The Underground Railroad: a road trip through the countryside - and the psyche - by the author of Fifteen Dogs."
Botanist Alfred Homer, ever hopeful and constantly surprised, is invited on a road trip by his parents' friend, Professor Morgan Bruno, who wants company as he tries to unearth the story of the mysterious poet John Skennen. But this is no ordinary road trip.
André Alexis was born in Trinidad and grew up in Canada. His novel, Fifteen Dogs, won the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. His debut novel, Childhood, won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Trillium Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and the Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Among his several other books are The Hidden Keys and Pastoral. He received a prestigious Windham Campbell Prize in 2017.
In conversation with Mark Medley.
Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction
Date: Monday, February 25, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: St. Lawrence Branch, Toronto Public Library, 171 Front Street East, Toronto
Women in Crime Fiction: victims, sidekicks, femme fatales and heroes. Desmond P. Ryan is the author of a new series launched in September 2018. Des's stories come from years as a detective with Toronto Police Services. Des now teaches Police Foundations at Humber College and writes the DC Mike O'Shea series while his two-year-old naps.
Ren Navarro: Craft Beer's Diversity Problem
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. Toronto.
The popularity of craft beer in Ontario has multiplied over the past few years, to the delight of discerning palates across the province. Yet, if you look at who owns craft breweries and who gets represented in craft beer marketing, you'll notice a lack of diversity.
So why is this a problem? How can the craft beer industry shift to better represent the diverse population of Ontario? And what will happen when craft brewers realize the untapped potential of creating a craft beer culture that includes everyone?
Ren Navarro, craft beer expert and founder of Beer. Diversity., will lead a discussion on these issues, with Tej Sandu, co-founder of Merit Brewing, and award-winning beer writer Robin LeBlanc.
Before and after the discussion, the bar in the Appel Salon will sell craft beers by MERIT Brewery, Red Circle Brewery, Muddy York Brewing Company.
Come learn, come taste, and come discuss these issues with fellow craft beer fans!
Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Cedarbrae Branch, Toronto Public library, 545 Markham Road, Toronto
Toronto filmmaker, Christene Browne, reads from her second novel, Philomena (Unloved). A poignant story about Philomena Jones, who was born in the Caribbean but abandoned by her mother and left at the mercy of her grandmother who, after raising many children and grandchildren, is not capable of dedicating herself to another child. Love-starved, Philomena is easy prey. Abused by her pastor, Philomena begins a descent into mental instability. She leaves the islands for America, but ends up homeless and battling mental illness. Released from a psyche ward, Philomena is sent to a supportive housing facility for women. In this most unexpected of places, she finally realizes her dream of family.
Christene Browne is a well-respected and internationally acclaimed Toronto independent filmmaker and was the first Black woman to direct a feature film in Canada. In 2011 she was awarded the Visionary award by the Women's International Film & Television Showcase for her ground-breaking documentary series, Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language which features Noam Chomsky. She is currently completing a feature documentary on Toronto's Regent Park - the oldest and largest Canadian housing complex and developing an animated film on the early life of famed Canadian author Austin Clarke. This is Christene's second novel.
For more information on Christene Browne: https://www.christenebrowne.com/
André Alexis: Days by Moonlight
Date: Thursday, Feb ruary 21, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Atrium, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto
"Gulliver's Travels meets The Underground Railroad: a road trip through the countryside - and the psyche - by the author of Fifteen Dogs."
Botanist Alfred Homer, ever hopeful and constantly surprised, is invited on a road trip by his parents' friend, Professor Morgan Bruno, who wants company as he tries to unearth the story of the mysterious poet John Skennen. But this is no ordinary road trip.
André Alexis was born in Trinidad and grew up in Canada. His novel, Fifteen Dogs, won the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. His debut novel, Childhood, won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Trillium Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and the Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Among his several other books are The Hidden Keys and Pastoral. He received a prestigious Windham Campbell Prize in 2017.
In conversation with Mark Medley.
Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction
Date: Monday, February 25, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: St. Lawrence Branch, Toronto Public Library, 171 Front Street East, Toronto
Women in Crime Fiction: victims, sidekicks, femme fatales and heroes. Desmond P. Ryan is the author of a new series launched in September 2018. Des's stories come from years as a detective with Toronto Police Services. Des now teaches Police Foundations at Humber College and writes the DC Mike O'Shea series while his two-year-old naps.
Ren Navarro: Craft Beer's Diversity Problem
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. Toronto.
The popularity of craft beer in Ontario has multiplied over the past few years, to the delight of discerning palates across the province. Yet, if you look at who owns craft breweries and who gets represented in craft beer marketing, you'll notice a lack of diversity.
So why is this a problem? How can the craft beer industry shift to better represent the diverse population of Ontario? And what will happen when craft brewers realize the untapped potential of creating a craft beer culture that includes everyone?
Ren Navarro, craft beer expert and founder of Beer. Diversity., will lead a discussion on these issues, with Tej Sandu, co-founder of Merit Brewing, and award-winning beer writer Robin LeBlanc.
Before and after the discussion, the bar in the Appel Salon will sell craft beers by MERIT Brewery, Red Circle Brewery, Muddy York Brewing Company.
Come learn, come taste, and come discuss these issues with fellow craft beer fans!