The winner of the CBC’s 2010 Canada Reads was Nikolski" by Quebec author Nicolas Dickner. It has received several awards for the French-language edition including the Prix des libraires 2006, and Prix Anne-Hébert 2006 (Best first book). The story revolves around 3 young people, born thousands of miles apart who all are now in Montreal in 1989. The story charts the curious and unexpected courses of personal migration, and shows how they just might eventually lead one “home”. Over the following ten years, Noah, Joyce and the unnamed narrator, will sometimes cross paths and sometimes almost meet each other within the neighbourhood of Montreal they inhabit. Dickner creates a wonderful sense of place as they all experience the city. Their journeys seem haphazard, more often guided by the prevailing winds than personal will, yet their stories weave in and out of other wondrous tales — stories about such things as fearsome female pirates, urban archaeologists, unexpected floods, fish of all kinds, a mysterious book without a cover and a dysfunctional compass whose needle obstinately points to the remote Aleutian village of Nikolski. If you have not read it yet, why not reserve a copy at the library?
The winner of the National Post’s “Canada also Reads” was also announced earlier this week, and our local favourite “The Day the Falls Stood Still” by local author Cathy Marie Buchanan missed the podium. The winning title is “Come, Thou Tortoise”, by Jessica Grant and copies are also available at our Library.
Big Screen Tuesday for March 23, features one of the 2010 Oscar nominees; Invictus. The film, based on true events, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Then newly elected President knew his nation was still racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. He believed he could bring his people together through the universal language of sport, and rallied South Africa's rugby team as they made their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match. Rated PG, and showing in the LaMarsh Room at 7pm.
Monday March 22 from 9am-3pm is the final of this year’s Canada Revenue Agency Tax Help Clinics for low income earners, hosted at the library. Call the library for more information at 905-356-8080. Walk ins are accepted, if they meet the eligibility criteria.
It’s time for Family Fun Story time, again on Thursday March 25, from 6:30 to 7:30pm at the Victoria Avenue Library. The theme this month is “Hop into Spring”, and the registration is $1 per child, or $2 for the whole family. Join us for an action filled hour of stories, games, a craft and a short film presentation.
Easter Story times and crafts are scheduled at Stamford branch and the Victoria Avenue library for next Saturday March 27. Call the library to register for the various Easter egg crafts, a glowing Egg Lamp at Victoria for ages 8 and up, or a special everlasting egg at Stamford for 3-6 year olds.