Atwater Library and Computer Centre

Monday, January 25, 2016 at 7:00 pm

Watch the event here:

Making Scenes of Our Own: Plays of English Quebec
There’s no shortage of productions of British, French, American or even Ontarian plays. But English-Quebec plays, contemporary and past, may be harder to find. And while plays written in English in Quebec are being given more space in theatre seasons these days, how did we get here? Is there a canon of English-Quebec plays? Is one even possible?

Join four artistic directors and one playwright representing five English-language Montreal theatre companies for an interactive discussion of the past and present of English-language plays in Quebec. Emceed by actor and artistic director Quincy Armorer, the panelists will each speak about a play their company has produced and talk about its place in our theatrical history. The audience will be invited to participate in the larger discussion to follow. As well, Jesse Stong, leader of Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal’s Young Creators’ Unit (YCU), will lead a short writing activity with members of the YCU and interested members of the audience.

The panel:

Quincy Armorer, Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop

Vittorio Rossi, playwright, representing Centaur Theatre

Annabel Soutar, Artistic Director of Porte Parole

Guy Sprung, Artistic Director of Infinitheatre

Rahul Varma, Artistic Director of Teesri Duniya Theatre

A co-production of our Atwater Writers Exhibition and Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal.

Where: Atwater Library Auditorium  —  Admission is free

Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 7:00 pm

Screening of the film Ladies and Gentlemen…Mr. Leonard Cohen with discussion led by poet, non-fiction writer, journalist, and lifelong Leonard Cohen fan Mark Abley. Audience members are encouraged to bring a copy of their favourite Leonard Cohen poem for a fun and accessible poetry activity that will follow the film.

Friday, November 27, 2015, 5:00 – 8:00 pm

HOLIDAY POP-UP BOOK FAIR!

Celebrating English-Quebec Writing and Publishing

Sponsored by the Montreal Gazette

Featuring author appearances and door prizes – more than 25 participating publishers – more than 50 local authors!

Celebrate the Launch of the Fair – Raise a glass, meet some authors and buy some books! The publishers and authors gather to sign and sell books. Join us for wine, cheese and vegan snacks. Sponsored by Penguin Random House.

Saturday, November 28, 2015, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

HOLIDAY POP-UP BOOK FAIR! continues –

Browse All Day – Many more authors, hundreds of books.

Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, books for kids, award-winners, bestsellers and more.

Give the gift of a book from here.

Presented by the Association of English-Language Publishers of Quebec and the Atwater Writers Exhibition of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre.

Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Screening of the film Leonard Cohen – Portrait Intime with discussion led by Concordia University English Professor Judith Herz about Cohen’s poetry and songs as part of the Library’s Lunchtime Series. Film is in English.

On May 28, 2015 we hosted a gala reception to launch the Atwater Writers Exhibition (AWE). Well-known cartoonist Terry Mosher (Aislin) hosted the event that attracted a throng of writers and Library supporters.

Click here to see Global TV coverage, including an interview with Terry Mosher and AWE project coordinator Elise Moser.

The exhibition continues through 2015 and is open to the public. Click here for more information.

Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm

“Rapid-Fire Readings, Ricochet Writing: Montreal Authors Write Before Your Very Eyes!”
Twenty-four contemporary Montreal authors from across the impressive range of our literary scene offered rapid-fire readings from their work. They also created a brand-new literary jewel by adding a line each to a collective text. At the end of this fast-moving happening the final product was read aloud with panache and brilliant comic timing by playwright Colleen Curran. The Quebec Writers’ Federation and the Atwater Library co-hosted this exciting event.

Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 12:30 pm
To mark INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (three days early), poet Susan Elmslie screened the film Still Waters: The Poetry of P.K. Page, directed by Donald Winkler for the NFB, and led a discussion about P.K. Page’s work and her life in Montreal.

For more information about this exciting project, join our email list or contact Elise Moser at info@atwaterlibrary.ca

Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Filmmaker Donald Winkler screened A Red Carpet for the Sun: The Life of Irving Layton followed by Q&A.

Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Writers Bryan Demchinsky and Elaine Kalman Naves engaged in a conversation about Quebec’s great English-language writers of the past.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Guy Rodgers, Executive Director of the English-Language Arts Network (ELAN),  moderated a well-attended public consultation and discussion about the AWE project.