Special Events

Past Events:

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Project

During 2022 the Atwater Library had special activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Writing Contest: 70 Words (or less) for 70 Years – Click here for details. Writer and editor Mark Abley chose the following contestants for prizes and honourable mention:

1st Prize – Afreina Noor, Montreal

2nd Prize – Donna Davis, Montreal

3rd Prize – Wanda Potrykus, Westmount

4th Prize – Catherine Parceaud, St-Valérien de Rimouski

Honourable Mention (alphabetical order) – Suzanne Belson, Montreal; LaFlorya Gauthier, Châteauguay; Phyllis Sise, Foster; Catherine Parceaud, St-Valérien de Rimouski (for a different entry from her 4th-place winner); Judy Parceaud, Rimouski (for two entries); Ellie Chartier, Montreal; Shira Katz, Côte Saint-Luc (for four entries); Wanda Potrykus, Westmount (for a different entry from her 3rd-place winner).

Click here to see the 16 entries that earned prizes and honourable mention.

“The Queen and I” Writing Workshops Online – Writer Elaine Kalman Naves led three separate sessions with capacity for 15 on April 20, April 27 and May 4 at 2:00 pm.

Public Exhibition at the Atwater Library – From June 2 to December 23, we exhibited pictures and memorabilia as well as select Writing Contest entries. DIANEBERNIERDESIGN did the Exhibition design and installation.

Talk by Peter McNally – On Thursday, June 2 at 12:30 pm, Peter McNally gave a talk on “Queen Elizabeth II and Her Platinum Jubilee, 1952 – 2022.” He is a McGill University Professor Emeritus and noted authority on the royal family.

Presentation of Sovereign’s Medal – Capping off the festivities, Richard Pound, Co-Chair of the Atwater Library’s Capital Campaign, presented the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to Susan McGuire, the Atwater Library’s volunteer historian.

Click here to see photos of the festive opening event on June 2.

Choral Concert – On Tuesday, November 29 at 7:30 pm, we co-hosted with the Drummond Foundation a Platinum Jubilee Choral ConcertMegan Batty directed both professional and amateur choristers, including students from McGill University and l’École de musique Vincent-d’Indy. The hour-long program featured works from across Canada in French, English and Ojibway.

St. Andrew’s Ball Guest of Honour, Lord Duncan of Springbank

On November 16, 2022, in partnership with the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal., we hosted a public talk by Lord Duncan of Springbank, 2022 St. Andrew’s Ball Guest of Honour. His topic was the current state of affairs in the United Kingdom: “What on earth is going on in the UK?” The event was hybrid with both in-person and virtual attendees taking part in lively discussion.

2021 Atwater Library COVID Socials by Zoom

TUESDAY, May 18, 2021 from 10:00 to 11:30 pm
Chat, compare notes about vaccinations and summer plans. And if the spirit moves you, share a poem, story or joke. Nicola Sibthorpe will lead a fun discussion and invite you to read a poem you’ve written or reprise a recitation from your youth. Poetry sharing, discussion and socializing. Nicola Sibthorpe will invite participants to share a poem, either a favorite of theirs or one they have written themselves. BYOB – Brunch or Breakfast!
To REGISTER: nicola@atwaterlibrary.ca.

TUESDAY, June 1, 2021 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm
The Intentional Wanderer – Learning about the Flâneur
Nicola Sibthorpe discusses the historical French concept of the Flâneur, followed by discussion. Attendees will be encouraged to detail their own flânerie experience by writing a letter.
To REGISTER: nicola@atwaterlibrary.ca.

TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Trivia 5 à 7 – Come for a fun session of trivia spanning decades. Quiz leader Nicola Sibthorpe will place participants on teams for a friendly competition. BYOB!
To REGISTER: nicola@atwaterlibrary.ca.

2019 Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW*

WEDNESDAY, September 25, 2019 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin are in the Atwater Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of your special books. First come, first served.

*FEE $3 per book for Atwater Library members and $5 per book for others. All proceeds go to the Library for improvements in our community services.

2018 Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW

WEDNESDAY, September 26, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin are in the Atwater Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of your special books. First come, first served.

2017 Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW

WEDNESDAY, September 27, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin were in the Atwater Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of your special books.

2016 Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW*

WEDNESDAY, September 14, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin are in the Atwater Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of your special books. First come, first served.

*FEE $3 per book for Atwater Library members and $4 per book for others. All proceeds go to the Library for improvements in our community services.

de Freitas Wilfrid_Atwater Library Books Roadshow

2015 Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW

WEDNESDAY, September 17, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm

Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin were in the Atwater Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of your special books.

2014 Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW

WEDNESDAY, September 17, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm

Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin were in the Atwater Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of your special books.

SILENT MOVIE SCREENING with PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT

Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 6:30 pm

I Was Born, But…, the great 1932 silent film by Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu, was screened in the Library’s auditorium with Jamie Woollard, who provided accompaniment on a vintage upright piano.


2013 Scrabble FUNdraiser with World Champions

Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 12:45 to 4:00 pm

Scrabble Fundraiser

On Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 12:45 to 4:00 pm Scrabble enthusiasts came to the Library’s Reading Room to watch world champions David Boys and Joel Wapnick in action and have a chance to match wits with them. There were two games. In the first, players were able to pay $5 to have a champion play their turn. The second included opportunities to be one of several simultaneous challengers of a champion.

The event raised over $1,500 for Atwater Library community programming.


How can libraries adapt to the digital age?

Monday, April 8, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

On Monday, April 8, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm the Atwater Library and Concordia’s University of the Streets Café jointly hosted a panel discussion on “Connecting People to Content: How can libraries adapt to the digital age?” Panelists included Eric Craven, Coordinator of the Atwater Library’s innovative Digital Literacy Project; Kathleen King, a community worker at the YMCA Residence; and Edward (Ted) Little, a Concordia professor specializing in socially engaged and activist theatre.


Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW

Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm

Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin were in the Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of people’s special books.

*FEE $2 per book for Atwater Library members and $3 per book for others. All proceeds went towards Library improvements.


Photography Exhibit

Thursday, June 12, 2012

In conjunction with BLOOMSDAY MONTREAL, from June 12 to June 27, 2012 the Atwater Library displayed photographs by Kate Hutchinson from Ulysses, a personal journey. Kate Hutchinson used James Joyce’s seminal novel Ulysses as a premise for discovering and connecting with her Irish roots. She and her father travelled to Dublin to explore their connections to Ulysses and photographed the results. Much like in Ulysses many of the images featured the mundane and everyday life, with the idea that much of a personality can be revealed in simple actions and thoughts. Hutchinson’s great-great-grandfather was Lord Mayor of Dublin on the day Ulysses features and is therefore mentioned in Joyce’s novel on several occasions.


PAUL ALMOND READING and RECEPTION Co-hosted by the Quebec Writers’ Federation

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Author Paul Almond read from and discussed the latest book in his Alford series, which covers 200 years of world history from the perspective of a family who settled on the Gaspé coast of Québec. For more information about the author and his work, see www.paulalmond.com.

This event was co-hosted by the Atwater Library and the Quebec Writers’ Federation as one of their Writers Out Loud series.


SILENT MOVIE SCREENING with PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT

Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 6:30 pm

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, a 1920 silent horror film, was screened in the Library’s 1920 auditorium with Jamie Woollard providing accompaniment on our vintage upright piano.

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari was directed by Robert Wiene from a screenplay by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. It is one of the most influential of German Expressionist films and is considered one of the greatest horror movies of the silent era and credited with introducing the twist ending in cinema.

Admission: Pay what you can. Tax receipts for donations of $15 and more.

Net proceeds went for the Atwater Library’s community educational and cultural programs.


Atwater Library BOOKS ROADSHOW

Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin are in the Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of people’s special books.
*FEE $2 per book for Atwater Library members and $3 per book for others. All proceeds for Library improvements.


Lawn Book Sale and BBQ

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A wide variety of lightly-used paperbacks and hardcover books – all for a song!
Delicious barbecued hotdogs and soft drinks available for a donation to the Library.


“For my dear Atwater” – An Exhibit of Treasures from Our Archives

Mid-June to Mid-October 2011

The wonderful exhibit of treasures from our organization’s archives took place in the elegant Reading Room. Curated by Edward McCann, the exhibit’s title was from Leonard Cohen’s inscription of his 1964 book Flowers for Hitler, that was in the display. The exhibit was launched at our AGM on June 14, 2011.

Click on this link to see an August 5, 2011 Concordia University Television (CUTV Montréal) interview with volunteer curator Edward McCann: >http://www.cutvmontreal.com/videos/3 – starts at about 4:15 and ends at 8:00.


AGM + OPENING OF EXHIBIT OF ARCHIVAL TREASURES

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 6:00 pm

The Annual General Meeting of the Atwater Library of the Mechanics’ Institute of Montreal was held in the Library’s Reading Room, where an exhibit of treasures from the organization’s archives was launched at the start of the evening. The exhibit, called “For my dear Atwater” (Leonard Cohen’s inscription of his 1964 book Flowers for Hitler that is in the display), was curated by Edward McCann.


OCTET PLUS SINGS SONGS FOR SPRINGTIME: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE ATWATER LIBRARY

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 8:00 pm

OCTET PLUS is a semi-professional choir of about 20 voices, directed by Alan Daye and accompanied by Constance Osborne on the piano and John Osborne on the flute.
*Admission is $15 and included a post-concert reception with desserts and coffee.

Octet Plus


Reception For Israeli Author Alex Epstein

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 6:30 pm

The Atwater Library and the Consulate General of Israel co-hosted a reception in honour of visiting Israeli author Alex Epstein. The author read from and discussed his collections of short stories, Blue Has No South and Lunar Savings Time.


Suzanne Daningburg

Book Launch Reception

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Atwater Library had a reception to celebrate the launch of Suzanne Daningburg‘s novel The Lillivax Inheritance: A Montreal Mystery. The author read from and discussed the book, and there were live music and refreshments. Free admission.


Atwater Library Scrabble FUNdraiser

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Click here to see a Westmount Examiner story headlined “Scrabble champs put the fun back into fundraising”.

The 2011 Atwater Library Scrabble FUNdraiser took place on the afternoon of Saturday, April 2 with world champions Joel Wapnick and David Boys.

Here’s a picture of the two champions in action at the 2009 event (standing and wearing black).

Two Champions

The registration fee was $50 minimum for adults and $20 for children (under 18).  Tax receipts were issued for individual donations of $15 and more.

The emphasis was on fun and learning, rather than serious competition.  There was a chance to watch Montreal’s world champions Joel Wapnick and David Boys in action.  Participants paid $5 to have one of the champions play a turn for them; it was a “legal cheat”. In the second half, they had the chance to be one of six mere mortals up against a champion.  See what Wikipedia says about them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Boys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Wapnick

There were refreshments and prizes for best scores, lucky seats and most money raised for the Atwater Library.  Scrabble sets were donated by Hasbro Canada.


Silent Movie Screening With Live Piano Accompaniment

Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton’s 1926 silent comedy film The General was screened at the Library’s 1920s auditorium with Jamie Woollard providing accompaniment on our vintage upright piano. The doors opened at 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

*Admission was “pay what you can”. Two Canadian short films by Erin Weisgerber were shown first and the screening of The General was over at 8:30. Refreshments were available. All proceeds went to the Atwater Library’s community educational and cultural programs.

 


Books Roadshow

Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 1:00 pmWilfrid

Antiquarian booksellers Wilfrid de Freitas and Susan Ravdin were in the Library’s reading room to give an expert opinion on the value of people’s special books.

*FEE $2 per book for Atwater Library members and $3 per book; for others. All proceeds went for Library improvements.
(Click the picture to enlarge)


Benefit Concert in Support of the Library

Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Music from Brittany, Ireland and Beyond
A dynamic group of ten musicians offered their talents in support of the Atwater Library: Claude Bertrand (Guitar, Irish Bouzouki and Vocals), Claire Boucher (Vocals), Francine Boisvert (Fiddle), Olga Zaric (Vocals), Patti McCurdy (Tin Whistle and Vocals), Dianne Connelly (Celtic Harp and Vocals), Brad Hurley (Guitar, Irish Flute and Vocals) , Erwan Montfort (Vocals) , Danielle LeBlond (Mandolin and Vocals), and Donna-Marie Sullivan (Bodhrán and Vocals).

Freewill Offering at the Door – $10 Suggested

Over $700 was raised for the Library’s community educational and cultural programs!


Author Kathleen Winter read from and discussed her critically acclaimed novel Annabel

Thurs., Sept. 16, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Kathleen WinterEveryone was invited to the Library’s Reading Room for this special event, which featured live music and complimentary refreshments.”A beautiful book, lyrical and compelling . . . Annabel‘s strength lies in probing the dilemma of sexuality and self-knowledge. I have never read such an intimate portrait of a person struggling to live inside a self that the world sees as a dreadful mistake.”—Katherine Govier, The National Post

The book was on sale at a discount price.

Also, there was a raffle of a basket donated by Kathleen Winter containing:

  •     a handmade doll who could be male, or female, or both
  •     a signed copy of Annabel with a hand-crocheted bookmark
  •     a signed copy of boYs, her award-winning collection of short stories
  •     a Rae Spoon CD

The raffle proceeds went to the Atwater Library for community educational and cultural programs.

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Link for publisher’s website with a wealth of information on Kathleen Winter and Annabel:
http://www.anansi.ca/titles.cfm?pub_id=1395
http://houseofanansipress.wordpress.com/

Click here to see the publisher’s news release