Blue Mountains Public Library News, April 2025

BMPL Set to Premiere 11th REEL History Film Documentary

We're excited to share the trailer for "Journey of Water," our latest REEL History film. It's a story that will move you, inspire you, and deepen your appreciation for this precious element. The film will premiere April 24th at 7pm at the TBM Second Annual Sustainability Summit.

Watch the trailer on YouTube:

Staff from L.E. Shore posing with Ken Haigh

The One and Only Ken has Retired

We’ve been fortunate to have Ken Haigh, writer and L.E. Shore’s first CEO, working with us part-time.

While we will miss him dearly, we’re excited that he’ll be back to present at our 30th anniversary event in December 2025!

Visit the BMPL Event Calendar
Art by Beverley Smith

Explore Our Latest Exhibit:
"It All Begins with a Scribble" 

Showing April 5-30
(The Gallery at L.E. Shore Library)

Beverley Smith presents a new exhibit that dives into the excitement of creating and experimenting! Featuring vibrant mixed media works that fuse woven beadwork, paints, markers, and a whole lot of energetic scribbling.

The exhibit opens Saturday, April 5 from 2-4 pm. Enjoy refreshments, chat with Beverley, and take part in an interactive art display where you will replicate her process, creating your own scribbles right on the gallery walls. 

Learn more about the Show

Beverley Smith at La Macina Di San Cresci in Tuscany

Artist Talk with Beverley Smith

Thursday, April 17 at 7pm
(The Gallery at L.E. Shore Library)

Take a deep dive into Beverley’s work and her experience creating art in Tuscany. "It All Begins with a Scribble" highlights artwork primarily created over the past two years at La Macina Di San Cresci, an artist residency in the Tuscan hills. After each residency, Beverley carefully transported her pieces back to her studio, nestled in the hills south of Thornbury, where the artmaking continued.

Register for Bev's Talk

Community Assists Day

Community Assists Day, featuring Grey Bruce Legal Clinic

Wednesday, April 9 from 2-4pm
(L.E. Shore Library)

Looking for a helping hand? Looking to find more support? Need help navigating "the system"?

Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic provides free legal services for low income residents. Stop by to learn about their Elder Law Project, and how they are supporting Housing Rights for Tenants.

D.M. Buehler
Zanne Raby

Local Author Talk with Zanne Raby and D.M. Buehler:
On Writing & Publishing

Saturday, April 12 from 2-3:30pm
(L.E. Shore Library)

Join us for an exciting talk with local authors Zanne Raby and D. M. Buehler who will give an insider's look into their works, creative processes, and their thoughts on the best ways for an author to get published.

Raby is also a publisher and owner of Ridgecrest Books, an independent Canadian publisher located in Thornbury, Ontario, specializing in science fiction and fantasy. She will provide a more informative overview on publishing in Ontario and share valuable tips on navigating the industry. This is a fantastic event for networking, learning about the world of publishing and exploring new books. 

RSVP for Author Talk

Find Event on BMPL Event Calendar

Stories of the Stars:
Indigenous Astronomy

Tuesday, April 22 at 7pm
(L.E. Shore Library)

An evening of storytelling and cultural teachings. Come and learn about traditional constellations, celestial stories, and their deep connections to the land. Chris Vaughan, aka AstroGeoGuy, is trained in Indigenous astronomy, including alternative constellations and star lore from Canada and other world cultures. Weather permitting, we’ll also head outside for guided stargazing.

Register for Stars

Visit BMPL Event Calendar

A Storytelling Event for Adults: Canadian Artists & Their Signature Landscapes

Thursday, April 24 at 11am
(L.E. Shore Library)

The Canadian landscape is key to the psyche of Canadian painters like Tom Thomson, William Kurelek and Emily Carr.

Join actor and storyteller, Alistair Martin, as he shares selected landscapes of these iconic painters to reveal what it meant to be Canadian in the 20th Century. During this illustrated journey across Canada’s Algonquin region, its prairies and the forests of British Columbia, participants will be encouraged to share what Canada means to us today. 

RSVP for Storytelling

Visit BMPL Event Calendar

Medicinal Mushrooms: Foraging, Benefits & Extraction

Thursday, May 1 from 6-7:30pm
(L.E. Shore Library)

Discover the incredible health benefits of mushrooms with Barefoot Brian. Explore their key active compounds and the best methods for extracting their health-boosting properties. You'll also learn about five local mushrooms that can be foraged, including how to identify them, where to find them, and how to harvest them sustainably.

This interactive presentation will include hands-on learning with samples and dried mushroom fruiting bodies to help with identification.

Register for Mushrooms

Visit BMPL Event Calendar
Visit BMPL Event Calendar

Story Time: Tails & Tales with Elizabeth and Easton!

Friday, April 4 at 11am
(L.E. Shore Library)

A heartwarming and interactive story time with children's author Elizabeth Retter and her very special furry friend, Easton—a lovable rescue dog!

Enjoy delightful stories, read by the author AND meet Easton the Dog. Don't miss this paws-itively wonderful event!

 

Ages 0-5. Drop-in program.

Visit BMPL Event Calendar

PA Day Fun with Science

Friday, April 11
(L.E. Shore Library)

10:00 AM – Discovery Zone
Step into the Discovery Zone, where curiosity leads the way! Experiment with colour chromatography, uncover the role of trees in engineering, and build your very own elastic-powered car. Who knows? You might just be the next great scientist!

Register for Discovery Zone

1:00 PM – Sticky Science
Time to get sticky! Explore the fascinating world of sticky science—make your own glue from food ingredients. Get creative with sticky art, and squish, stretch, and bounce some silly putty!

Register for Sticky Science

Visit BMPL Event Calendar

Kids Can Cook: Pizza Quesadillas

Saturday, April 26 at 11am
(L.E. Shore Library)

A fun cooking adventure program! We’re making quesadilla-style pizzas, a perfect after-school snack or an easy-peasy dinner. Kids will get hands-on in the kitchen to create their delicious masterpieces. 

Ages: 10+. Registration required. Spots are limited, so sign up today and get ready to cook up something amazing.

Register for Pizza

 

Most anticipated Canadian Reads 2025
Sam holding a copy of The Measure

Debut Books We Love

 This month’s Staff Picks theme is "Debut Books We Love," and our top pick comes from Samantha, our newest team member!

The Measure by Nikki Erlick
"The Measure" by Nikki Erlick is a fictional story that changes the lives of adults all over the world, seemingly overnight. When people are faced with the shocking question of whether or not they choose to know the number of years until their own fate, there is a mixture of panic, hope and in many cases ultimate divide. Follow eight characters through this story of love, friendship and hardship in this thought-provoking debut novel. - Sam

More Debut Staff Picks

New Gear in the Library of Things Collection
Willi Winkels in shorts on his snowboard

Willi Winkels Exhibit at the Museum

Check out a brand-new exhibit dedicated to the incredible life and innovations of Willi Winkels, a true trailblazer in the world of action sports. Discover how this local inventor's ingenuity helped shape the early days of snowboarding and relive his electrifying career as a skateboarding star. From his groundbreaking board designs to his legendary tricks, this exhibit showcases Winkels' passion, creativity, and lasting impact on the sports we love. Don't miss your chance to explore the history and legacy of a hometown hero! See it now at the Craigleith Heritage Depot.

The Women of the Collingwood Township Women's Institute

Women's Institutes of Collingwood Township

Step back in time and discover the vital role of the Women's Institutes in shaping our community. A new exhibit at the Craigleith Heritage Depot, "For Home and Country," shines a light on the numerous Women's Institutes that once flourished throughout Collingwood Township. Learn about the remarkable women who dedicated themselves to improving their communities through education, social action, and unwavering support. This exhibit is a tribute to the strength, resilience, and community spirit of the women who helped build our town.

YCAF deadline extended to April 7
Museum Intern

Special Collections Technician 

Reporting directly to the Museum Curator, the Special Collection Technician will catalog digital collections, archival materials, and artifacts, update collection records, assist with conservation efforts, create small exhibits, conduct research, prepare public-facing materials, and support visitor inquiries, including research and library requests. (26 week Intern).

Apply Now for Museum

2024 Summer Students at L.E. Shore Library

Library Programming Student

Library Programming Student is responsible for planning, promoting, and delivering creative, inclusive, and educational programming services. Additionally, supporting outreach activities across the community and work the circulation desk and deliver excellent and accessible customer service to all users and visitors of BMPL.

Apply Now for Programming

Volunteers Make Waves with photos of Library Volunteers
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