Community Conversations with OPL
OPL is an important anchor in the community, and through the library you can experience greater awareness, access, and use of library services in ways that uniquely serve your needs.We are bringing those experiences together for you through our Community Conversations Series, a collection of partnered programs, events, and resources to engage you in thoughtful discussions on social issues and polarizing topics. We'll explore these conversational themes each month, see our upcoming lineup below. Use the drop down tabs for each month below to view the affiliated programs, reading lists and resources for each month's focus.
Community Conversations Series supports OPL’s mission to bring together people, information and ideas to enrich lives and build healthy communities.
Thank you to our community partners for their support in building community connections.
September: Indigenous Arts, Culture and Voices
September 2022
Throughout the month of September, Community Conversations will focus on the recognition and celebration of arts, traditions and voices of First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists of Canada. We invite you to explore traditional art forms through programming and resources including literature, painting, beadwork and more. We also recognize the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, as part of our commitment to acknowledge the past and the reconciliation work that needs to continue. OPL is located on the Treaty Lands #22 of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, for being stewards of this traditional territory.
Related: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30
📅 Programs and Community Events
Virtual Woodland Paint Class with Patrick Hunter - September 9 at 7 pm
An Evening with Joshua Whitehead - September 21 at 7 pm
Hairpipe Beading Workshop with Naomi Smith - October 1 at 2 pm
📚 Reads
- Indigenous History Month - Adult Non-Fiction
- Indigenous History Month - Adult Fiction
- Indigenous History Month - Teen Fiction
- Indigenous History Month - Children's Books
- Residential Schools In Canada
- Celebrate Indigenous Stories – Kids Collection 1 | Collection 2 | Picture Books
- Celebrate Indigenous Stories – Middle School
- Celebrate Indigenous Stories – Teens Non-Fiction | Fiction
- Celebrate Indigenous Stories - Adult Non-Fiction | Fiction | Collection 3
- Indigenous Art - Preschool
- Indigenous Art - School Age
- Indigenous Art - Teen
- Indigenous Art - Adult
🔗 Related Information and Resources
- Enjoy a walk along the Moccasin Trails and explore the history of the lands from an Indigenous perspective. Follow the Moccasin Trails signs along Bronte Creek Heritage Trail and along Sixteen Mile Creek Inner Valley to Dundas Street West at Lions Valley.
- Visit Tannery Park and explore the First Nations history wall and Moccasin Identifier, which was built to promote public awareness of the significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Métis and Indigenous communities
- Episode 2: #OurOakville is for Indigenous History. This podcast welcomes special guest Darin Wybenga, Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Coordinator with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Wybenga brings his wisdom and knowledge of history and offers context and understanding to the land we now call Oakville.
- Episode 3: #OurOakville is for Indigenous Peoples. To encourage dialogue, and foster relationships, trust, and understanding, this podcast invites local Indigenous community member Angela Bellegarde to share her experience of belonging in Oakville. Julian Kingston, Supervisor of the Oakville Museum, joins the conversation to share how our museum can improve the stories we share.
- Study the Assembly of First Nations: It’s Our Time: Education Toolkit
- Read, listen, watch and try resources available on the Government of Canada’s Learn More About National Indigenous History Month page.
- Read about Halton Region approving actions to support meaningful Indigenous relationships, demonstrates commitment to reconciliation.
- Listen to and learn from Indigenous voices with A Day to Listen, organized by the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund in celebration of the diversity of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.
- Take part in the 215 Pledge
October: Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice
October 2022
November: Belonging
November 2022
February: Black History and Culture
February 2022
This is an opportunity to recognize the experiences and accomplishments of the Black Canadians throughout our country’s history, who have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today. Throughout February OPL offered programs, events and resources to learn about Black history and celebrate Black voices.
💻 Programs and Community Events
- Rewatch Video: Author Event: Dionne Samuels - Bird of Paradise
- Celebrating African Cultures through Stories with Ekiuwa Aire
- Equity & Diversity Book Club: Project 1619: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah Jones (In Partnership with HEDR and Halton Region Library systems)
- Oakville's Black History Virtual Tour
📖 Reads
- Celebrating Black Voices - Adult Fiction
- Celebrating Black Voices - Kids
- Celebrating Black Voices - Teen
- Reading Challenge: Read Woke
🎫 Community Events
Oakville Museum presents two exhibits for the public, "Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History" Exhibit (both in person and virtual), and Oakville’s Black History Exhibit, a set of 14 themed banners celebrating the heritage of Black Canadians in our community, installed at Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre, Trafalgar Park Community Centre, and Glen Abbey Community Centre. [IS THIS STILL AVAILABLE?]
Halton Black History Awareness Society is running an essay contest in partnership with the Halton District School Board and other Halton community partners. The contest will run from February 22 to May 31, 2022. Learn more about the contest and how to participate. For those looking for resources for their essay, check out the staff curated OPL reading list: Local Lens: The Black Experience in Halton.
Related Information
Online resources at OPL: Family History
Local and family history library services
Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
April: Sustainable Living, Climate Change and Food Waste
April 2022
“Climate change”, “sustainability”, “ecological impact” …we’ve all heard these terms but our understanding of them may not be clear.
Throughout April, OPL is offering programs with local organizations and sharing curated resources to help you better understand the impacts of modern life, and how to manage your environmental footprint and on a local and global scale.
💻 Programs and Community Events
- Indigenous Agroecology, Presented by Miinikaan Innovation and Design - April 11 at 2 pm
- Sewing 101: DIY Book Bag, In Partnership with Creative Community Hive - April 12 at 6:30 pm
- Introduction to Sustainability and Climate Change - April 13 at 12 pm
- Eco Champs - April 16 at 10 am
- Eco Champs Jr - April 21 at 4 pm
- OakvilleReady for Climate Change, Presented by Halton Environmental Network/Town of Oakville - April 21 at 12 pm
- Using Biomimicry to Design a Robot, In Partnership with BioEndeavor - April 23 at 2 pm
- The Circular Toy Design Challenge, In Partnership with BioEndeavor - April 24 at 2 pm
- Food Waste and Climate Change, Presented by Halton Food - April 27 at 12 pm
📖 Reads
- Sustainable Living - Preschool
- Sustainable Living - School Aged
- Sustainable Living - Teen
- Sustainable Living - Adults
- Sustainability - Fashion and Sewing
Related Information
Read Woke Canada Challenge: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Voices
May: Mental Health and Well-being
May 2022
Annually, May is known as a month focused on mental health and wellness. This month, OPL is collaborating with several partners to learn about how to talk and recognize signs of mental health struggle with yourself and/or in others, building resiliency, healing and well-being practices to incorporate in your life, the resources available to you in your community, and much more.
📅 Programs and Community Events
- Resilience in the Rough: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Author Mark Henick - May 5 at 1 pm
- Mental Health: Start the Conversation with Soch Mental Health and OPL - May 9 at 12 pm
- Forest Bathing In Partnership with Oakvillegreen Conservation Association - May 11 at 1 pm
- Mindfulness Storyime with OPL Staff - May 17 at 2 pm
- Bibliotherapy: Reading for Health, Well-being and Resilience with Dr. Natalia Tukhareli - May 19 at 7 pm
- SafeTALK Training Program for Suicide Prevention - May 21 at 1 pm
- Wings of Change - Peer Mental Health Support presented by Natalie Harris - May 31 at 6 pm
📚 Reads
🔗 Related Information and Resources
- Community resources through Oakville Public Library
- Family health resources in Oakville
- Library resources on mental health and mental illness
- Halton Community Services Directory - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- ConnexOntario
- Children’s Mental Health Ontario
- Kids Help Phone
- Soch Mental Health - Start the mental health conversation to break the stigma in the South Asian community.
June: 2SLGBTQI+ Voices
June 2022
📅 Programs and Community Events
Supporting Global 2SLGBTQ+ Human Rights in Ukraine - June 9 at 6:30 pm
Drag Queen Storytime with Fay and Fluffy - June 11 at 10 am
Take and Make: Pride Not Prejudice Book Bag - June 17 at 6 pm
Virtual Book Club - Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman - June 25 at 11 am
📚 Reads
- 2SLGBTQIA+ - Preschool
- 2SLGBTQIA+ Picture Books
- 2SLGBTQIA+ - School Age
- 2SLGBTQIA+ - Teen
- 2SLGBTQIA+ - Adult
🔗 Related Information and Resources
- 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations
- AFFIRM
- Asian Community AIDS Services
- Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Addiction and Mental Health Services
- Determination Martial Arts, Rainbow Pals Summer Camp
- FrancoQueer
- Halton Pride Collective
- How to Find - 24 Hour Crisis and Distress Services, Halton
- Interligne
- International Railroad for Queer Refugees
- Lesbian Gay Bi Trans YouthLine
- LGBTQ+ Youth HeLP, Online/Web Service
- Ontario. Ministry of Health, No physical address, Sexual Health Infoline Ontario/The Mainline
- Pflag Canada
- ROCK, Danielle's Place - Eating Disorder Support and Resource Centre
- ROCK, Positive Space Network
- Ten Oaks Project
- Thrive Counselling, Individual, Couple, and Family Counselling
- Toronto Pflag
- Trans Lifeline
