Community Conversations with OPL

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Community Conversations LogoOPL 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.
 

October 2022

October is Library Month in Canada, and this month's Community Conversations theme focuses on an important core value for libraries: intellectual freedom. Despite having strong traditions of free expression and free inquiry, Canada also has a long-standing tradition of censorship. Libraries play an important and vital role in preserving and upholding intellectual freedom. 
 

📅 Programs and Community Events


📚 Reads


🔗 Related Information and Resources

November 2022

This month, we explore what it means to “belong”–how we find a sense of place within one’s community, the desire to feel seen by one's peers and how we seek to feel welcomed and accepted no matter what one’s identity, race, culture, abilities, orientation, etc.
 

📅 Programs and Community Events


📚 Reads


🔗 Related Information and Resources



 

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

📖 Reads


🎫 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 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

📖 Reads


Related Information 

Read Woke Canada Challenge: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Voices

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

📚 Reads


🔗 Related Information and Resources

June 2022

In June, Community Conversations will centre and celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and experiences, bring awareness to support services and build community connections . Our programs and events will also align with the start of Pride celebrations.  

📅 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

🔗 Related Information and Resources

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 *Watch Recording on YouTube 
Hairpipe Beading Workshop with Naomi Smith - October 1 at 2 pm


📚 Reads


🔗 Related Information and Resources

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