Join the Reconciliation Reading Group; hear tales of Far-Flung Birding or join newcomers at the library

Learn more about the Reconciliation Reading Group; enjoy a presentation by photographer and explorer Kyle Blaney, and hear about the Newcomers group – three among several upcoming events at the County libraries.

The Reconciliation Reading Group is a partnership between the County of Prince Edward Public Library and the County Museums. The most recent meeting was held at the Bloomfield Branch Library and participants engaged in a thoughtful conversation about 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph.

The next discussion is set for Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Macaulay House in Picton. Participants are to talk about When the Pine Needles Fall: Indigenous Acts of Resistance by Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel with Sean Carlton. As the publisher describes, “There have been many things written about Canada’s violent siege of Kanehsatà:ke and Kahnawà:ke in the summer of 1990, but When the Pine Needles Fall: Indigenous Acts of Resistance is the first book from the perspective of Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, who was the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) spokesperson during the siege.”

The book was part of the longlist for the 2025 Canada Reads, one of CBC Books Best Canadian nonfiction Books of 2024, and was a joint winner of the Canadian Historical Association Indigenous History Book prize. Copies of the book are available at the library. All are welcome to join the conversation, which will be moderated by Jessica Chase and Jane Macdonald.

Belleville resident Kyle Blaney developed a passion for birding after a serendipitous encounter at Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area in Prince Edward County. In addition to being an explorer and photographer, he is also a data analyst and salesforce administrator for Shad Canada, a nonprofit organization that offers innovative summer programs for youth.

A passionate advocate for citizen science, he has contributed 8,400 images to eBird and 10,1000 observations to iNaturalist. His photographs have been featured in Canadian Geographic and birding magazines across Canada and the US. Library organizers are pleased to host him Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Picton branch.

In his presentation, From Tide to Tundra: Tales of Far-Flung Birding in Canada, he will share what draws him to birds and birding, and chronicle his unique goal to “bird” every region of Canada. He’ll share his favourite photographs from adventures this year in Churchill, Manitoba, Inuvik, Nunavut and Labrador, sharing the compelling stories behind each shot. Kyle will also discuss the optical and digital tools he uses, emphasizing that the most vital for capturing bird photos are his brain and his feet. Don’t miss what is sure to be an engaging and humorous talk – all are welcome.

Are you new to the County? The Newcomers Group meets biweekly at the Picton Branch Library on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. to meet others new to the are and hear from guest speakers. You can find the schedule at peclibrary.org or connect with group leader Judy Silverberg by email, judyinpicton@gmail.com

Click here to visit the library website at peclibrary.org and view the events calendar to discover more upcoming events, or drop in to any branch of the library.