Shakespeare for Kids at the Toronto Public Library

I noticed a flyer at my branch of the Toronto Public Library about Shakespeare for Kids.

It said:

Of course, I asked my Mom if I could do it.

We signed up for the one at our branch, but we realized that we would be late if we were to go.
Luckily, I was able to find the same program at a different branch which worked out better.

So, Dad ended up taking me to the Yorkville Library every Saturday for six weeks.

We read abridged scripts of:

• Romeo and Juliet
• Twelfth Night
• MacBeth
• A Midsummer Night's Dream

It was so much fun!
We did warm up games, volunteered to read the parts of a certain character or narrator, and did tableaux of some scenes.

There were even a couple other homeschoolers in the group!

I'm kind of sad that it's over but I'm really glad that I had the chance to do it. I really love that the library has programs for everyone.

Thanks to Allison & Oliver, other volunteers, the Toronto Public Library, and TD Canada for sponsoring the program!

Premier Kathleen Wynne at the Toronto Reference Library

This evening, we went to a talk in the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library for International Women's Day. Jane Davenport - the Managing Editor of the Toronto Star interviewed Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Why would my parents take me, a boy, to a talk for International Women's Day?
My parents firmly believe that boys should be taught to respect girls and boys, women and men. We should work to make things fair for everybody.
Women's issues affect us all!


When we were going in to the library, we passed a lot of protesters.
There were different groups trying to have their views heard. They were quite peaceful.

It was a full house... but there weren't many kids.

When Premier Wynne came in, and started to talk, some protesters tried to speak over her. I don't agree with that approach... I think that if they wanted to speak to her there, they should have waited until the question period.

One of the things that they talked about was the #WhoWillYouHelp campaign.
Premier Wynne said it was the same issues she was talking about in the 1970s that we are still talking about today.  It was time to do something about it and so they launched the campaign.

We had lots of questions from the audience and she was gracious enough to address everyone who had gone up to the microphone to ask a question.

 And she was so kind that she even posed for a picture with me. :-)

Here is a link to the talk:

https://youtu.be/_2wbYBvuvHo

Thanks so much to the Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Star for the talk and a special Thank You to Premier Wynne!

Scarborough Civic Centre Branch Is Now Open!

This morning, Mom and I went to the opening of Toronto Public Library's Scarborough Civc Centre Branch!
I'm so happy!
We finally have a library in my neighbourhood!

They had all sorts of things going on to celebrate the opening.
There was a Mounted Police Officer and a Fire Truck.

Lion Dancers.

Toronto Councillors were there to celebrate as well.
I got to meet Sarah Ducette and we posed for a picture with Glenn DeBaeremaeker.

There was classical Indian dancing.

 There were short speeches by some of the people involved in opening the library.
From left to right we have City Councillers Paul Ainsley, Sarah Doucette and Glenn DeBaeremaker and members of the Toronto Public Library Board Lindsay Colley, Ron Carinci, amd Sue Grantham Nutter. (I didn't catch the name of the woman on the far right.)

Randall Adjei recited a poem that he wrote and he spoke about how poetry saved him. :-)

And we had a ribbon cutting.

 The music was excellent! I know the keyboard player's name is Michael but I don't know the name of the group.

The library has a Digital Innovation Hub which includes a 3D printer. I'm definitely going to learn how to use it!

Of course, the best part of the library was the books!

I borrowed a few of them, and for once we don't have to worry about finding a library branch and making a special trip out to return them. :-D

We have our very own library!!!!!

A new library!

I'm so excited that I'm finally getting a library at Scarborough Town Centre!
It is going to open next week!
This is the most exciting thing that has happened here since I was born!

Here are a couple pictures that we took during the construction.

Scarborough Civic Centre Library (under construction)
June 26, 2014

I also took some pictures at other library branches that I visit.
But, I am super happy that we are finally getting a library in my neighbourhood!
:-D 

City Hall

Palmerston

Beaches

Toronto Reference Library

Yorkville Branch
(decorated for Gay Pride last year)

Gerrard Ashdale Branch

Pape/Danforth Branch

Lillian H. Smith Branch

Brookbanks Library

Maryvale Library

Aboriginal Celebration: Performance and Discussion at City Hall Library

This month we have been learning about First Nations Peoples and their History.

We went to the City Hall Library for their program on  "Aboriginal Celebration: Performance and Discussion".

Volunteers from the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto shared songs, dances, drumming and stories. 

I was really impressed with Ian's regalia. He made it himself!

He shared with us the Men's Traditional Dance.
Each dance tells a story and you can see that he even uses his facial expressions to tell the story.

Cheryle shared with us the Women's Traditional Northern Dance.
It's much softer than the Men's dance but it is very strong.

She also shared with us the Women's Side Step.

They shared a story about why they use eagle feathers.
The eagle is a very sacred bird and it has really good vision. One day at a Pow Wow, an eagle saw people dancing and he wanted to see what was going on. He flew down a bit lower and he wanted to join in. He flew down to the middle of the people and they stopped dancing because they were surprised. The eagle wanted them to continue and he tried dancing but his talons got in the way. He got very sad because he couldn't dance but the people tried to comfort him.
He gave them his feathers so that he could be with them in spirit and that is why they use eagle feathers.

At the end of the presentation they invited people to join in the Crow Hop. I was the only one who joined in (again).

But it was great dancing with both Ian and Cheryl. 

And I got to pose for a picture with them as well.

I want to say a special thanks to the volunteers from the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto for putting on these programs with the Toronto Public Library. And "Thank you" to Ian, Cheryle and Isaiah for doing this presentation.

"The Travelling Cellist" at Fairview Mall

Today Dad and I went to Fairview Mall to see "The Travelling Cellist".

It's the last one I will get to see, but there is one more performance tomorrow at Albion Library.

David Hetherington performed Albinoni's Adagio at Fairview Mall. It was noisy but I could clearly hear his playing. He is an amazing cellist!

Here are some pictures from today.

I loved the arrangement of Albinoni's Adagio by Ed Hayes and I loved all of the performances that I saw.

Even though Mom wouldn't let me read the book, "The Cellist of Sarajevo" by Steven Galloway, I really loved going to see "The Travelling Cellist". I'm definitely going to read it when I'm older and I will remember these performances.

Here are the links to the other blog posts that I did about "The Travelling Cellist"

• "The Travelling Cellist" at Scarborough Civic Centre
• "The Travelling Cellist" at Harbord Bakery
• "The Travelling Cellist" at Malvern Library
• "The Travelling Cellist" at St. Lawrence Market
• "The Travelling Cellist" at Gibson House

And here is a link to the Toronto Public Library's website about "The Travelling Cellist"
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ktr/the-travelling-cellist.jsp

"The Travelling Cellist" at Gibson House

 This evening Mom and I went to Gibson House to see "The Travelling Cellist". The last time we went to Gibson House was in October 2013.

We looked around the house before the cellist came.
We forgot the camera but we still took some pictures with Mom's phone.

We started off in the kitchen. They had the fire going and it was nice and warm in there.
There were board games set up for games night which is the first Thursday of each month.

We peeked inside David Gibson's office.

This box and this table were close to the square piano in the parlour. They are both very interesting.

We went back into the kitchen before heading upstairs.

I couldn't help noticing the toys on the ground.
Can you believe that 4 boys shared one bedroom. There were 2 beds and 2 boys would sleep in each bed!

This room was the sewing room and the hired girl's room.

I was interested in the clock on the fire place in the parlour.

When it was almost time for the cellist to come, we were happily surprised that it was going to be Joseph Johnson, the Principal Cellist of the TSO. I've seen him play Albinoni's Adagio two times already (at Harbord Bakery and at St. Lawrence Market).

Of the 3 locations I've seen him perform, I think this was the best!
The room the smallest and it was nice and quiet. He played it differently as well. He didn't use pizzicato but instead played out the notes.

I like this photo because you can see a picture of David Gibson over Joseph Johnson's left shoulder.  

I've really grown to love the cello. :-) 

You can still get to see "The Travelling Cellist" in different locations across Toronto until April 7th.
Here's a link with more information:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ktr/the-travelling-cellist.jsp