This monthly reading series taking place the Staircase Theatre spotlights diverse creative writers of all literary forms and gives them an opportunity to share their work with the community
The LitLive Reading Series is a local monthly reading series for writers to share their work with the community. Founded by Kerry Schooley in 1995, the series showcases a diverse range of Canadian and local writers. The events takes place on the first Sunday of each month and run from September through June at the Staircase Theatre, located on Dundurn St. N. There is also a livestream option available and admission is on a pay-what-you-can basis.
The series has featured writers who specialize in a variety of literary forms, including poets, short story writers, novelists and non-fiction writers. The range of presenters also adds another unique touch to their events. Each series is accompanied by a specific theme, and writers are encouraged to read their work according to how they believe it fits.
The series is currently hosted by committee members Anuja Varghese and Brent van Staalduinen, both of whom are award-winning writers based in Hamilton. Varghese was recently awarded the Governor General's Literary Award for her debut short story collection Chrysalis, and van Staalduinen has authored five books and was awarded the Kerry Schooley Book Award in 2021. The two writers alternate between hosting the reading series.
LitLive has featured a number of published writers, including award winners, but there is also space for emerging writers who are not published to showcase their work.
Students should check out the next LitLive event for excellent and varied literary work, an opportunity to engage with the community and even an opportunity to connect with established writers. For those with a love for anything literary, the LitLive Reading Series is a great way to further engage with your passion.
It is important to recognize the politics of books because the art cannot be separated from the artist when it comes to literature
As with many other bookworms, I read to escape my own stressful reality by stepping into the world of someone else. People who read for fun have inspired imaginations and creative thinking skills. Plus, readers tend to have more positive outlooks on life compared to non-readers.
But, reading is much more than simply a form of entertainment. Reading is a great way to gain knowledge about the real world, making it a political act because politics are the intricate relationships between people within society, usually regarding people who have and don't have power.
Historically, reading has been linked to upward social mobility, freedom, and radical change. Reading and education coexist because the organization of political movements cannot happen unless people are educated on the issue.
Historically, reading has been linked to upward social mobility, freedom, and radical change. Reading and education coexist because the organization of political movements cannot happen unless people are educated on the issue. Many independent bookstores and libraries put out reading lists to support movements and to educate their consumers. For example, the Hamilton Public Library has a reading list for Black Lives Matter.
Reading and education are so powerful that many attempts have been made throughout time to censor or ban books. Book bans have been sweeping across the United States, but the removal of books is also happening in our own neighbourhoods in Canada. In September of 2023, the Peel District School Board (PDSB) was accused of weeding out 50 per cent of its library books simply because they were published pre-2008.
PDSB defended its actions by claiming that weeding out old books promoted inclusivity and diversity. However, by following the sole criteria of publishing date, the school board was erasing important history. The loss of certain books sparked anger because many of them were used to educate students on real-world events that should not be forgotten.
Reading influences the outcome of politics, but the creation of books is also influenced by politics. A book cannot be separated from an author just as politics cannot be separated from everyday life. Authors write what they know, embedding little parts of themselves and their beliefs throughout their work. Books reflect reality, both good and bad, and expose readers to a vast range of human experiences and world views.
Although reading can serve as a positive political tool to educate the masses, there are times when books do more harm than good. Unfortunately, readers can sometimes also be exposed to extremely problematic and offensive literature. Where books are hypothetical and imaginative for some, they are triggering for others when they mishandle or glorify topics such as homophobia, racism, sexual assault, and more.
I spend a lot of time in the online book communities of BookTok, Bookstagram, and BookTube where I often encounter the rhetoric of "keep politics out of books." But, for the reasons explained above, it is virtually impossible to remove the politics from books. As a content creator in these spaces who openly criticizes harmful authors, I get frustrated when I'm told I'm "making a big deal out of nothing" because "it's just fiction."
Many comments made along these lines have been in relation to my attempts at exposing authors who romanticize and erase the violent nature of sexual assault. For survivors, these books are never "just fictional" because reading them can easily trigger past or ongoing trauma. In addition, it can teach young readers that certain acts of violence are okay and prevent them from speaking up if they become a victim.
The art cannot be separated from the artist. When not held accountable for their actions, authors continue to profit from their harmful remarks and glorification of violence. For example, J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has never apologized for her transphobic, homophobic, and racist behaviour, yet she remains a multi-millionaire.
To ignore the ways reading and writing are political acts is to remain in a state of ignorance. Being university students we are taught to use our critical thinking skills and we can extend this ability to reading. Yes, it is a fun hobby, but as readers, we are always in communication with society. We decipher what is true and what is not based on what we know about the political world.
C/O Alyssa Lai
Children's book campaign celebrates Canadian authors while striving to improve literacy in children
Telling Tales aspires to spark the love of reading in children and young adults while also highlighting the works of Canadian authors.
Susan Jasper, the founder and executive director of Telling Tales, grew up in Hamilton and spent around 20 years working in publishing. During this time, she dreamed of starting a children and young adults' book festival.
This dream was left on the back burner until she joined the Rotary club in 2006. She was able to launch Telling Tales with the Rotary club’s support that same year.
The Rotary clubs in Hamilton and Burlington helped coordinate volunteers, manage finances and spread the word on a campaign aimed to improve children's literacy and go beyond instilling the love of reading.
"I kept saying to authors, “We need our own festival, I'm tired of us being in a little kiddy corner of some other big festival.” Children's marketing audiences are different and we need a place where we can just really concentrate on kids," explained Jasper.
I kept saying to authors, “We need our own festival, I'm tired of us being in a little kiddy corner of some other big festival.” Children's marketing audiences are different and we need a place where we can just really concentrate on kids.
Susan Jasper, founder and executive director of Telling Tales
Telling Tales recently held their first in-person festival since the pandemic from Sept. 24 to 25 at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Over the two days, they had over 30 presenters and Canadian children's illustrators, storytellers and authors for readers of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers and young adults.
The festival provided a unique opportunity for readers to connect with authors. Lawrence Hill, a Hamiltonian author who received the Governor General award for his book, The Book of Negroes, presented his first children's book Beatrice and Croc Harry on stage.
The festival also featured the Hamilton Children's Choir, Hamilton youth poets, puppet stages, workshops for attendees of all ages and a book swap involving over 30,000 books.
"I hope [the attendees] walk away with memories that last a lifetime," said Jasper.
In the future, Telling Tales plans to offer some live stream events with Canadian authors and illustrators from Oct. to Dec. They hope that these events will allow them to continue engaging children and young adults with books and expand their reach to children outside of Canada as well.
The organization also recently started to diversify their book lists to include more BIPOC authors in an effort to introduce children to different cultures and situations from a young age.
"One of the things that we've really worked hard on over the last couple of years is diversifying our authors and diversifying our book choices, because we want [all] kids to see themselves in the story," explained Linda Cvetanovic, the social media manager for Telling Tales.
One of the things that we've really worked hard on over the last couple of years is diversifying our authors and diversifying our book choices, because we want [all] kids to see themselves in the story.
Linda Cvetanovic, social media manager for Telling Tales
Next year will be Telling Tales’ fifteenth anniversary and they hope to plan a larger event to commemorate the occasion. Regardless, though, moving forward, they hope to continue reaching out to more readers and helping them discover Canadian culture through their book lists.
"Canadian authors don't always get the love they deserve. It's kind of like Canadian musicians. It's hard sometimes to really gain that popularity in your own country. So, we love introducing kids to homegrown authors, illustrators, storytellers who can inspire them to become an author or an illustrator," said Jasper.
A Sex and the Steel City reading list
The stories we tell ourselves matter. From the imaginary to the instructional to the personal to the public, these stories can be incredibly influential. They shape our actions and decisions and inform our beliefs and values. This is perhaps most true when it comes to topics that are especially close to our hearts, such as love and relationships.
For Sex and the Steel City 2021, the Sil has compiled a list of books about love, relationships and identity to add to your bookshelves.
PHENOMENAL FICTION
Romance is one of the most extensive genres encompassing a large range of subgenres from fantasy to historical fiction. While this variety can be helpful at times, it can also make it more difficult to find what you’re looking for. Here are a few places to start.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted read, try Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. The first in an ongoing series, Carry On follows Simon Snow through his last year at Watford School of Magicks as he works with his friends to uncover a mystery and manages to find love along the way.
Another light-hearted read is Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, which weaves back and forth in time to tell the story of a chance reunion of childhood sweethearts Macy and Elliot after nearly a decade apart.
Other light romances include Love’s Recipe by Mila Nicks and One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. Love’s Recipe is a story for food lovers, following recently divorced Rosalie as she helps Nick try to save his family’s restaurant. One Last Stop tells the story of August, a waitress at a 24-hour diner, and Jane, the time traveller she meets on the subway, as August tries to help Jane get back to her own time before it’s too late.
Dealing with questions of culture, community, identity, Islamophobia and sexism among others, Such a Lonely, Lovely Road by Kagiso Lesego Molope and The Chai Factor by Farah Heron are more serious, but still satisfying reads.
Or if you enjoy classics, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or Gabriel García Marques’ Love in the Time of Cholera are timeless tales worth taking a look at.
MEMORABLE MEMOIRS
While there’s something special about seeing yourself represented in fiction, memoirs are affirming in a more tangible way as they show that you are truly not alone in your feelings or experiences.
Samra Habib’s memoir We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim’s Memoir is an excellent example of this, detailing Habib’s experiences growing up in Pakistan and Canada as she wrestled with ideas of faith, identity, love and sexuality and struggled to find a space where she could be herself.
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt and My Body Is Yours by Michael V. Smith are two more exceptional memoirs exploring questions of identity and sexuality. In A History of My Brief Body, Belcourt uses his personal experiences to examine the intersection between Indigeneity and queerness, while Smith confronts traditional ideals of gender and masculinity in My Body is Yours.
There are also some more informational memoirs, where authors draw on their personal experience to raise awareness about a certain issue, such as in Ask me about my Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain, Not that Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture (Roxane Gay) and The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me (Keah Brown).
Or if you’re looking for something a more lighthearted and more traditional autobiography, The Most of Nora Ephron (Nora Ephron) is a reflection on the late journalist and director’s life and questions of feminism and femininity, all told with her trademark humour.
NONFICTION TO TAKE NOTE OF
Education is absolutely essential, especially perhaps when it comes to relationships and sexuality. Books can be an excellent and informational starting place.
For example, books such as Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex (Angela Chen) and Selling Sex: Experience, Advocacy and Research on Sex Work in Canada (Emily van der Meulen, Elya M Durisin, Victoria Love) offer comprehensive guides to topics you may have heard about in passing but need to know more about.
Anthologies in particular are wonderful for offering multiple perspectives and voices on a given topic. In Big: Stories about Life in Plus-Sized Bodies (edited by Christina Myers), 26 writers share their experiences and explore the intersection between body positivity and self-love, sexuality and other themes.
Non-Binary Lives: An Anthology of Intersecting Identities (edited by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker and Kat Gupta) is another book with intersectionality at its forefront, touching on the range of answers to the question of what it means to be non-binary in the 21st century.
Two more anthologies worth taking note of are Queer Returns: Essays on Multiculturalism, Diaspora and Black Studies (Rinaldo Walcott) and Trans Love: An Anthology of Transgender and Non-Binary Voice (Freiya Benson).
Beyond educating us, books such as The Body is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor can also offer guidance for moving forward as your best possible self.
POIGNANT POETRY
Something between fiction and memoir but also something entirely on its own, poetry holds nothing back, conveying a depth of emotion while also dealing with difficult topics with a grace that lengthier literature is often unable to.
Through her passionate and powerful words in Holy Wild, Gwen Benaway explores the intersection between the trans and Indigenous experience, while in Junebat John Elizabeth Stintzi carves out a space for themselves to explore questions of gender identity
Another collection exploring identity and sexuality, My Art is Killing Me and other Poems (Amber Dawn) draws on the author’s own experiences and is an unflinchingly honest examination of femineity, sexuality and sex work justice.
It is often poets’ willingness to speak to their own experiences that lend to the emotional impact of their work. In home body, Rupi Kaur reflects on the past and potential and reminds us how important love is in times of change.
In The Gospel of Breakin, Jillian Christmas draws on her own family history to create stories offering insight on culture, race and other themes. In Where Things Touch, Bahar Orang uses her experiences as a physician-in-training to explore the idea of beauty and what it means in the context of the larger human experience.
A guide to staying connected during these trying times
As Hamilton moves into the heart of the winter months and a stricter lockdown removes the option to have socially-distant visits or other outdoor activities, many are looking for new ways to stay connected with loved ones.
Over the break, my siblings and I spent a lot of time thinking about other ways we could safely spend with our loved ones, beyond the typical Zoom call. Below are a few fun activities that we came up with that will hopefully help us all get through these next few difficult weeks.
BOOK CLUBS AND EXCHANGES
Many book clubs have moved online over the last few months, while new ones have also been popping up. If you don’t want to join an established book club, you could also start your own with your family or friends, giving you both something to do and talk about the next time you chat.
Similarly, you could also participate in a book exchange with a loved one. You each send the other a book that you’ve enjoyed recently. To make it more personal, you could maybe include some notes inside sharing well wishes or your thoughts on the story.
Additionally, this kind of exchange could work for almost anything else that you and your loved ones enjoy as well, such as music, podcasts and recipes.
GAMES
Online games, such as Among Us and Codenames, have become incredibly popular over the last year. Implementing a game night, or even perhaps a tournament can be a nice alternative to the typical Zoom call as well as something a bit more light-hearted and fun.
Trivia nights can be fun as well. There also a number of trivia games that you could play over Zoom, or you could create your own tailored to the interests of you and your loved ones!
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Many have used their new-found time during the pandemic to learn new skills, but why not do this with a loved one? Maybe your friend is excellent at coding, or your grandmother is an amazing knitter and you’ve always wanted to learn. You could each teach one another something or learn something entirely new together!
Many local libraries offer resources for learning a variety of skills. Depending on the skill in question there are also a number of specific resources readily available online. Some local crafting businesses, such as Handknit Yarn Studio offer resources and tutorials on their websites as well.
Language learning especially can be a great option as it requires minimal tools and you’re able to practice together.
PEN PALS
Change up the method of staying in touch! Zoom calls can become draining after a while and most everyone loves to receive letters.
Or instead of sending letters, send postcards either through a service such as Postcards From Anywhere or by creating your own using online templates. While the former can make a great talking point, the latter can be especially nice for grandparents and far away relatives who may not have any recent photos of you.
SHARE A MEAL
Order some food, potentially from the same restaurant, and eat together. As well, some local businesses, like Tea Amo, offer small platters or “lunchboxes” that can be ordered ahead of time and then enjoyed together during a call.
You could also cook or bake something together over a call. You could each make your favourite dishes or exchange recipes. Maybe try teaching a friend to make one of your favourite desserts or ask your grandmother to teach you some family recipes.
Regardless, whatever ways you find to keep connections with loved ones, be creative and considerate. Just as much as you think about things that you enjoyed together before the pandemic, try to think about new things as well. It won’t necessarily be the same as before but that doesn’t mean that it can’t still be something good.
By Nisha Gill, Staff Writer
In light of the unprecedented challenges and changes that have come with the past few weeks, it has become even more important to take care of yourself and invest in coping mechanisms that help maintain your connection to others, while still practicing social distancing. What better way to do this than to have your nose in a book?
The world of books is boundless. There is something out there for everyone to read; the perfect book is waiting for you and all you have to do is hop on a stepping stool and grab it (or put it in your virtual cart). If you’re willing to invest some energy into flipping those pages, you could connect with books to help better understand the current pandemic, books to escape it as and books encouraging hope and self-reflection.
Listed below are a selection of books curated by Sil staff! These great books to enjoy on your own or through a virtual book club with family and friends via video-calling platforms such as Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime or even Zoom. You can use Zoom to schedule regular calls with automatic reminders sent to your calendar, helping to keep your book club on track and add some routine to your weeks. Each book below has a link so you can order them directly to your home or to your e-reader to keep up with the practice of social distancing!
For those seeking an explanation for what’s going on in the world today:
The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance by Laurie Garret
An older, but still very topical, book from 1995 that traces 50 years of the world’s battle with diseases such as HIV, Lassa and Ebola. Chapter 14, “Thirdworldization” has received praise and attention through reviews. Garret’s book could provide valuable insight into what people all around the world are experiencing today. This isn’t just a book about science and disease, it’s about the political, social and economic environments that contributed to and attempted to solve infectious diseases.
An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science Of The Immune System by Matt Richtel
Recently released, this book is an excellent exploration of “the fragile wonder weapon” that is our extraordinary immune system. Richtel’s book intertwines an investigation and explanation of scientific discoveries with four personal narratives from patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. He has received praise from reviewers for his skills as a storyteller capable of creating a humane narrative from complicated scientific information.
21 Lessons For The 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
From the author of Sapiens and Homo Deus, this book has consistently received high reviews, particularly for its ability to provoke thoughtful reflection and discussion as well as Harari’s intelligent and empathetic portrayal of a variety of topics, including climate change, fake news and international terrorism. Though this book is not directly related to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it offers some much needed perspective as well as hope for the future.
For those eager for a break from the difficult-to-stomach headlines and the monotony of staying home:
Something for Everyone by Lisa Moore
Moore’s beautiful and unique collection of short stories explores “the timeless, the tragic and the miraculous [that is] hidden” in our everyday lives. While there is a focus on life in Newfoundland and Labrador, the raw detail and human touch that Moore’s writing brings out has led many readers to become engrossed in her fiction, regardless of whether they live in eastern Canada. This book was a part of the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize long list; out of 104 books submitted by publishers across Canada, Moore’s title made the top 12.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Reading these with my brother right now and I would highly recommend them! A classic set of longer reads that is perfect for the next few weeks, these novels transport you to the mystical world of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, filled with magic, darkness and the most unlikely adventurers. Enjoy this? Check out the prequel, The Hobbit!
This Is How You Lose The Time Wars by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Newly released, this co-written novel has received incredibly high praise from early reviewers, and has been hailed as an “exquisitely crafted” blend of romance, science fiction and poetry. The novel details the dubious correspondence between two rival agents in a time war that spirals into something more, something that could change everything, both the past and future.
Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
A ground-breaking science-fiction trilogy and winner of multiple awards, Okorafor’s trilogy follows Binti, a young Himba girl, who has been gifted with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As she embarks on her interstellar journey, Binti discovers that there is more going on than meets the eyes and must learn to navigate the legacy of war, difficult strangers and the power of knowledge.
For those in need of something in between an explanation and escape, something that can offer some hope and strength in these difficult times:
A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Another long read for these long weeks and a favourite of mine for difficult times, Dickens reminds us that the worst of times can also be the best of times. The novel follows a recently released political prisoner Dr. Manette, his daughter Lucie and two men from dramatically different walks of life whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined with theirs.
A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles
A fitting tale for the times about a Count who has been confined to his hotel and his search for understanding and purpose during the unrest within Moscow in the 1930s. Beautifully written with an incredible cast of characters, Towles book melds history, romance and espionage to create a narrative that may be exactly what we need during these trying times.
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thein
Internationally acclaimed and a winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Thein’s novel follows the characters of an extended family from Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China through to present-day Vancouver, where the fractured family’s story is slowly and lovingly pieced together by Marie, an endless curious mathematician. Powerful, emotional and daring in its scope, Thein’s novel has been lauded by critics as a “work of art”.
Faithful by Alice Hoffman
Detailing one girl’s journey to redefine herself after a tragic accident turns her life completely upside down, Hoffman’s novel has been praised for “spinning heartbreak into hope” through her excellent prose and cast of loveable and wonderfully flawed characters.
For those looking to learn more about individuals with some self-reflection:
A Work In Progress: A Memoir by Connor Franta
Venture through the life of YouTuber, Connor Franta as he details the many life lessons he has learned while growing up, intertwined with photography and poetry. A great, relatable read for anybody in their twenties.
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
Join the previous CEO of the Walt Disney Company as he documents his rise to leadership of the happiest place on Earth. Iger details the important life lessons that he’s learned from aspects of leadership, business and family while adding anecdotes about Disney’s history over the last 15 years.
Trust: Twenty Ways to Build a Better Country by David Johnston
Written by the former Governor General of Canada, David Johnston speaks to the lessons he has learned during his time in one of Canada’s highest positions within the Federal government. Johnston explores 20 different ways that he believes can cause Canadians to become more engaged within government, sprinkling anecdotes throughout. To learn more about this book, check out our Sil Sit Down with David Johnston!
These are only a few among the many great books out there; many news outlets including CBC and the Guardian have released reading lists tailored to these trying times. Larger book chains, such as Indigo, are also offering free shipping until March 31, and many public libraries have increased access to their online catalogue, where books can be borrowed to be read on a device.
Libby is a great app developed in partnership with public libraries that allows you to browse, borrow and store e-books and audiobooks on compatible devices with ease. All you have to do is set up a library account and login to Libby with your library account. You can find out how to do that here.
If you’re more interested in physical books, Locke Street store Epic Books has been doing porch deliveries of books in order to minimize exposure and support social distancing.
[thesil_related_posts_sc]Related Posts[/thesil_related_posts_sc]
By Nisha Gill, Staff Writer
As technology continues to evolve and play an increasingly large role in our everyday lives, taking time away from it has never been more important. However, the temptations of technology are difficult to resist and, as a result, there are very few places where one is able to truly disconnect.
The Printed Word (69 King St. W.), is one of those few places where it is truly possible to disconnect. For owner James McDonald, opening the store was, in part, a reaction against the digital—this was also the inspiration for its name. The store is well-lit and open, perfect for exploring the line-up of floor to ceiling bookshelves, all of which house a carefully curated collection of both fiction and nonfiction works.
“I’ve had a lot of people come, in early days, and first of all, not even recognize that it’s a bookstore, it’s so idiosyncratic. Which is weird, because go back thirty years and this is what just bookstores looked like. They have books in and different subjects and here we are. But because it doesn’t look like Chapters . . . or the traditional chains that we have, it’s ‘What is this place? What do you do here?’” explained McDonald.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdku0Crh1HV/
For McDonald, reading and exploration go hand in hand; reading is an opportunity for a special kind of exploration. But this kind of exploration is becoming increasingly difficult to follow through on in our technology-driven world. Thanks to our devices and social media, we have almost all the information we could ever want at our fingertips. However, the kind of exploration we engage with on our devices, or while scrolling through social media, is often different from what we find in books. What we find in books is a slower, more experimental form of exploration that simply cannot be found in technology.
“Books are slower and imaginative. You enter them in a completely different way . . . What are books really are places of exploration and imagination and quiet wondering and all those great things,” said McDonald.
In particular though, McDonald recognizes the importance of this kind of exploration—and the conversation that it can provoke—for students, who are often the most tied to their technology.
“A lot of people come in and see that you have philosophy or you have university press titles and stuff, [they think we] must get a lot of students, [that] the McMaster community must be a huge supporter of [our] establishment and the fact is, not at all . . . It’s just people, just interested people who like books, reading, thinking, talking . . . The reason to have a bookstore is to explore, find the thing you didn’t know you were looking for, the thing you didn’t know existed and students should really be tapping into some of this. And there are conversations that happen here that are interesting, conversations that students can bring.”
The Printed Word is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
[thesil_related_posts_sc]Related Posts[/thesil_related_posts_sc]
cw: this article references eating disorders/disordered eating
Body Brave Canada is a charitable organization that provides resources and support for individuals struggling with eating disorders/disordered eating. On Nov. 10, they will be holding a Book Swap at The Spice Factory (121 Hughson St. North) in order to being the community together and raise awareness about their work. There will be a reading by local author Anne Bokma for her new book, “My Year of Living Spiritually: From Woo-Woo to Wonderful” and a pop-up shop for the body-positive clothing brand Mettamade.
Julie Shea, the chair of Body Brave’s Board of Directors, says that she hopes the event will help people realize how important it is to have adequate resources for eating disorders/disordered eating.
“Eating disorders are sometimes not given the validation that they need to have. They’re a very serious mental health disorder and I don’t think enough people realize how serious and prevalent they are, and that they have a 10% mortality rate. This is in our community. There are people dying in our community, there are people suffering in our community, and there are no resources,” said Shea.
Body Brave Canada seeks to fill the gap left by traditional health care. They offer a number of accessible options and resources, both in-person and online.
Mettamade is a manifestation of the good work Body Brave has done for the community. It was created by mother-daughter duo Carol Davies and Morgan MacDonald, both of whom have worked with Body Brave in the past. They create clothing that is more forgiving for people who struggle to shop and find clothes that fit. They have designed a sizing system based around gemstones instead of numbers. Rather than a size eight or a medium, you might be a topaz. The fabric is bamboo-spandex, making it both comfortable and sustainable.
“When you wear them it’s like giving yourself self-compassion,” said Davies.
Mettamade frequently collaborates with Body Brave and donates a portion of their sales to the organization. For the Book Swap, 50 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to Body Brave.
“We’re giving back to a group that was instrumental in my daughter’s recovery,” said Davies.
Mettamade was in part created to make more forgiving clothes for MacDonald while she was struggling with an eating disorder. It was during that time that she and Davies started to work with Body Brave. MacDonald wasn’t able to find resources elsewhere, but Body Brave helped her.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4j2oHtHiCo/
The Book Swap takes place this Sunday Nov. 10 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at The Spice Factory. Tickets are $20 each. Bring five books with you and take five away. If you are interested in supporting Mettamade, they have a few pop-up shops coming up this month and a brick-and-mortar store in Westdale.
“We need people to know we’re here, and to support the cause,” said Shea.
To find out more about Body Brave Canada, you can take a look at their website or drop by the Book Swap. If you or someone that you care about is struggling with disordered eating and are not sure where to turn, reach out.
[thesil_related_posts_sc]Related Posts[/thesil_related_posts_sc]
Floating in the window of an Ottawa Street storefront is a crocheted pool float in the shape of a pink flamingo. The sign at the top of the store reads “The City & The City Books”(181 Ottawa St. North). Owned by Janet Hoy and Tim Hanna, this independent bookstore opened last spring.
The store is located right next to Cannon Coffee Co., so if you like to study in coffee shops, then just a quick trip from Cannon will let you pick up a book and support this local business.
The City & The City Books gets its name from the 2009 book by author China Miéville.
“[Miéville] writes what’s called the new weird. He defies genre. If you go into a bookshop all of his books could be in a different section. They could be in literature, they could be in science fiction, they could even be in mystery,” said Hanna, “Something we’re interested in is books that defy genre, or not having genre. I always say to people: in an ideal bookshop there wouldn’t be a literature or science fiction section, there would just be stories.
This is clearly evident in the store. The book sections intermingle together. Philosophy and literature rub elbows with science fiction and mystery. New books are located on white shelves at the front and used books on black shelves at the back, making it easy to navigate between the two. Hoy points out that one of the benefits of offering used books is the affordability.
“It’s great seeing someone get excited because they just found War and Peace for $5,” said Hoy.
Hoy jokes that she does have one regret about the name of the store.
“Writing an ampersand is hard,” she said.
Hoy and Hanna are hoping that the store can help make buying school books easier for students.
“When you get your syllabus for the beginning of the year and the list of books that you need, if we know what people are looking for we’ll be out looking for it,” said Hoy.
Come the winter semester, if you’re struggling to afford textbooks, it’s definitely worth a look to see if The City & The City Books has what you’re looking for. Hanna emphasized that, for students, they were going to try and have everything possible from spirituality to philosophy and political science.
The store isn’t limited to just books. There are eclectic socks, cards and most importantly, cat tarot decks. That alone is worth the trip down to Ottawa Street. Not to mention, Ottawa Street has art galleries, a board game cafe, thrift stores and restaurants. If you’re planning a day trip out with your friends, it’s a must-try hotspot. While you’re there, stop by The City & The City Books to have a look around to see where the words can take you.
[thesil_related_posts_sc]Related Posts[/thesil_related_posts_sc]
By: Alannah DeAngelis, Contributor
Dates can be a fun way to get to know your partner better and try new things together. Between school, catching up on all your Netflix shows and hanging out with your friends, it can be tough to make time for date nights. Try out these five date ideas where you can stay on campus and avoid breaking the bank!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcsJ1rAnxk_/
Planetarium Show
The W. J. McCallion Planetarium, in the basement of BSB, is an out-of-this world date idea! Shows run Wednesday nights and there is a new theme each week. Learn about outer space, stars, planets, comets and more. For more information, check out the McMaster Planetarium website.
Cost: $7 per person.
Photo by Matty Flader / Photo Reporter
Video Game Room in Lyons New Media Centre
Get your game on in the Video Games room on the 4th floor of Mills to find out which of you is the “Mario Kart” champion! There are five game consoles that you can choose from: Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4. They offer many games to play, all of which are available to rent for free. Bookings for this space can be made for up to 2 hours per day for all McMaster students.
Cost: Free! Just bring your student card to rent the controllers and games.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2mcPb2HV0q/
McMaster Museum of Art
Check out some cool art with your partner at the McMaster Museum of Art right on campus. The museum is recognized internationally for its European paintings, drawings and prints. It is also known for its specialist collection of early 20th century German prints. This highly notable museum is just steps away from the Student Centre.
Cost: Pay what you can (suggested donation is $2).
Silhouette Archives
Trivia Night at the Phoenix
Test your knowledge at the Phoenix Bar and Grill’s Trivia Night, which happens every Tuesday at 7 p.m.. The theme changes each week, so you are sure to never be bored. Top teams will win gift cards to the Phoenix; perfect to use for another date night!
Cost: Free when you purchase food or drinks.
Silhouette Archives
Hike at Cootes
McMaster is surrounded by beautiful hiking trails with breathtaking views. Go for a hike at Cootes (start at the trail behind the Alpine tower) and explore what nature has to offer in McMaster’s backyard. Notably, the Sassafrass trail includes a lookout platform onto Lake Ontario. Who knows, maybe you will even see some deer along the way!
Cost: Free!
[thesil_related_posts_sc]Related Posts[/thesil_related_posts_sc]
