Meditation and Associated Practices
2025-01-15 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Mary Lou Mongeau guides participants through meditation and associated practices, including practical techniques for growth, self healing, becoming aware of our true self, and alignment with the Universal Consciousness.
In a session you might explore

meditation
energy centers
balancing techniques
dreams and synchronicity
journal keeping
an energy perspective on relationships
reactions to a process of change
assuming responsibility

Drop-in sessions. All are welcome!

Breathworks: Mindfulness for Health
2025-04-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Common Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Join us in our yoga and mindfulness program, designed to help you release stress, boost energy, and reconnect with yourself. Through a harmonious blend of calming meditation, empowering breathwork, and gentle movement, experience a refreshing shift that will help you feel more grounded, balanced, and at ease in your everyday life.
This 6-week program is offered in partnership with the Perth Family Health Team. Space is limited. To register and for more information please contact info@perthfht.ca.

Readalikes Book Club
2024-09-10 13:30 - 14:30 | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Readalikes is a staff-led book club that reads a variety of titles, curated largely from the library’s own Book Club in a Bag collection.
Readalikes is currently at capacity. If you are interested in joining one of our book clubs please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGsxVJ0yU9BYM517S1rQF6OTR4KMnn0seXyJ-AD_W3W6LTJA/viewform?usp=sf_link

4-Week Creative Writing Circle: Introduction to Oral Storytelling
2025-05-13 16:30 - 18:30 | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
A 4-Week Course with Jennifer Cayley

Almonte Readers & Writers is pleased to present the May series of Art of Writing workshops and courses exploring aspects of creative and technical skills development in literary arts, offered as part of the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing.
The traditional folk and fairy tales will be the foundation for exploring the world of oral telling and for beginning to find yourself as a teller. These old tales, rich in imagery and metaphor, are narrative gems, which have been polished over hundreds of years. No matter what kind of stories you may want to tell, or even write, they are a fine place to start.
Working with this rich material, you will experience breathing the story in, learning it “by heart” rather than memorizing it; finding its images and telling out of what those images call forth. You will hear some good stories and undertake practical exercises to assist you in finding your way as a teller. Listening will be a big part of what we do and everyone will have an opportunity to tell in a thought provoking and encouraging atmosphere.
No previous experience with telling necessary. All you need to bring is a sense of adventure, good listening ears, and some passion for “story.” Come comfortably dressed.
About the instructor:
Jennifer Cayley has been telling stories for more than four decades. Her repertoire includes traditional, epic, literary, historical and personal material. Performance highlights include: collaborating with Jan Andrews on touring The Book of Spells: A Love Story to Rome, Australia, Wales, USA and southern Ontario; appearing at festivals across Canada and once in Hawaii; making regular appearances at the Ottawa Storytellers’ National Arts Centre series; telling the great epics of the world at Rasputin’s Cafe and the National Arts Centre and Taylor Lake, in Lanark Co. Working with young people, especially in educational settings, has always been integral to her storytelling work. Jennifer has had a long commitment to building excellence in performance. She has worked extensively both as a workshop leader and as a mentor to help tellers connect deeply to their material, so they can create performances that are as compelling and authentic as possible.
The 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers thanks to the generous funding support of Lanark County, the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, the Perth & District Community Foundation, and the Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation, with community partnership from the Mississippi Mills Public Library, the Perth & District Public Library, Mill Street Books, Almonte Writers Guild, and with the community support of Equator Coffee, OVC Almonte, Jazzy’s Brewhaus and other local partners.
Pre-registration required via Tickets Please
Early-bird rate (April 5-19) $100.00 per registration
Regular rate $120.00 per registration
Explore the full calendar of events for the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing!

Indigenous Reads Book Club
2025-01-14 19:00 - 20:30 | St. James Anglican Church, 12 Harvey St, Perth, ON, K7H 1W4, Canada
When: The 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7-8:30 pm. Current session runs until June 2025.
Who: The group is organized by the Lanark County Neighbours for Truth and Reconciliation and is open to anyone.
What: To ensure that multiple copies are available, a list of books has been chosen in advance and includes fiction, autobiography and nonfiction books by Katherena Vermette, Thomas King, Cherie Dimaline, Thomson Highway, Tanya Tagaq, Maria Campbell, Art Manuel and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.
How: To join, please email Emily – efournier@perthunionlibrary.ca

Movement for Chronic Pain
2025-04-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Common Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
This program is a graduate program for our Empowered Living Program. This program will introduce gentle movement and mindfulness practice to move well with Chronic Pain.
This program is offered in partnership with the Perth Family Health Team. Space is limited. To register and for more information please contact info@perthfht.ca.

'What Dewey Read Next?' Book Club
2024-10-09 17:00 - 18:00 | Common Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
What Dewey Read Next? is a new book club that meets at the library on the second Wednesday of each month, October-June, 5-6 pm. This book club is volunteer-facilitated. The theme of this year’s reading roster is ‘something on your TBR (To Be Read) shelf.’ The Dewey Book Club is currently accepting new members!
If you are interested in joining one of our book clubs please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGsxVJ0yU9BYM517S1rQF6OTR4KMnn0seXyJ-AD_W3W6LTJA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Empowered Living - A Holistic Program for Living Well with Chronic Pain
2025-04-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Common Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
This 8-part program combines chronic pain education, movement, mindfulness, and recreation practices, and a supportive group environment to empower participants to better understand and manage their pain. Each session builds on the previous one, offering tools and strategies for fostering resilience, improving body awareness, and developing a balanced approach to well-being.
This 8-week program is offered in partnership with the Perth Family Health Team. Space is limited; to register, please contact info@perthfht.ca.

Film Club Fridays @ Studio Theatre Perth
2025-05-16, 2025-06-06 | Studio Theatre Perth, 63 Gore St E, Perth, ON, K7H 1H8, Canada
Screenings are on select Fridays 2pm & 7pm.
Regular film admission at the door is $12 cash (debit or credit).
You can also buy a film pass. Film passes are $50 for 5 films of your choice.
Film Club passes are available for purchase at the box office or at the Perth & District Library (please note that the library only accepts cash or cheque).
To learn what’s playing visit https://studiotheatreperth.com/film-club-fridays/

Film Club Fridays is a fundraiser of the Perth & District Library. Thank you for your support!

Rideau Eco Literacy Center presents: Nature Journaling
2025-05-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Nature Journaling is collecting and organizing your environmental observations, questions, ideas, and knowledge through art and words. You will receive your own special Field Notes Journal, which will contain space for your artwork, as well as tips and tricks to record the beauty and power of nature. You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin. Bring your favorite drawing materials if you like, but everything you need will be provided.

Bereavement Circle with Laurie Lynn Clark
2025-05-21 17:00 - 18:30 | Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott Street, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Lean into your grief in this 8 week session with bereavement companion Laurie Clark.
Registration and a preliminary online consultation is required before attending. Laurie asks participants to attend all eight sessions of the program to ensure the best possible group dynamic.
Spaces are available.
Contact Laurie Somaticgriefwork@gmail.com or 613-772-0007 to register. http://somaticgriefwork.com/ In partnership with The Table Food Centre.

Art of Writing workshop: Exercising Daemons/Exorcising Demons
2025-05-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Writing Life and Writing Horror with Sean Moreland

Almonte Readers & Writers is pleased to present the May series of Art of Writing workshops and courses exploring aspects of creative and technical skills development in literary arts, offered as part of the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing.
In this workshop, we will explore the intersection of two seemingly separate genres, horror fiction and autobiography. horror can be a powerful and liberating lens through which to look at and write about ourselves, along with our inner lives and inner demons. Using horror to exorcise (or exercise) them can offer insights into our fears and desires while making for more unconventional writing and provocative stories.
About the instructor:
Sean Moreland is an educator, editor and reluctant writer whose essays (often focused on gothic, horror and weird fiction in its literary, cinematic, and sequential art guises) have appeared in many journals and collections, including Horror Literature Through History, Lovecraftian Proceedings, The Edgar Allan Poe Review, Making and Unmaking Ancient Memory, and The Oxford Handbook of Edgar Allan Poe.
They have (co)edited collections including Fear and Learning: Essays on the Pedagogy of Horror (2013), Monstrous Children and Childish Monsters (2015), The Lovecraftian Poe: Essays on Influence, Reception, Interpretation and Transformation (2017) and New Directions in Supernatural Horror: The Critical Legacy of H.P. Lovecraft (2018). They also write short fiction and poetry, some of which has been published in venues including The Malahat Review, Dissections, Vastarien, Lackington’s, Black Treacle, Bywords, and Over The Rainbow: Folk and Fairy Tales from the Margins.
Sean teaches in the Department of English at the University of Ottawa – view their profile here. They occasionally interview, review, and ruminate about weirdness at Postscripts to Darkness. More on Sean is available here.
The 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers thanks to the generous funding support of Lanark County, the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, the Perth & District Community Foundation, and the Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation, with community partnership from the Mississippi Mills Public Library, the Perth & District Public Library, Mill Street Books, Almonte Writers Guild, and with the community support of Equator Coffee, OVC Almonte, Jazzy’s Brewhaus and other local partners.
Pre-registration required via Tickets Please
Early-bird rate: $30 (until April 19)
Regular rate: $40
Explore the full calendar of events for the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing!

Maberly Hall Book Club
2024-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Maberly Community Hall, 180 Elphin-Maberly Rd, Maberly, ON, K0H 2B0, Canada
Maberly Hall Book Club is staff-led, and reads a variety of titles, curated largely from the library’s own Book Club in a Bag collection.
If you are interested in joining one of our book clubs please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGsxVJ0yU9BYM517S1rQF6OTR4KMnn0seXyJ-AD_W3W6LTJA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Art of Writing workshop: Leaving Room for the Illustrator in Picture Book Writing with Laura Piggott
2025-06-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Almonte Readers & Writers is pleased to present the June series of Art of Writing workshops and courses exploring aspects of creative and technical skills development in literary arts, offered as part of the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing.
Although they may seem simple, picture books are often one of the most complicated genres to write, as they combine both a written and visual narrative. Where does one end and the other begin? Is one more important than the other? As a picture book writer, how do you leave room for the illustrator and the story’s visual narrative? In this workshop, participants will learn how to pare down text when every word counts – and let pictures do some of the talking. Participants will examine current picture book writing techniques, including the importance of leaving some things unsaid. Participants will also edit and compose their own written excerpts for a picture book audience. A Question and Answer period may follow the hands-on portion of the workshop if there is interest and time. Participants should leave with a better understanding of how both written and visual narratives work in tandem in picture books.
*Participants are asked to bring a copy of their favourite, traditionally-published picture book (published within the last 10 years – this can be owned or borrowed from the nearest public library). Participants are also asked to bring a picture book writing sample or manuscript of their own work for an editing exercise.
About the instructor:
Laura Piggott is an author/illustrator who loves colour, wonder, whimsy, and magic. Her art and writing both embody a sense of humour and play. She believes that all children should see themselves in the stories that surround them.
When she’s not drawing, painting, or writing, Laura spends her time knitting and sewing; playing the piano, violin, and cello; reading books and magazines; and drinking copious amounts of coffee. When the coffee runs dry (or it’s past 3:00 pm), you might find her dreaming by the fire with a quilt and a cup of hot cocoa or a glass of bubbly wine. Laura also loves to eat, cook, and bake gluten-free food and would never turn down a dinner invitation from Phil Rosenthal or Bobby Flay.
Laura has an Honours BA in Trilingual Translation and a Bachelor of Education, both from the University of Ottawa. She also has a post-graduate certificate in Stylistic Editing from Queen’s University. She speaks English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Although she is smitten with travel, she is the epitome of a homebody.
Laura lives with her husband, two teenage children, and menagerie of pets in Carleton Place, Ontario.
Laura is represented by Joyce Sweeney and Elisa Houot at the Seymour Agency. More on Laura can be found by visiting www.laurapiggott.com
The 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers thanks to the generous funding support of Lanark County, the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, the Perth & District Community Foundation, and the Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation, with community partnership from the Mississippi Mills Public Library, the Perth & District Public Library, Mill Street Books, Almonte Writers Guild, and with the community support of Equator Coffee, OVC Almonte, Jazzy’s Brewhaus and other local partners.
Pre-registration required via Tickets Please
Early-bird rate: $30 (until April 19)
Regular rate: $40
Explore the full calendar of events for the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing!

Mentorship Drop-In Session
2025-06-10 17:00 - 18:30 | Frizell (Program) Room – Perth & District Union Public Library, 30 Herriott St, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1T2, Canada
Want to learn more about the services in your community and see how you can have a positive impact?
Join us for an informative evening all about mentorship, community, and connection!
Drop by and learn about:

The LIP- Lanark & Renfrew Mentorship Program – how newcomers and mentors can get involved
Settlement & Community Connection Services – meet the Lanark & Renfrew Immigrant Settlement Services team.
Perth & District Library programs that support learning & integration
Meet new people over light refreshments!

Whether you’re new to Canada or looking to become a mentor, this is your chance to connect and grow.
Questions? Reach out today! localimmigrationpartnership@algonquincollege.com
