Public libraries are known as centres of dialogue on many important ideas in their communities.
To build upon that role, Public Library InterLINK has brought together many libraries, both big and small, to present a new virtual author series: “BC Libraries Present”. Bowen Island Public Library is proud to help promote this virtual author series, which connects award-winning authors to library users across the province.
In this inaugural season for this series, the topic is Conversations on Climate. Climate touches everyone’s lives, homes, jobs, and even their reading choices, so it was a natural place to start. This series brings three compelling voices to present their recent climate-related works to a broad BC audience.
On Wednesday, November 8 (6:30 pm), author John Vaillant speaks on “Our New Fire Weather,” moderated by Fatima Syed, climate reporter at The Narwhal. Fire has changed communities across BC this year. After the most devastating wildfire season in recorded history, many are wondering how these fires got so big, what we can learn from our current responses, and whether we are prepared for an ever warming future.
John Vaillant’s book Fire Weather has become a de-facto guide on the new dangers posed by these fires supercharged by a warming planet.
On December 7 (6:30 pm), Brandi Morin will be in conversation with Karyn Pugliese, Editor-in-Chief of Canadaland. Following the release of her 2022 memoir, Our Voice of Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising, Brandi Morin will be speaking on the topic of “On the Frontlines of Indigenous Land Defence”.
Indigenous communities are on the frontlines of the most devastating climate catastrophes across the world. And they are also leading the most powerful movements to stop the expansion of the fossil fuel industry, major culprits of these disasters. Reporter Brandi Morin will share her experiences on what it’s like to report from protest movements, and how Indigenous activism is pushing towards a brighter climate future.
Viewers can also catch the first talk online under past events. Author of Ministry for the Future, Kim Stanley Robinson, was interviewed by Dorothy Woodend, culture editor for The Tyee. They spoke on “Imagining a Better Climate Future”.
BC Libraries Present: Conversations on Climate are live-streamed events. Viewers can register to attend at: bipl.ca/bclp
BC Libraries Present is a project of BC’s public library federations, coordinated by Public Library InterLink, with the generous financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
