Bonnechere Authors Festival
The 6th annual Bonnechere Authors Festival is branching out in new directions. This year, we offer five authors in four different locations on the five Wednesdays in July. The committee has confirmed the following authors and locations for this year’s Festival:
July 2: Phil Jenkins, Eganville
St. James Church, 78 Wellington St.
July 9: M.G. Vassanji, Pembroke
Marguerite Centre, 700 Mackay St.
July 16: Frances Itani, Arnprior
Gillian Danby’s garden
143 Russell St. N.
July 23: Sandra Gulland, Eganville
St. James Church, 78 Wellington St.
July 30: Elizabeth Hay, Renfrew
Queen Elizabeth Public School
100 Veteran’s Memorial Blvd.
Phil Jenkins is an Ottawa writer interested in Canadian history. His new book is Beneath My Feet: The Memoir of George Mercer Dawson, the man who led the Geological Survey Unit during its exploration of the Canadian West. Other books include An Acre of Time and River Song. M.G. Vassanji is a celebrated writer and 2-time winner of the Giller Prize. His most recent book is The Assassin’s Song.
Frances Itani is an Ottawa writer whose 2007 book, Remembering the Bones, received wide praise. Her 2001 book Deafening was nominated for many prizes. Local author Sandra Gulland’s new book, Mistress of the Sun, was released in February and spent several weeks on the Maclean’s best-seller list. Her Josephine Trilogy has been published in 13 languages. Ottawa writer Elizabeth Hay’s most recent book, Late Nights on Air, won the Giller Prize for 2007. Previous books include Garbo Laughs and A Student of Weather.
Single tickets are $15, available at the door the night of the reading. Series passes for all five readings are $60, available from the Literacy Plus office till the end of June, and at the door July 2.
Come at 7:30 p.m. for dessert and coffee, and to browse the authors’ books. Readings start at 8:00 p.m. Please note that the Arnprior event is outdoors: come at 7:00 for a 7:30 reading. The rain location is the Arnprior Public Library.
Swing for Literacy
Tuesday, September 2, is the date of this year’s golf tournament, to be held once again at the Whitetail Golf Club, near Eganville. Whitetail helped us put on a great
tournament last year - we had many positive comments from golfers and we’re pleased to be returning to this course.
The $80 fee includes golf carts, valet service from car to cart, free warm-up on the driving range, 18 holes of golf and a turkey dinner. Charitable receipts for the donation portion of the fee will be available. Dinner only is $20. Once again, there will be an on-site raffle with great prizes. Registration is at 11:00 a.m., and golf starts at 12:00 noon.
You don’t have to be a great golfer to enjoy this tournament, you can just come and have fun. We like to see a good showing of golfers from Renfrew County, so please get the information out to the golfers you know.
Please pre-register by August 19. Call Gilles Doth (613-628-1818) or Rosemary Cammaert (613-628-3072) or at rcammaert@nrtco.net.
Concert
Christmas is still far away but please take note that the Valley Festival Choir will return this year to partner with Literacy Plus on a fundraising Christmas concert, to be held Friday, November 28, at St. James Church hall in Eganville.