Living Library

Got an F in Gender: A Nonbinary Translation 

A homeschooled kid, a nonbinary adult, a neurodivergent immigrant and a queer Hindu walked into a bar. I couldn't help it; I've always been clumsy that way. The language of queerness - both in sexuality and in oddness - is a delightful tangle of political, religious and historical words and silences. Join me and let's talk about intersections of externalized identity and internal self, why they're complicated, and what happens when they collide across any of these axes.

Queering the Prairies

We are all shaped by the communities we grow up in but what happens when the structure of those communities, the patterns of behaviour they espouse, are less a reflection of who you are but of who you are not? This poly-curious, bisexual queer book recounts how growing up in the 'bible-belt' of Canada left her wondering for many years why she has felt out of step with life as it unfolds around her.

Queen of Chaos, Mistress of Mayhem: The Persistent Challenge of Wrangling an ADHD Brain 

I am a neurodiverse person, who along with both of my children live with ADHD. ADHD is a widely (and wildly) misunderstood disability, and all too often, those who have ADHD are dismissed as being unmotivated, disorganized, and erratic. I would love to be able to share my story as a way to generate better understanding and awareness of what ADHD actually is, and how it might be better approached in the workplace and education system. 

When the going gets tough, the tough keep going: Achieving higher education as a single parent

Pursuing a university degree was always part of this speaker’s plan, but the path to higher education was far from smooth. A divorced high school drop-out by the age of 21, Leslie had to make the painful decision to let go of her dream of pursuing Veterinary Medicine. Join us to hear this speaker share her story of hope and perseverance in the face of tremendous challenges, and how her resilience helped her achieve an education and rewarding career. 

Coming to be Inunnguijausimajuq  

Jeanien Bell is mixed Inuk and Qallunaat, raised in a semi-remote village of 400 on the land, ice and water in the traditional territories of the Innu First Nation and Nunatsiavumiut Inuit. Fortunate enough to have been immersed in the traditional land-based community centered ways of her Inuit Ancestors. Come and listen as she shared the ways in which the relationships formed with the land, the experience, knowledge and skills acquired through traditional teachings led by her family, community and through spirit have made her who she is today.

Being Brown, Having a Disability, and Fighting the Gossiping Aunties 

Born with Cerebral Palsy, I’ve always had others tell me what my capabilities and abilities were or were not. In addition to that, I grew up in what can sometimes be an ‘extremely judgmental’ South Asian community. However, I was born with the natural talents of being sarcastic and stubborn. I would not let others (especially those gossiping Aunties) decide for me what my life would be, or where my path would one day take me. My story is about staying true to who you are, embracing humour and sarcasm, and breaking barriers along the way; and allowing no one but myself to define my capabilities, abilities, or the existence of my disabilities… especially not the gossiping Aunties.