What's On at the Library

What’s your Bazaar Memory?

This year marks Canada’s 150^th birthday. It’s a big deal. Many organizations and communities of various sorts will be celebrating Canada in some very unique ways. I have the pleasure of working with the Village of Dreams Productions on WHAT’S YOUR BAZAAR MEMORY? It’s a project that aims at capturing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Gerrard India Bazaar, commonly known as Little India. The project includes two contests:  Best Photo and Best Non-Fiction Story. Winning submissions earn $500 in each competition! And yes, earning some money is good, but it’s really about preserving the colour of the South Asian heritage in North America’s largest ethnic market.

The deadline for contest submissions is Sunday April 30, 2017.

What’s even more aromatic about this project is that some of the content submitted by contest participants may appear in a documentary. In celebration of diversity in Canada, the film will explore how new Canadians and their communities straddle two cultures. At a local level, the Gerrard/Ashdale branch will be inviting some contest participants to present their work in time for the Festival of South Asia.

You don’t have to live in the neighbourhood to be part of this initiative. In fact, this could give you more reason to visit the Bazaar and if you've been here before, it could be a way for you to experience Little India through a new lens. If you're interested in competing, check out the resources below to give you a boost in the competition.

1. Online learning resources with courses, reading materials and articles on photography...

 


2. Some materials to help you capture the perfect shot...  

 3. Some resources to help improve your memoir writing skills...

4. If you're a writer interested in sharing your work, check out writers groups at Toronto Public Library branches.  There is also an opportunity to be mentored by Toronto Writers Collective at the Parkdale Branch. You may also be interested in some of our Writer in Residence programs with author, Pasha Malla, including one-on-one discussions and workshops.