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Image for event: A Discussion with Author Mariam Pirbhai

Registration now closed

A Discussion with Author Mariam Pirbhai

in partnership with Words Worth Books

2024-01-16 19:00:00 2024-01-16 20:00:00 America/New_York A Discussion with Author Mariam Pirbhai Adults Eastside Branch - Program Room

Tuesday, January 16
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2024-01-16 19:00:00 2024-01-16 20:00:00 America/New_York A Discussion with Author Mariam Pirbhai Adults Eastside Branch - Program Room

Eastside Branch

Program Room

Adults

Join us for an evening with Mariam Pirbhai, writer and academic as she discusses her new book Garden Inventories: Reflections on Land, Place and Belonging, a combo of nature writing and memoir, exploring her relationship, as an immigrant who has lived in other parts of the world, to what it means to belong and settle a new land—specifically here in the Grand River region, in Waterloo. The book is filtered through the lens of gardens and gardening.

Presented in partnership with Words Worth Books.

About Mariam Pirbhai:

Mariam Pirbhai is the author of a debut novel titled Isolated Incident (Mawenzi 2022) featured among CBC’s “65 Works of Fiction to Watch For in Fall 2022); and a short story collection titled Outside People and Other Stories (Inanna 2017), winner of the IPPY and American BookFest Awards. Pirbhai is Professor of English at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches and specializes in postcolonial studies and creative writing. She is also the author or editor of several academic books on the global South Asian diaspora, including Mythologies of Migration, Vocabularies of Indenture: Novels of the South Asian Diaspora in Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific (University of Toronto Press 2009), and Critical Perspectives on Indo-Caribbean Women’s Literature (Routledge 2013). Pirbhai has served as President of CAPS (Canadian Association of Postcolonial Studies, formerly CACLALS), Canada’s longest-running scholarly association devoted to postcolonial and global anglophone literatures. Pirbhai is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants whose arrival in Canada followed a circuitous route from England, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines. She and her husband live in Waterloo, Ontario.

About Garden Inventories - Reflections of Land Place and Belonging:

In Garden Inventories: Reflections on Land, Place and Belonging, scholar Mariam Pirbhai looks carefully at the square of land she has called home in Southern Ontario for the past seventeen years, which she notes is a milestone for her, and asks how long it takes to be rooted to a place? And what does that truly mean? Seeing the landscape around her with the layered experience of a childhood spent wandering the world, Pirbhai shares her efforts to create a garden and understand her new home. From the strange North American obsession with non-fruiting fruit trees to the naming conventions of plants that erase their heritage, she casts a sharp eye on the choices that have shaped our gardens, and our society. Pirbhai considers wildflowers and weeds, our obsession with lawns, the choices in our plant nurseries and even our Canadian dedication to the cottage with warmth and humour. The result is a delightful collection of essays that invites the reader to see the beautiful complexity of the land around us all in a new way.

Programmer: Nancy

Mariam Pirbhai

AGE GROUP: | Adults 19+ |

EVENT TYPE: | Book Clubs, Writing and Authors |

TAGS: | Author Event |

Eastside Branch

Phone: 519-886-1310

Hours
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Mon, Sep 29 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Sep 30 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Oct 01 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Oct 02 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Oct 03 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sat, Oct 04 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sun, Oct 05 Closed

About the branch

Located at the RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex, the Eastside Branch boasts specialized creative spaces, quiet study areas, a nature education space and lots of natural light.

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Sat, Oct 04, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Mon, Oct 06, 10:00am - 12:00pm
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Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Tue, Oct 07, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Tue, Oct 07, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Oct 07, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 10 to 12 years old and their caregiver(s).

Tue, Oct 07, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Tue, Oct 07, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For adults in their 20s and 30s.
This event is full

Wed, Oct 08, 10:00am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
For Older Adults

Wed, Oct 08, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Oct 08, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Older Adults

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Main Library
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McCormick Branch
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Main Library
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Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
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Wed, Oct 08, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 10 to 12 years old.

Wed, Oct 08, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Wed, Oct 08, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years old.

Thu, Oct 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Oct 09, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
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Thu, Oct 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
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Thu, Oct 09, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Main Library
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Thu, Oct 09, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Thu, Oct 09, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
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This event is full

Thu, Oct 09, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Main Library
Do you need help with technology? Let a Waterloo Public Library Tech Coach help you!

Fri, Oct 10, All day
All library locations
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Fri, Oct 10, 9:30am - 10:30am
Main Library
Drop-in for help for technology questions

Fri, Oct 10, 10:30am - 11:30am
Main Library
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Fri, Oct 10, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Main Library
Do you need help with technology? Let a Waterloo Public Library Tech Coach help you!

Fri, Oct 10, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Main Library
Do you need help with technology? Let a Waterloo Public Library Tech Coach help you!
This event is full

Fri, Oct 10, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Main Library
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Fri, Oct 10, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Main Library
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This event is full

Sat, Oct 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For babies ages 0 to 12 months old with a caregiver.
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Sat, Oct 11, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For tweens ages 8 to 13 years old.

Sat, Oct 11, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
McCormick Branch
For tweens and teens ages 10 to 14 years old.

Mon, Oct 13, All day
All library locations
All library locations CLOSED for Thanksgiving

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Adults and Older Adults

Tue, Oct 14, 6:30pm - 8:15pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Wed, Oct 15, 10:00am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
For Older Adults

Wed, Oct 15, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Oct 15, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Older Adults

Wed, Oct 15, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For babies ages 0 to 11 months with a caregiver.
This event is full

Wed, Oct 15, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 7 to 10 years old.
This event is full

Wed, Oct 15, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Older Adults

Wed, Oct 15, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Wed, Oct 15, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years old.

Thu, Oct 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Oct 16, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Thu, Oct 16, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
This event is full

Thu, Oct 16, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults
This event is full

Thu, Oct 16, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 9 to 13 years old and their caregiver(s).
This event is full

Thu, Oct 16, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Adults
This event is full

Sat, Oct 18, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Sat, Oct 18, 1:00pm - 4:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Discovery Room,Program Room
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Sat, Oct 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Oct 20, 10:00am - 11:30am
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
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Mon, Oct 20, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For ones ages 11 to 24 months with a caregiver.

Mon, Oct 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Mon, Oct 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Older Adults

Mon, Oct 20, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For ages 12 and up.

Mon, Oct 20, 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
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Registration is now closed

Mon, Oct 20, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Adults
This event is full

Mon, Oct 20, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Discovery Room
For kids ages 6 to 8 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Oct 20, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Mon, Oct 20, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
This event is full

Tue, Oct 21, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Tue, Oct 21, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Oct 21, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For adults in their 20s and 30s.

Tue, Oct 21, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For ages 16 years and up.

Wed, Oct 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For kids ages 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Oct 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Oct 22, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults and Older Adults

Wed, Oct 22, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 7 to 10 years old.
This event is full

Wed, Oct 22, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
McCormick Branch
For tweens ages 9 to 12 years old.

Wed, Oct 22, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Wed, Oct 22, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
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Thu, Oct 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Oct 23, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Thu, Oct 23, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 5 to 8 years old.

Thu, Oct 23, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
McCormick Branch
For tweens ages 8 to 12 years old.

Thu, Oct 23, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 3 to 8 years old with a caregiver.
This event is full

Thu, Oct 23, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Thu, Oct 23, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Adults
This event is full

Sat, Oct 25, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Sat, Oct 25, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Families

Sat, Oct 25, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Discovery Room,Program Room
Everyone welcome

Sat, Oct 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Oct 27, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For ones ages 11 to 24 months with a caregiver.

Mon, Oct 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For babies ages 6 to 12 months old with a caregiver.
This event is full

Mon, Oct 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Older Adults

Mon, Oct 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
Registration opens Monday, October 6 2025 at 7:00pm

Mon, Oct 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For tweens ages 9 to 12 years old.
Registration opens Monday, October 6 2025 at 7:00pm

Mon, Oct 27, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Adults
This event is full

Mon, Oct 27, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Discovery Room
For kids ages 6 to 8 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Oct 27, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults
Registration opens Tuesday, October 7 2025 at 7:00pm

Mon, Oct 27, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
This event is full

Tue, Oct 28, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Tue, Oct 28, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Oct 28, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Study Room 1
Do you need help with technology? Let a Waterloo Public Library Tech Coach help you!

Tue, Oct 28, 6:30pm - 8:15pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults
Registration opens Tuesday, October 7 2025 at 7:00pm

Tue, Oct 28, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 4 to 12 years old with a caregiver.
Registration opens Tuesday, October 7 2025 at 7:00pm

Tue, Oct 28, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Adults
Registration opens Tuesday, October 7 2025 at 7:00pm

Wed, Oct 29, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For kids ages 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Oct 29, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Oct 29, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Eastside Branch
For Adults

Wed, Oct 29, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 8 to 12 years old.
Registration opens Wednesday, October 8 2025 at 7:00pm

Wed, Oct 29, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
McCormick Branch
For tweens ages 9 to 12 years old.

Wed, Oct 29, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Older Adults
Registration opens Wednesday, October 8 2025 at 7:00pm

Wed, Oct 29, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Wed, Oct 29, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Wed, Oct 29, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Wed, Oct 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years old.
Registration opens Wednesday, October 8 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Oct 30, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Oct 30, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.
Registration opens Thursday, October 9 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Oct 30, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 5 to 8 years old.
Registration opens Thursday, October 9 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Oct 30, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
McCormick Branch
For kids ages 6 to 10 years old.
Registration opens Thursday, October 9 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Oct 30, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For tweens ages 8 to 10 years old.
Registration opens Thursday, October 9 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Oct 30, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Adults
Registration opens Thursday, October 9 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Oct 30, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Adults
This event is full

Sat, Nov 01, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Sat, Nov 01, 10:30am - 11:30am
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 0 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Sat, Nov 01, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Adults and Older Adults

Sat, Nov 01, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For kids ages 6 to 9 years old.
This event is full

Sat, Nov 01, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
For Families