Meet the Authors: Joel Thomas Hynes and Susie Taylor


Date: Jun 26
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Theatre

Join us for an engaging discussion featuring Joel Thomas Hynes and emerging author Susie Taylor. Hynes, renowned for his groundbreaking debut "Down to the Dirt", will provide insights into his journey depicting gritty, street-level life, while Taylor will delve into her new book of linked short stories "Vigil," delving into similar themes of societal struggles in decaying urban centres.

This is a free program but tickets are required.  Reserve your free ticket online or by calling (709)-757-8090.


About the Authors:

Joel Thomas Hynes is a Canadian writer, actor and director known for his irreverent, oftentimes dark and uproarious characters and a raw, unflinching vision of modern underground Canada. His 2017 novel We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night won the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction and the Winterset Award and was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Susie Taylor (she/her) is a queer writer living in rural Newfoundland. Her first novel, Even Weirder Than Before, was published in 2019 by Breakwater Books. Taylor’s short stories have appeared in Geist, Prism International, The Fiddlehead, Room Magazine, Riddle Fence and elsewhere. Taylor lives in Harbour Grace, NL, with her partner, dog and four cats. When she isn’t writing, she is out running.

Presented in partnership with Breakwater Books. Books will be available for sale in The Rooms Giftshop.

Events & Programs

10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Playdate

Join us for a delightful morning at The Rooms!
Bring your little ones to our enchanting Harbour View Room for unguided playtime surrounded by an array of toys and books tailored for infants and toddlers aged 0 to 4.

No prior registration is necessary; simply pay your admission at The Rooms front desk and drop in anytime between 10:30 am and 12:00 pm! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that caregivers must accompany their children throughout the session. While our program room can accommodate up to 20 adults with their little ones, if it reaches capacity, we kindly ask caregivers to momentarily step back to make room for others to join in the fun.

The Playdate is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms Members.

With support from Thomas and Susan (Kent) Foran Family Foundation.

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Workshop

Did you know the forget-me-not flower holds a special meaning in Newfoundland and Labrador? It is a proud symbol of remembrance for The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, particularly those lost at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.

What to Expect During This Workshop:

  • Tour Level 2 Museum: Beaumont-Hamel and the Trail of the Caribou
  • Embroider a bouquet of forget-me-nots to remember those who served
  • All supplies, including hoops, threads, needles, and fabrics, will be provided

Cost: $40 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Register online!

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Tour

Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador

Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Sergeant Gander: A Soldier's Soldier – Film Screening and Q&A

US Army Vietnam Veteran JP Bear shares his research and presents a short film honoring Sergeant Gander, a Newfoundland Dog and mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada during World War II.

Sergeant Gander was a member of “C” Force during the Battle of Hong Kong and died in combat. In 2000, he was posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal – often called the “animals’ Victoria Cross” – for bravery.

A Q&A will follow the screening of the 11-minute film SGT Gander: A Soldier's Soldier.

Cost: Free. A ticket is required. Reserve your free ticket online or by calling (709) 757-8090.

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Join Newman Sound Choir for its annual Remembrance Day performance, a touching evening of music and reflection generously supported by The Elinor Gill Ratcliffe Foundation.

This cherished tradition offers a time of music and reflection as we honour all those who have served, and continue to serve, in times of conflict.

With special guest tenor Jeffrey Taylor, the concert features moving choral performances and thoughtful words of remembrance that pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who have defended peace and freedom.

Cost: $30 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Get your tickets online or by calling 709-757-8090.