Join us a Rockcliffe Park Branch for this inagural presenation: From the Snows of Siberia to the Snows of Kilimanjaro: A children’s odyssey from Russian captivity to a variety of countries, cultures and, in each, unexpected acts of strangers.  

Writer Irene Tomaszewski will talk about a group of refugees whose harrowing journey took them across four continents and two oceans -- but decades later they remembered their refugee camps fondly and even had reunions.  She will talk about her own family in that thread of history and also the unusual constellation of places and personalities that made this happen -  and the politics that kept it from being known.  

About Irene

Irene Tomaszewski, an Ottawa resident, was born in a gulag in northern Russia (then USSR), spent her childhood in a refugee camp in Tengeru, Tanzania and came to Canada in 1949.  A graduate in history at Concordia University in Montreal, Irene has written two books on Polish history, many articles and reviews in Canadian newspapers, and was editor of cosmopolitanreview.com, an online magazine about things Polish. She is the co-founder and organizer of the international symposium on Polish studies, history and literature called “Poland in the Rockies”.  

Join us at Rockcliffe Park branch for an evening of unique artistry, featuring two local musicians of international caliber!  A newly formed ensemble, Susan Toman and Andrew Mah present a concert on Celtic harp and guitar, with composers from the 17th and 18th centuries. Music by O’Carolan, Connellan, Playford, Purcell, and more. Don't miss a rare opportunity to enjoy this beautiful and seldom heard instrumental combination!  

English.  Drop-in. All ages.  

Susan Toman

Susan decide to take up the Celtic harp, fueled by a love of Irish & Scottish music. Having briefly studied harp basics with Annabelle Renzo in Montreal, she decided to immerse herself in Irish culture and tradition by learning from an Irish master of the harp. After intensive studies with Grainne Hambly in County Mayo, Ireland (and inspired by many castles!), Susan returned to Canada and prepared to record her first solo harp album (Emerald Shores), publishing her arrangements in her book "Dance Tunes & Airs." Since then she has recorded a solo Christmas album (Angels on High), and an album of Irish and Scottish traditional 
​music with singer Ellen MacIsaac.  

Andrew Mah

Canadian guitarist Andrew Mah is a unique and exciting musician, widely regarded for his virtuosity, versatility, and heartfelt musicality. 

Born in Ottawa into a family of guitarists, he has performed professionally on classical guitar for more than 26 years,  carving out a uniquely eclectic international career as a solo concert artist, chamber musician, teacher, arranger, producer, and adjudicator. 

Having concertized throughout Canada, the US,  and Europe,  he was the first North American ever to tour in the Republic of Cape Verde.  

Adjunct to his performing career, he has been active in a presenting capacity as former President of the Ottawa Guitar Society, and is often sought out for his expertise in the arrangement and notation of music from other cultures and styles into readable scores for classical musicians.  

His long term project to record J.S Bach's entire catalog of solo music for lute, violin, and cello is currently underway. 

For more information please visit www.andrewmah.com  

Discover what happens when science meets art! Explore perception as you use shadows, colour, motion, and light to create art from science. You’ll make a puppet, a spinning top and a kaleidoscope, as well as design your own galaxy. As Albert Einstein said: “The greatest scientists are always artists as well!”

Come join us for this hybrid program (in-person with presenter online) with our partner, Scientists in School! Ages 8-12.

Join the Ottawa Humane Society and learn to be a good buddy to dogs! Participants will learn how to safely approach a dog and explore bite-prevention tips through role-playing scenarios. Family program for ages 5+