The Milton Public Library is happy with how its One Book, One Milton event turned out.
This year’s author was CBC Canada Reads 2020 winner, Samra Habib, for her book ‘We Have Always Been Here’. CBC describes the book as “an exploration of faith, art, love, and queer sexuality, a journey that takes her to the far reaches of the globe to uncover a truth that was within her all along.”
The Manager of Public Service with the MPL, Lee Puddephatt, says the event exceeded their expectations.
She also calls Habib’s book her favourite of 2020, saying that it perfectly describes what it is like to be Canadian “and what it’s like to go through the ringer.”
Previous authors for the annual One Book, One Milton event include Margaret Atwood and Milton’s own Chris Hadfield. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event was the first time that it was held virtually. Puddephatt says the high turn-out is telling them that they should continue with a virtual format in some capacity moving forward.
Someone who has lived the unique life of Samra Habib can provide numerous lessons to those who listen. Puddephatt discusses the one big lesson she gathered from Habib.
There was also a photo contest that coincided with the event. Residents were asked to take photos around Milton that describe what identity means to the photographer. The winner was Lois Eibl for her entry ‘Artists Have Always Been Here’ (as seen below). Eibl won a Fujifilm Instax Mini camera, as well as a signed copy of Habib’s book. The photo displays a mural that was put up at 16 Hugh Street in Milton. The MPL has just recently interviewed the mural’s artist, JR Marr, for an episode of their podcast, Beyond the Stacks.
The full One Book, One Milton event has been posted to the MPL’s YouTube channel for all to watch. You can view Habib as she is interviewed by CBC’s Michael Serapio, with Puddephatt making an appearance as well.
(‘Artists Have Always Been Here’, Lois Eibl – painted by JR Marr)
