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Brampton Library Blog

Category: Blog

We all have different ways of communicating. Some of us use our words, others use actions. Some turn to the arts to convey emotion, while others are more technologically savvy. There are those who prefer comedy to more serious forms of expression, and still others who are open to blending the different structures. To celebrate these various means of communication and pay tribute to those who employ non-traditional forms of expression, Brampton Library has introduced “Express Yourself”, a program for autistic youth to explore different outlets that transform self-expression. In partnership with Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives (PAMA) and Autism Ontario (AO), we have worked to provide access to various expressive means such as maker technology, watercolour painting, stand-up comedy, memoir writing, and comic creation. We have carefully crafted these topics into workshops for autistic youth specifically, but the execution of this series holds something for all of us. The launch of this program can lead to a greater appreciation for non-traditional forms of expression. Together, we can take a different look at self-expression.

Join us at our Chinguacousy Branch on Saturday December 3 for International Day of Peoples with Disabilities to experience a unique showcase of the work produced within the Express Yourself program. We invite you to look within yourself for new means of expression.

Program Itinerary

Saturday October 29: MakerSpace at Four Corners Branch Library

Express Yourself program participants in the Makerspace at Four Corners BranchExpress Yourself participants following instructions of library staff member at computer in the Four Corners branch Makerspace

Express Yourself program participants and library staff member in the Makerspace at Four Corners Branch3D printed jack-o-lantern key chains in 3d printer.

Saturday November 5: Watercolour Workshop at PAMA

Watercolour paintingWatercolour paintingWatercolour painting

Saturday November 12: Spoken Word, Comedy, & Memoir at Four Corners Branch Library with special guest Autistic Comedian and Author Michael McCreary

Autistic Comedian and Author Michael McCreary presenting a talk at Four Corners BranchMichael McCreary smiling and posing with program participantMichael McCreary smiling and posing with program participant

Twenty-six-year-old Michael McCreary is an autistic comedian, actor, author and TEDX speaker who’s been performing stand-up comedy since age 13. 

In the past eight years, he has performed stand-up shows and keynote addresses in every province in Canada, plus the Yukon, and across the United States. He is currently acting in the new series “Astrid & Lilly Save the World” (SYFY Network) and in “Ginny & Georgia” (Netflix). He has also consulted on the TV show “Ransom” to ensure the authenticity of a character with autism.

Michael's memoir, “Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic” (Annick Press), was the subject of our discussion for this Express Yourself session.

More events still to come:

Saturday November 19, 10:30-11:30: Comics Workshop at PAMA

Saturday December 3, 2 - 4 p.m.: International Day of Peoples with Disabilities Art Showcase at Chinguacousy Branch Library.

For more information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Category: Blog

Happy TeenTober! According to the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), TeenTober is a celebration in October that “aims to celebrate teens, promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways teen services help teens learn new skills, and fuel their passions in and outside the library.” This year, we would like to celebrate youth and their active participation in our community. Check out these events and collections for teens:

  1. TeenTalk: TeenTober edition video series 

Listen to Brampton Library Youth Volunteers discuss topics they are passionate about in this TED Talk-style series of videos. Topics will vary, from dance and culture to reflections on space travel,  each discussing a unique angle on technology that will be noted as an underlying theme.

  1. TeenTalks Event

Join us November 3 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at our Chinguacousy branch to meet the Brampton Library Youth Volunteers behind the TeenTalk presentations. We will discuss their videos and share ideas. Questions related to each presentation will be asked to inspire a group conversation. Please help us celebrate the dedication and hard work of these talented students.

  1. Teen Social Justice League

On the second Tuesday of every month, we will be hosting Teen Social Justice League conversation from 6–7:30 p.m. on Zoom. The purpose of the league is to open important conversations about social justice issues in our community. We know that teens in Brampton have so much to contribute, especially when given the right platform. For more information check out the Brampton Library blog. 

  1. Teen Pop Carts

These carts are loaded with board games, zine kits and unexpected activities for you to discover. To find one, ask staff or view the Pop Cart schedule on our calendar of events. 

  1. At Home Trivia

Calling all trivia lovers! Join us online once a month for themed trivia nights that will put your knowledge to the test. This month’s theme is superheroes.

  1. Seasonal Activity Kits

Seasonal Activity Kits are here to get your body and mind active, in any season! Kits include everything you need to play. Games are easy to learn and can be adapted to any skill level. 

  1. Haunted Ghost Walk

On October 27 from 7:00-8:30pm, join Steve Collie from After Dark Tours for a ghostly walk through Brampton's downtown core. Find out about its concentration of paranormal activity, the dark side lurking under Brampton’s familiar façade.

For those interested, we are holding copies of Grady Hendrix’s spooky novel “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” exclusively for ghost walk participants. To read the novel before joining us on the walk, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This offering is open while supplies last. You are also welcome to source your own copy of the book and join in the discussion.

Category: Blog

I am happy to announce that this month, the Library’s hours of service will be completely restored to pre-pandemic levels. As of September 11, 2022, Sunday hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be restored at all branches except South West. As of September 13, South West will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find our full hours of operation on our website. 

In addition, we are re-starting our popular After Hours Study Hall at Chinguacousy and Springdale branches. As of September 10, this will be available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Just come by the branch on the same day during regular hours with your valid Brampton Library card to register as long as space is available. 

This past summer the Library was busier than it has been since early 2020, and I want to thank our community for continuing to use their Library, especially those who participate in our variety of programs for all ages. I had the pleasure of visiting programs at all locations recently, and it was great to see all your smiling faces as you rediscovered the joy of reading, learning, and connecting. I want to encourage everyone in the community to take advantage of all the Library has to offer, from our makerspaces to our literacy programs, from physical resources to borrow to our online e-resources. Our vision is to inspire connections. We hope you will be inspired by everything we have to offer! 

Category: Blog

On the second Tuesday of every month we will be hosting Teen Social Justice League conversation from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. The purpose of the league is to open important conversations about social justice issues in our community. We know that teens in Brampton have so much to contribute, especially when given the right platform. We reflect back on the TeenTalk conversations the library facilitated in May and again this October that touch on some of these themes. Think of the Teen Social Justice League as an extension of these conversations, but within a space devoted entirely to teens.

You don’t have to be a big reader to join. We can chat about these subjects generally, and we can refer to a variety of books, articles, pamphlets, movies or TV shows that you have come across on the topic. Below you’ll find a list of resources that you might find helpful in opening the conversation for each month’s topic.

September 13: Accessibility

Here is a list of topics and some great YA novels about accessibility:

Here are a couple of articles or publications from PressReader that highlight accessibility:

  • IN Sights (Sept 2019): Are the Robots Coming?
  • Sports Illustrated (features various articles on accessibility in sports)

Here are some fantastic films and documentaries on accessibility that you can find on Kanopy:

October 11: Gender Equality

Register for the meeting by clicking this link.

Here is a list of some great YA novels that highlight the need for equality:

Here are a few articles or publications from PressReader that highlight women:

  • Boston Sunday Globe (Sept. 2022): Stretched and Stressed: Nurses are Facing Multiple Crises
  • Business Chief (Feb. 2022): When You Empower Women You Empower Communities and Nations
  • Business Update (Aug. 2022): Time for SA Women to Rise
  • Communicate (April 2022): Women to Watch: 2022
  • I am Woman Global (Sept. 2022)
  • Lady Global Power (Sept. 2022)
  • Oil and Gas (Sept. 2022): Taking Charge: How Women and Young Talent Are Shaping the Future of the Industry

Check out these films on Kanopy, which speak about gender divides and emphasize the need for equality:

November 8: Compassion

Here is a list of some great YA novels that discuss compassion:

Here are a few articles or publications from PressReader that emphasize the need for compassion:

  • Newsweek (Sept. 2022): China’s Bid to Control the World’s Data
  • NZ Business (May 2020): How to Deal with Bullying in Your Workplace
  • The Guardian Weekly (August 2022): Six Months of War in Ukraine 
  • Global Asia (June 2022): How Russia’s War Impacts Asia
  • National Post ( 6 September 2022): It Was a War Zone

Here are some films on Kanopy that emphasize the need for compassion:

Category: Blog

Hey teens! Tonight we will be hosting our first-ever Teen Social Justice League conversation from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on our discord channel. We will be chatting about mental health and themes from books that we have read or are currently reading. The purpose of the league is to open important conversations about social justice issues in our community. We know that teens in Brampton have so much to contribute, especially when given the right platform. We reflect back on the TeenTalk conversations the library facilitated in May when an entire panel was devoted to the subject of mental health. Think of the Teen Social Justice League as an extension of these conversations, but within a space devoted entirely to teens.

In tonight’s discussion, we welcome special guests Jiya Kaemra and Kareena Brambhatt, representatives of Miss Teenage Peel, to our discussion. The league will meet again on Tuesday, August 9 at the same time to discuss the experiences of immigrants and/or refugees. Register for the next session.

You don’t have to be a big reader to join. We can chat about these subjects generally, and we can refer to a variety of books, articles, and pamphlets that you have come across on the topic. Below you’ll find a list of resources that you might find helpful in opening the conversation about mental health.

Have your say and join the Teen Social Justice League today!

Here are some fantastic YA novels about mental health and wellness:

  1. Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
  2. Dear Martin by Nic Stone
  3. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
  4. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
  5. History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
  6. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
  7. I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
  8. On a Scale of 1 to 10 by Ceylan Scott
  9. One Way or Another by Kara J. McDowell
  10. This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
  11. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
  12. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Here is a Review of Darius the Great is Not Okay by a Teen Summer Reading Club member:

“Darius the Great Is Not Okay, is a contemporary novel written by Adib Khorram, and was originally published on August 28, 2018. His casual and humorous style of writing brought a great connection with the main character of the book, Darius. The novel is about a young boy who deals with depression in school. Due to his mental illness, he questions his identity as his mother is Persian and his father is American, and mostly because his younger sister, Laleh, speaks better Farsi than him. He believes he is a failure to both his parents and often has feelings of isolation. He later travels to Iran with his family to meet his grandfather who is sick and creates a new long-lasting friendship with a boy named Sohrab. He feels a great connection with him as he is kind and doesn’t judge Darius due to his condition, as many of his other family members do. With him, he deepens his cultural understanding and learns to be a more confident person, which Sohrab possesses in him. 

I would recommend this book to those who are 14+ since it can cover sensitive topics of depression, isolation, and suicide. Out of 5, I would give this book a 5 because of the characters' development/personalities and setting, and the number of times it made me smile!”

Here are videos from our TeenTalks Series that speak to mental health and wellness:

Find these  films on Kanopy about inspiring local action and developing creative outlets for mental health support and community building.

  • The Boxers of Brule — At 23 years old, Shaionna Grass Rope lost her best friend Cheryl Ziegler to suicide. Though facing the same struggles, Shaionna creates a boxing team for the girls following in their footsteps, determined to end trends of youth suicide within the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of South Da\\kota. 
  • Rap Squad — In the town of Helena-West Helena located in the Arkansas Delta, students of Central High School's RAP SQUAD — an after school music club — pen lyrics to cope with personal traumas and seek healing for themselves.

More film recommendations on Kanopy:

  • The Girl on the Bridge — Mental health activist Jazz Thornton takes you on a journey of her struggle to overcome a suicidal past, to help others with their struggles, and the personal cost of her advocacy. 
  • Just Like You: Anxiety and Depression — 10 brave kids, 2 Emmy award winning journalists, 1 clinical psychologist at Columbia University and 1 determined mother take on the fear and stigma plaguing the mental health community.
  • Uprooting Addiction: Healing from the Ground Up — Follow six people from varying walks of life — each affected by childhood trauma — who candidly share their personal stories of addiction and recovery. These testimonies are interwoven with uplifting, up-to-the-minute accounts from an equally diverse group of activists, officials, and experts, working tirelessly on the front lines of this unrelenting public health crisis.

  1. Paint the Town, Brampton!
  2. Meet local authors at the Brampton Farmers’ Market
  3. Mahak Jain visits Brampton Library
  4. Find The Hidden at Chinguacousy!

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