Written by Natalie Haid

Category: Blog

Published: 15 November 2022

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

Saturday November 5: Watercolour Workshop at PAMA

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

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..

Written by Natalie Haid & Skye Soobramanie

Category: Blog

Published: 03 October 2022

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:

• ADHD / Dyslexia: A List of Cages by Robin Roe
• Amputation: A Time Dance by Padma Venkatraman 
• Autism: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
• Chronic Illness: When My Heart Joins the Thousand by A. J. Steiger
• Bipolar Disorder: For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
• Blindness: Graceling: The Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore, Illustrated by Gareth Hinds

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:

• A Cerebral Game: A Filmmaker with Cerebral Palsy & His Love of Baseball
• Deaf Jam: is the story of deaf teen Aneta Brodski's bold journey into the spoken word slam scene. In a wondrous twist, Aneta, an Israeli immigrant living in the Queens section of New York City, eventually meets Tahani, a hearing Palestinian slam poet. The two women embark on a collaboration/performance duet creating a new form of slam poetry that speaks to both the hearing and the Deaf.
• Neurotypical: A Film About Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
• The Key of G: Disability, Caregiving and Interdependence
• Wheelchair Diaries: One Step Up: An Exploration of the Lack of Handicapped Accessibility in Europe

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:

• Internment by Samira Ahmed
• The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
• Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno
• Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu (also a Netflix movie)
• On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
• Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Natasha Donovan

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:

• The Big Flip: Stories From the Modern Homefront
• The Codes of Gender: Identity & Performance in Popular Culture
• The Double Burden: Three Generations of Working Mothers
• Gender Trouble
• Miss Representation
• Wonder Women

November 8: Compassion

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

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (also a movie)
• Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
• Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
• Wrong Side of the Court by H.N. Khan
• Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan
• Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

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:

• bell hooks: Cultural Criticism & Transformation
• Bullying Cultures: The Social and Psychological Dynamics of Bullying
• Constructing the Terrorist Threat: Islamophobia, The Media & The War on Terror
• Difficult People and Situations: Bullying and Harassment
• Radical Ideas in Justice and Regulation
• Social Animals: The Real and Digital Worlds of Today’s Teenagers
• Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media

Written by Natalie Haid & Skye Soobramanie

Category: Blog

Published: 17 October 2022

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.

Written by Todd Kyle, Chief Executive Officer

Category: Blog

Published: 08 September 2022

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!