Latest News

Local author and expert, Jessie Sutherland, who has recently been asked to consult with the UNESCO Mohatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, is one of the speakers at the writers’ events lined up this October at our Richmond Public Library.

Photo by Priyanka Chakrabarti

Writers to listen to at the Richmond Public Library

By Lorraine Graves

Published 1:44 PDT, Mon September 17, 2018

Last Updated: 2:12 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

September may be only past the halfway mark but it’s time to get out your October calendar and mark these free author events at the Richmond Public Library.

With nine authors lined up on a host of topics, there is something for everyone.

The month kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 2 with Amy Yiu, Jo Jo Wang and Mengdi Xia, the co-authors of Dieticians at Home, their bilingual cookbook that offers a chance for healthy home cooking. During their 6 to 7:20 p.m. event, the three authors will will talk about what led to their bilingual cookbook and share their favourite fall recipe. There is a vast difference between a dietician, also called a registered dietician, and a nutritionist. The College of Dieticians of BC requires that, to be registered in BC, dietitians must: have a five-year university degree in nutrition with at least 1250 hours of supervised, hands-on training, pass a national competence examination and undergo regular criminal record checks. Many dietitians also have additional degrees or certificates to enhance their skills. They are also required by law to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. To get the real information on the health of a recipe or a diet, check with a dietician, or, go to the Richmond Public Library for this free session.

If Dungeons and Dragons is more your style, the next night, Oct. 3, offers James McCann’s“Welcome to Writing Your Novel Dungeons and Dragons Style” from 4 to 5 p.m. McCann will show how he and other writers have been influenced by the popular game. So, your child or friends, who spend many hours playing, may not be just having fun. They may be investing in their writing futures.

10 days later, on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 2:30 until 4 p.m. Richmond-based international expert, Jessie Sutherland, offers a talk on her book, “Worldview Skills: Transforming Conflict from the Inside Out.” It’s a chance to discuss and learn the skills to address diverse social issues such as poverty, the opioid crisis and affordable housing. It’s also a chance to learn how to put your social conscience into action that will change the world. For an example of what to expect, see Sutherland’s Tedx talk.

The following Thursday, Oct. 25 there is a double bill from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Author Julia Lin will read from her two Taiwanese-Canadian books; Miah, a collection of short stories and Shadows of the Crimson Sun, the biography of long-time Richmond resident and physician Dr. Charles Yang. Her work encompasses stories of Taiwanese-Canadians and their immigrant experiences.

The second half of the Oct. 25 bill is Francis Pring-Mill, author of In Harmony with the Tao: A Guided Journey on the Tao Te Ching. Pring-Mill will discuss this widely-read and deeply-loved book of ancient spiritual wisdom.

Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m., UBC Professor Nathan Lauster, author of The Death and Life of the Single-Family House will discuss why people are attached to houses and how Metro Vancouver has moved away from this housing form.

To round out the month, Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Jim Tanaka, one of the editors of the award winning book Changing Tides: Vanishing Voices of Nikkei Fishermen and Their Families will talk about the important contributions of Japanese-Canadian fishermen and their families on the B.C. coast. These are contributions others still benefit from today. Learn how at this month-end talk at the Richmond Public Library.

All events are free to attend but you need to register in advance.