Programs

Poetry Saved Our Lives is an eight-week spoken word series for teens to explore their creative voices and make friends. Develop your writing, poetry and stories with a supportive and experienced coach. 
 

Upcoming dates: May 2, 9, 16, 23.

Coach Shelly Campbell is a Toronto-based spoken word poet and photographer. Shelly is a former National Spoken Word Champion and an art educator with VIBE Arts.

If you identify as a person with a disability or as a person who is Deaf, and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email, accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance. 



 

Join us at Mount Pleasant branch for an enlightening and inspiring experience. This series is perfect for art enthusiasts, students, and anyone who is curious about the world of art. Whether you're a seasoned art lover or just starting your journey, this documentary series will expand your knowledge and appreciation for visual art. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the beauty and significance of art through film. Followed by an art discussion. 

• May Artist: Manet- In this acclaimed film, focussing on the sell-out exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, we ask just who was Édouard Manet - the ‘Father of Modern Art’.We enjoy exclusive access to the show as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition’s preparation.
• Time: 12:30-2:30PM AND 4-6PM 
• June Artist- Van Gogh 

Registration is required. Register in-branch or by calling (416) 393-7737.

If you identify as a person with a disability and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email, accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance.

La Bibliothèque publique de Toronto s'est engagée à assurer l'accessibilité. Veuillez nous appeler ou nous envoyer un courriel si vous êtes sourd(e) ou avez un handicap et souhaitez demander des mesures d'adaptation pour participer à ce programme. Veuillez nous en informer le plus tôt possible et nous ferons de notre mieux pour répondre à votre demande. Un préavis d'au moins trois semaines est préférable. Composez 416-393-7099 ou contactez-nous par courriel accessibleservices@tpl.ca

Dive into an engaging and thought-provoking documentary twice a month.  We explore the social, political and historical aspects of issues impacting current social conditions and political events. 
Filmmakers for the Prosecution retraces the hunt for film evidence that could convict Nazis at the Nuremberg Trial in 1945. These film documents shaped our understanding of the Holocaust. French journalist and filmmaker Jean-Christophe Klotz  uncovered never-before-seen footage, and interviews of key figures to unravel the resulting film made at the time about the trial at Nuremberg:
If you identify as a person with a disability and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email, accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance.

The award-winning 2022 documentary The Wild One illuminates the journey of Jack Garfein - celebrated Broadway director, Actors Studio West co-founder, controversial filmmaker, and Holocaust survivor. Learn how his experience in Nazi concentration camps shaped his vision of acting as a survival mechanism, and propelled his engagement with themes of violence, power, and racism in two explosive films. The Wild One examines the importance of Garfein's legacy as an artist who confronted censorship and reveals how art can draw on personal memory to better enlighten our present. 

Toronto Public Library in partnership with the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre has made this in-person film screening free. Advance registration is required. For registration assistance, please call 416-924-6211 x0 or email help@mnjcc.org.

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This event is part of our new Jewish Heritage programming series, presented in partnership with the Miles Nadal JCC.

This series represents the first of two new heritage series, along with Islamic Heritage (coming this fall). These series, alongside our established Black History, Asian Heritage, and Indigenous Celebrations series, aim to showcase the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our city.

By providing a platform for learning, discussion, and celebration, we hope to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the Jewish community's invaluable contributions to our shared history and identity.

Join us in celebrating the diversity that strengthens our community and makes our city a more vibrant and inclusive place for all.
 

Enjoy watching DVDs in the Library Auditorium. Tea & coffee will be served after the presentation. 

May 10
10 that changed America: Modern Marvels
Civil engineers have defied those who said it couldn’t be done. How could you reverse the flow of the Chicago River or build a dam over the Colorado River, the same river that carved out the Grand Canyon? But with great confidence they did it! Which will be the ten amazing feats that made the list? Closed Captions. 57 minutes.2018

 

Meet and greet with a Community Officer and get up close to a real police cruiser!

Drop-in. No registration required.

If you identify as a person with a disability and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email, accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance.

For paranormal enthusiasts and people curious about paranormal research and investigations, this presentation by Peter Roe of the Searcher Group introduces and details the work of Canada's oldest, most reputable and accomplished paranormal research team. Included in the presentation will be original theories on life-after-life, experiments, and photos taken from the field. 

With Q & A at the end of the presentation. 

Drop-in. Space is limited.

If you live with a disability, and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance.

Toronto celebrity chef Sang Kim teaches the basics of sushi making. Participants make sushi rolls using ingredients prepared by the chef and eat their own creations. For children ages 6+ with their parents and caregivers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration starts April 11th. Register in-person or call 416-393-7723.

If you identify as a person with a disability and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email, accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance.

 

Presented by artist Xiqin Li, join us for a demonstration and guided workshop of the ancient Chinese art form of paper cutting. Learn the history of the art of paper cutting, basic techniques and interpretations of certain designs. 

All materials are provided. 

Registration is required. Spaces are limited. Registration begins April 15, 2024. Please call 416-395-5672 or visit the reference desk on the first floor for more information. 

 

The Searcher Group – Canada’s oldest, most reputable and accomplished paranormal research team – celebrates its 45th Anniversary with a return to the Toronto Public Library!

Putting the ‘boo’ in ‘book’, Assistant Director and author Peter Roe (Haunted Town Halls) will manifest at the Mount Pleasant Branch, Saturday May 11, at 10:30 am, sharing The Searcher Group’s true-life discoveries from the field of ghost investigation.

Mixing chills, a deep appreciation of Ontario’s vanishing heritage and thought-provoking discussion with a dash of humour, this popular presentation includes tools-of-the-trade, original theory on life-after-life phenomena, rarely-seen exclusive field photos and clarifies popular misconceptions about ghosts (and how to properly investigate them). Followed by a Q&A. 

An informative and entertaining Pre-Show video will be presented 30 minutes before the presentation, for early attendees from 10-10:30 AM. 

Registration required. Please register in person at the Mount Pleasant Branch or by calling 416-393-7737. 

If you identify as a person with a disability and require an accessibility accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Accessibility Services by email, accessibleservices@tpl.ca, or voicemail, 416-393-7099, to make a request. Please contact us at least three weeks in advance.

La Bibliothèque publique de Toronto s'est engagée à assurer l'accessibilité. Veuillez nous appeler ou nous envoyer un courriel si vous êtes sourd(e) ou avez un handicap et souhaitez demander des mesures d'adaptation pour participer à ce programme. Veuillez nous en informer le plus tôt possible et nous ferons de notre mieux pour répondre à votre demande. Un préavis d'au moins trois semaines est préférable. Composez 416-393-7099 ou contactez-nous par courriel accessibleservices@tpl.ca