[November 2014]
On September 29, 2013, during the Journées de la culture, Mile End Memories held a Human Library event in collaboration with the Mile End Library.
Figure 1 – The first Mile End Human Library, September 29, 2013. (Pictures: Marie D. Martel)
Here are some of the impressions and reactions of participants in the 2013 Human Library, as collected by Mistaya Hemingway. You can also view a video of the activity by following this link: https://vimeo.com/110726676
Isabelle Anguita
Isabelle is a painter, born in France, who has lived in Mile End since 1995. Highly involved in neighbourhood citizens committees, one of her particular reactions to the experience was that it allowed for dialogues which created new avenue to explore, as much for the “borrower” as for the “human book”. This two-way exchange allowed her to discover unsuspected facets of neighbourhood residents whom she knew in other contexts.
Isabelle Anguita, artist and member of the Mile End Citizens Committee
Gary Beitel
Gary is a documentary film director. For more than 30 years he has been exploring how individuals from different cultures live together, as evidenced by his film Bonjour! Shalom. He was struck by the diversity of concerns of the people who came to meet him. Gary gave the example of a young woman who recently immigrated from France: she wondered about elements of cultures of origin that are maintained as new identities emerge, resulting from people living in a pluralistic neighbourhood.
Gary Beitel (left) in conversation with Sam and Taso Erimos, PA supermarket
Claudette Dyda
Claudette was a representative of the Ukrainian National Federation. She noted that many of her “readers” were curious to learn how a family born of a mixed marriage (in her case, Québécois and Ukrainian) evolves and adapts to the changes in the district. She also pointed out the difficulties of maintaining an attachment to the traditions of the country of origin when new generations leave the district in which their parents first settled.
Claudette Dyda, Ukrainian National Federation.
Taso and Sam Erimos
Co-owners of PA supermarket on Park Avenue since 1989, Taso and Sam grew up in the neighbourhood during the time that the Greek community was well-ensconced here. From their vantage post, they have observed a succession of newcomers. The Human Library event was a way for them to meet and thank their many customers. Both of them hope to see the project repeated.
Michel Hellman
A cartoonist who lives in the heart of Mile End and has released a graphic novel named after it. Mile End is a testimony to the fact that the only constant here is change. Hellman said that, by holding this activity, the Mile End Library is fulfilling its role as a place where neighbourhood residents can meet and interact.
Cartoonist Michel Helman in an animated discussion
Jacob Karmel and Hershber Hirsch
Without a doubt, these two members of the Hasidic community attracted the most curiosity: their waiting list was quickly filled! They said they were very happy to have been invited to participate to help residents learn about the Hasidic community. They said they heard a great many questions about their lifestyle and values and think this curiosity is completely normal.
Jacob Karmel and Hershber Hirsch of the Hasidic community talking with Mile End residents.
Jay Lucifero
Jay and his brothers own the Club Social. He came to Saint-Viateur Street in 1960 from Italy, at the age of four. He, too, can testify to the many transformations of Mile End over the years and explained that the role of his café is to be a meeting place to allow new arrivals to create links. His participation in the human library was a way for Jay to thank his customers.
Jay Lucifero, Club Social, Saint-Viateur Street.
Linda Rabin
Choreographer, and founder of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, Linda used the Human Library as an opportunity to explain her passion for dance. She was greatly impressed by the diversity of people she met. She was also happy to bear witness to the Jewish roots of the district, where her family lived in the 1920s, and which has been her home for 30 years.
Linda Rabin, left, chats with a young dance enthusiast.
Dorothy Todd Hénault
An NFB film producer up to 1996, in 2003 Dorothy also co-founded the Regroupement des voisins du Mile End contre la guerre. She has lived in the neighbourhood for almost 40 years, sharing a building with her children and grandchildren. She noted this is an important example of multigenerational cohousing.
Filmmaker Dorothy Todd Hénault
Many of the human books expressed the hope that the event would return regularly. And this is what will happen! Mile End Memmories would like to express its gratitude to Maxime Beaulieu and Anik April, of the Mile End Library. Without their generous help, the experience would not have been possible.
Nathalie Casemajor, of Mile End Memories, and Maxime Beaulieu, of the Mile End Library.
Anik April, animator, Mile End Library