Beyond the Attic Genealogy Workshop


Date: Oct 11
9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Reference Room
Come Home Year

Excited about finding some Newfoundland and Labrador ancestors? Come Home Year is the perfect chance to get started or continue your family research. This half-day workshop is an introduction to genealogy, with an orientation to the extensive genealogical archival collections at The Rooms. Our expert staff will be your guides through practical online resources that you can use to trace your family tree.

This is an introductory workshop - all skill levels welcome!

Included in the workshop fee:

  • An Introduction to Genealogy Handbook
  • A permanent researcher registration number for The Rooms (Value $10)
  • Light refreshments (tea, coffee and a cookie or muffin from The Rooms Cafe)
  • Orientation tour of the Archives Reference Room
  • A Family History Notebook
  • Access to key genealogy resources to aid your research
  • A voucher for free admission to The Rooms for a return visit to see exhibitions.

Cost is $75 (HST included), 10% discount for members,

Limited spaces! Pre-registration required. To register, please contact Visitor Services at 757-8090. For more information on the workshop schedule and content, please contact Joy Barfoot at joybarfoot@therooms.ca

Masks are encouraged but not required.

Events & Programs

10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Film Screening

Join us for Films On The Go, featuring a collection of short films from the most recent St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF).

About the lineup: Sweetgrass, perfect brows, the surprisingly queer life of a climbing clip, a giant imaginary bear, and one very bad day in 1986, this year’s Films on the Go lineup delivers seven short films packed with big emotion, sharp humour, and unforgettable moments. Crafted by filmmakers from Newfoundland & Labrador, Mi’kma’ki, Canada, and beyond.

Learn more about the films and artists here: https://www.womensfilmfestival.com/filmsonthego

Presented in partnership with the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival.

Films play on a loop in our theatre during open hours, unless the space is booked for a private event.

10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tour

Auks, Wolves and Whales

What fills the void when a species is no more? Legends, folklore, and history worth learning from. Come listen to the stories of the Great Auk, the Newfoundland Wolf, and Endangered Whales as they echo across the ages through their body and bones. Commiserate with the extinct, heed the calls of the endangered, hold ossified bones, and see how artists transform tragedy into hope for a sustainable future.

Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone. 

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

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2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Tour

Grounding: Through the Senses

This sensory tour of the art gallery exhibition 'Grounding' is accessible through touchable objects, audio descriptions, scents, and soundscapes. Participants can experience the exhibition’s themes and artworks in a way that emphasizes accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful engagement with Newfoundland and Labrador’s culture.

Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone. 

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

 

6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Tour

Fishing for Cod

For centuries, fishing for cod has played a vital role in the lives of the peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador. Generations of fishing men, women and children made use of the land and sea to sustain them and spent their lives “making fish”.

Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone. 

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Join us for a captivating conversation with author, Holly Hogan as she discusses her award-winning nonfiction book, Message in a Bottle: Ocean Dispatches from a Seabird Biologist.

From the heart of the Labrador Current to the furthest reaches of our global oceans, Message in a Bottle conjures an exquisite diversity of marine life and warns of a central threat to its survival: ocean plastic.

This discussion will highlight the beauty and fragility of sea life, with a special focus on species featured in our Level 3 Connections Gallery, including auks, puffins, whales, and more.

A short book signing will follow the program. Copies of the book will be available for purchase in The Rooms Gift Shop.

Tickets: $12 plus HST. Free for Rooms members. Get your tickets online or by calling (709) 757-8090.

Please note: All ticket sales are final; no refunds will be issued.