Meet the Authors: Kate Beaton and Morgan Murray
Date: Apr 22
2:00 pm
- 3:00 pm
Where: Theatre
Join Comics artist, Kate Beaton and novelist Morgan Murray who will read from their recent work.
Kate Beaton’s graphic memoir Ducks, which describes her own experiences working in the Alberta Oil Sands, is an indelible portrait of the dirty work – and the workers – that our petromodernity relies on.
With Dirty Birds, Morgan Murray has invented a new genre, the bland picaresque. Its so-so hombre soso, Milton Ontario, travels from Bellybutton, SK to Montreal and rocky points beyond in search of Leonard Cohen, and his misconceived ego ideal.
This is a free program but seating is limited so please reserve your free ticket online or by calling (709)757-8090.
About the Authors:
Kate Beaton was born and raised in Cape Breton. After graduating from Mount Allison University with a double degree in History and Anthropology, she moved to Alberta in search of work that would allow her to pay down her student loans. During the years she spent out West, Beaton began creating webcomics under the name Hark! A Vagrant, quickly drawing a substantial following around the world.
The collections of her landmark strip Hark! A Vagrant and Step Aside, Pops each spent several months on the New York Times graphic novel bestseller list, as well as appearing on best of the year lists from Time, The Washington Post, Vulture, NPR Books, and winning the Eisner, Ignatz Harvey, and Doug Wright Awards. She has also published the picture books King Baby and The Princess and the Pony. Beaton lives in Cape Breton with her family.
Morgan Murray was born and raised on a farm near the same backwoods west-central Alberta village (Caroline) as figure-skating legend Kurt Browning. He now dads, works, plays, writes, and builds all sorts of crooked furniture on a farm in the backwoods of Cape Breton, where he lives with his wife, cartoonist Kate Beaton, their daughter, Mary, Agnes the dog, and Reggie the cat. In between, he has been a farmer, a rancher, a roustabout, a secretary, a reporter, a designer, a Tweeter, a schemer, a variety show host, and a student in Caroline, Calgary, Paris, Prague, Montreal, Chicoutimi, and St. John’s. He has pieces of paper attesting to his competence from the University of Calgary; the University of Economics, Prague; Memorial University of Newfoundland; and a participation ribbon for beef calf showmanship (incomplete) from the Little Britches 4-H Club, Caroline, Alberta. Dirty Birds is his first novel.
This program is presented in partnership with Memorial University Department of English.
Events & Programs
Save The Date – Online Registration Opening Soon!
Registration Dates:
- Rooms Members: Tuesday, March 18 at 10:00 AM
- Non-Members: Thursday, March 20 at 10:00 AM
A “Get Tickets” button will appear on this page when registration opens. Online registration only.
Once you've completed your online registration, please download the Registration Form and submit it to RoomsOrders@therooms.ca to complete your registration.
Adventures Await!
Get ready for an unforgettable summer! The Rooms will be offering exciting 5-day camps for 8 weeks, filled with creativity, exploration, and fun.
Who Can Attend?
Camp K-3: Open to campers who have completed Kindergarten to Grade 3 by June 2025.
Camp 4-6: Open to campers who have completed Grades 4 to 6 by June 2025.
(No Exceptions)
What to Expect?
Each week, campers will dive into inspiring exhibitions and collections, with activities focused on creative expression through engaging daily themes.
Camp Details!
Cost: $265 Per Week + HST.
10% Discount for Rooms Members (Member Number Required)
Schedule:
Camp Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Drop-off: Between 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick-up: Between 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Mark your calendars and get ready for an amazing summer at The Rooms!
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.
Beaumont-Hamel and the Trail of the Caribou
In this exhibition find out about the impacts of the First World War on Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and how events overseas dramatically altered our lives at home.
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Shirley Moorhouse – EYES
Join us for a guided tour of Shirley Moorhouse's exhibition - EYES, which features her innovative artworks spanning 30 years. Moorhouse is a respected member of the Canadian art community and renowned for her textiles-based wall hangings. Using embroidery, beading, caribou hide, and other objects on black wool stroud, Moorhouse tells stories and delves deeply into complex themes, inviting viewers "to reflect, to dream, and to celebrate the beauties and mysteries of life".
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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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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