Left to Die by Gary Collins
Date: Apr 11
2:30 pm
- 3:30 pm
Where: Theatre
Coffee & Culture
2024 marks the 110th Anniversary of the historic convergence of ice, seals, and men in late March 1914 and the grim reminder of the dangers of the hunt.
Join award-winning author, Gary Collins as he shares his personal connection to the dramatic stories of men, both young and old, from all over the province that year to pursue the annual seal hunt. Among the vessels that took them to the ice was the S.S. Newfoundland, a wooden-walled steamship captained by Westbury Kean. With no wireless aboard the ship, the stage was set for seventy-eight of the men who went over the side and their fates sealed.
Tickets: $12 (plus HST). Free for Rooms Members. Get your tickets online or by calling (709) 757-8090. Includes admission to the exhibitions and a coffee from The Rooms Café.
About the Author:
Gary Collins was born in Hare Bay, Bonavista North. He spent fifty years in the logging and sawmilling business with his father, Theophilus, and son, Clint. Gary was once Newfoundland’s youngest fisheries guardian. He managed log drives down spring rivers for years, spent seven seasons driving tractor-trailers over ice roads and the Beaufort Sea of Canada’s Western Arctic, and has been involved in the crab, lobster, and cod commercial fisheries. In 2016, he joined the Canadian Rangers.
Gary has written numerous books, including the award-winning children’s illustrated book; What Color is the Ocean, which he co-wrote with his granddaughter, Maggie Rose Parsons.
Gary’s first novel, The Last Beothuk, won the inaugural NL Reads literary competition, administered by the CBC, and was long-listed for the International Dublin Literary Award.
Gary’s latest work, Away from My Island: The True Story of Eliza Gill is a story of family, heroism, and ultimate sacrifice
Today's Events & Programs
Have you ever wondered what it takes to climb a mountain?
Join us at The Rooms for an inspiring conversation with Michael Kirby, one of only four mountaineers from Newfoundland and Labrador to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Michael will share his firsthand experience, the tools and techniques that made his journey possible, and the lessons learned along the way.
This event will also showcase early adventure and survival tools from The Rooms’ collection, connecting the spirit of survival across time.
We’ll also explore the teamwork behind such an extraordinary feat, from ground crews to the Sherpas whose traditional knowledge makes these treks possible.
Cost: $12 plus HST. Free for Rooms Members. Get your tickets online or by calling 709-757-8090.
The tools may change, but the essentials of survival remain the same: water and warmth.