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
The Macdonald Drive Junior High String Ensemble acts as musical ambassadors for their school, performing throughout the year at school and community events. Join us for their annual holiday performance featuring music that will surely get you into the festive spirit.
The ensemble also performs annually with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, providing a prelude show for their Masterworks 3 concert, and has received a gold standard at the Rotary Music Festival.
Cost: Free. No registration required.
Step into a world of family fun at The Rooms with our friends from the Mummers Festival! Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and connection for the whole family.
Browse The Rooms gift shop for holiday shopping, grab a bite in the café, and take in the stunning decorations throughout the building!
Cost: Included with regular admission to The Rooms.
This program is presented in partnership with the 2025 Mummers Festival. For more information about festival events, visit www.mummersfestival.ca.
Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador
Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Join author Mark Critch for the launch of Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For.
Known for his sharp-witted skits on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mark Critch uses his keen observational skills to explore Canadian identity and the new wave of Canadian patriotism.
In Sorry, Not Sorry, Critch delves into the heart of what it means to be Canadian at a time when national pride is on the rise. Examining everything from Newfoundland’s historic decision to join Canada to the modern-day implications of the Freedom Convoy and the evolving symbolism of the Canadian flag, he reminds us of where we came from—and of the many reasons Canada is worth fighting for. Elbows up!
Cost: $25 plus HST. Get your tickets online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
A cash bar and reception will follow the presentation, with an opportunity to get your book signed. The Rooms Giftshop will be open for your shopping convenience, where books will be available for purchase.