Have you started your holiday shopping yet?

If you are still searching for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, why not consider giving them an experience, rather than a physical item? The County of Prince Edward Public Library & Archives Picton Branch Library expansion fundraising team has been working hard to put together an experience you’ll never forget!

“Swing Into the Future” will be a gala event held on Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are now available at all library locations across the County, and at www.peclibrary.org/gala and make a great gift for the special people in your life. A charitable donation receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket. Each ticket, $200 (plus HST & ticket fee), includes canapés and a dessert bar provided by some of the County’s best chefs as well as a glass of sparkling wine, incredible entertainment, and a night of dancing! A cash bar will also be available. You’ll also be giving a gift to your community, as a portion of the funds raised at this event support the Picton Branch Library expansion. The Picton Library originally opened in 1907 with a gift from Andrew Carnegie, and it’s fitting that it’s growing to meet current needs through donations, large and small, from the community.

“Swing into the Future” will be the inaugural event in the Sergeants Mess Hall at Base31. This building is steeped in history – it’s where the sergeants ate their meals in the WWII era – and we can’t wait to celebrate in the beautifully restored space. Tim Jones, CEO of Base31, said “The Sergeants Mess Hall has always been a place for gathering, and we are excited to bring it back to life. We’re thrilled to have the Library Fundraising Gala as the inaugural event in the renovated space, which will be paying homage to the era of the original Camp Picton.” The fundraising group is pleased to welcome 99.3 County FM as a promotional partner for the Gala Event. For more information, contact Mary Ann Farrell by email [email protected] or phone: 647-927-1956

UPCOMING: Camp Picton: A Storied 70 years in a BCATP Camp Bloomfield Branch Library – Wed. Nov 30 at 2 p.m. Joanne Courneya Fralick will guide you through the various iterations of Camp Picton, including satellite locations such as Point Petre. She will also give tips and answer questions on researching and writing a local history book. Cournoyer: A North American Odyssey Wednesday, Dec 7 at 2 p.m. Bloomfield Branch Library Join genealogist Joanne Courneya Fralick as she discusses the Cournoyer family, her methods of researching, and answers questions on how to start your own genealogical journey.

-Liz Zylstra