Library Courses and Activities

This free bilingual program, for volunteer tweens and teens (ages 11 and over) and Library members ages 5 to 10, begins the week of July 6.

At the Dorval Library

Advance registration is required.

Little Buddies are matched with enthusiastic volunteer Big Buddies, to share a love of reading.
For more details, visit biblioweb.ville.dorval.qc.ca.

REGISTRATION

As of May 4, at biblioweb.ville.dorval.qc.ca.
The deadline to apply is June 5. Space is limited.

Free sessions for Library members, presented by Karl Souligny, librarian 

Fridays, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., by appointment only
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Do you need help using certain new technologies? Are you curious about some of the Library’s electronic resources? Bring your device to meet with a librarian for a free, one-hour personalized help session. We can show you how to access the Library’s digital collections like e-books, explore our online resources, search for information, set up an email account, fill out online forms, and more. Whether you have a specific question or would just like to learn more, we’re here to help!

Look for more details on the Library’s website, at biblioweb.ville.dorval.qc.ca.

Sunday, September 13, at 1:30 p.m. (60 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Learn about animal care and veterinary medicine through hands-on activities and interactive role-playing (using stuffed animals). Step into the role of a vet and learn how to perform a nose-to-tail exam, understand the importance of proper nutrition, perform a tick check, identify animal body language, and explore what it takes to keep pets healthy and happy.

Free movie, presented in French

Friday, September 18, at 2 p.m. (137 minutes, rated G)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Follow three candidates in Quebec’s 2022 provincial election, each with one thing in common:  no chance of winning! As their campaigns unfold, the film exposes the cracks in an outdated electoral system—from barriers faced by women and racialized candidates to flawed voting processes, skewed campaign financing, and the outsized influence of media and polls. With a sharp critical lens, director Jenny Cartwright reveals a system where the race is rigged from the start—and the real losers are the voters.

Watch the trailer

Saturday, September 19, at 1:30 p.m. (90 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Discover shinrin yoku or “forest bathing”—a calming Japanese practice that encourages slowing down, awakening the senses, and reconnecting with the natural world. Begin outdoors with facilitator Jacky Farrell for a guided sensory experience in nature, then continue indoors with a presentation on the origins of shinrin yoku, its health benefits, and the key elements of this approach.

Please dress comfortably and according to the weather, including the possibility of light rain. In the event of very unfavourable weather conditions, the outdoor portion will be replaced with calming sensory exercises indoors.

Sunday, September 20, at 10:30 a.m. (60 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

It’s a battle of the libraries! Join our Dorval team as we compete in an inter-municipal LEGO building contest! Work together to construct a fantastical city inspired by the LEGO City universe. Use thousands of LEGO bricks to design buildings, roads, vehicles, parks, neighbourhoods, and infrastructure to bring our spectacular city to life!  

The teams from the different libraries will each build their own project, and the public will be invited to vote online for their favourite. The results will be announced during Library Week and the winning library will be awarded the coveted Master Builder Cup.
GO Team Dorval! 

Free bilingual activity for babies age 2 and under with their caregivers

Fridays, at 10:15 a.m., from September 25 to December 4 (30 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Babies and caregivers are invited to share a joyful time together with songs, rhymes, and finger play that support early family literacy and bonding. After the interactive circle time, there will be plenty of opportunity for free play and socializing—perfect for little ones to explore and for parents and caregivers to connect.

Free bilingual activity for children ages 3 to 5 with their caregivers

Saturdays, at 10:15 a.m., from September 26 to December 5 (60 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Each session introduces little ones to the joy of books and reading through interactive storytelling, catchy songs, and engaging activities. To top it all off, children will enjoy a simple craft that ties into the day’s theme—perfect for little hands and big imaginations!

During October, the activity room in the Dorval Library will be styled as a whimsical, woodland “café-terrace”—a cozy, inviting space with bistro‑style tables, bean bags, and soft lighting—perfect for relaxing, creating, studying, or just hanging out.

Each week will feature a different self-guided theme to explore — magnetic poetry, board games, colouring, origami — as well as some fun pop‑up surprises sprinkled throughout the month.

The space will also be the venue for a variety of our regular and special events, so be sure to check out the Library’s website for details, at biblioweb.ville.dorval.qc.ca.

Wednesday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. (90 minutes, rated G )
At the Dorval Library and online
Advance registration is required.

This film, featuring comedian Philippe Laprise, blends improvised jokes, offbeat encounters, and glasses of port on a tour of beautiful Portugal. From historic cities and villages to medieval castles, from the golden beaches of the Algarve to the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, Philippe never misses a chance to have a laugh! This happy mix of stand‑up comedy and a road trip is sure to entertain!

*Can’t attend on October 7? Register for the activity to receive a viewing link valid until October 13.

Trailer:

Saturday, October 17, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (drop-in)
At the Dorval Library
No registration required

Happy birthday Winnie!

We’re celebrating 100 years of Winnie‑the‑Pooh with an enchanting afternoon of creative fun for the whole family! Drop by the “Hundred Acre Wood” for crafts inspired by everyone’s favourite bear and visit the FabZone station to make your own button and create a Pooh‑themed bookmark using a Cricut.

We couldn’t honour Pooh without including his favourite snack: hunny! Sample local honey harvested from our very own Dorval bee hives (while supplies last)!

Free activity, presented by Karl Souligny, librarian 

Mondays, at 7 p.m., from October 19 to November 23 (90 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Are you able to express yourself in French, but want to improve? Join the Conversation Club for those wishing to improve their French! These weekly get-togethers, led by a facilitator, are a great way to practice conversation skills with fellow learners, gain confidence, and meet new people.

The Conversation Club is an informal discussion group and not a class for learning French. Participants should possess intermediate-level French language skills: capable of understanding the main points and participating in spontaneous conversations (with complete sentences) on practical and familiar topics.

Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m. (90 minutes) 
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Grab a mug of hot cocoa and settle in for a cozy, creative evening of crafting with a Cricut machine just for grown-ups!

Choose from several designs to make your own take-home projects: a custom-painted cork coaster set and a personalized coffee or cocoa stencil to add a touch of flair to your favourite frothy drinks.

Wednesday, October 28, at 7 p.m. (60 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Don’t miss this special literary event with Simon Paré‑Poupart: sociologist, author–and garbage collector! Written with vivid language and an unfiltered eye, his book Ordures! : Journal d’un vidangeur offers a glimpse into the world of garbage collectors, while delivering a sharp critique of consumer society. The book invites readers to rethink how we consume and discard.

Join us for a thought‑provoking evening that promises fresh perspectives and lively discussion, as Simon Paré‑Poupart sits down with Amélie Boivin‑Handfield, literary animator for radio and television.

Wednesday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. (90 minutes)
At the Dorval Library and online
Advance registration is required. 

Panama is known worldwide for its canal, but this country, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, holds many other wonders: beautiful islands and beaches, a fascinating capital city, lush nature, and colourful folklore. Rodolphe Lasnes, travel guide author and tourism journalist, invites you to discover the diversity of this isthmus bordered by both the Pacific and the Caribbean, in a presentation that will both inspire and help you plan your trip.

Saturday, November 7, at 2 p.m. (90 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

When we write with others, we often discover ourselves…

This Writers Collective of Canada workshop offers a welcoming space for connection and creative exchange with a focus on encouragement. Through guided prompts and in-the-moment writing, discover new ways to express yourself while building confidence in your unique and authentic writer’s voice. Participants are invited to share first drafts and offer affirming feedback to others.

All are welcome—whether you’re picking up a pen for the first time or returning to a long-loved practice. The activity will be presented in English, but participants may write in either English or French. Materials are provided.

Free movie, presented in English and Korean with English subtitles

Friday, November 13, at 2 p.m. (138 minutes, unrated)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Award-winning filmmaker Min Sook Lee searches for memories of her mother, who died by suicide when Lee was 12 years old. Confrontational and speculative, this highly personal film reckons with how trauma fractures memory as Lee revisits the people and places of her childhood in Toronto, Canada, and Hwasun, South Korea, her place of birth.

A looming figure in this search is Lee’s now 90-year-old father, who met her mother while serving in a national intelligence agency under dictator Park Chung Hee in 1960s South Korea.

Through a fabric of real and imagined stories, Lee reveals that some of them must still be told, even when the words are forgotten.

Watch the trailer

Sunday, November 15, at 1:30 p.m. (90 minutes)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

Design and build your own roller coaster while exploring the exciting science of motion! Through hands-on experimentation, participants will discover how kinetic energy and friction affect the movement of objects. Test different track designs with marbles and learn the science behind roller coaster engineering.

Free bilingual activity for ages 11 to 17, presented by GrosJoueurs

Friday, November 20, at 6 p.m. (3 hours)
At the Dorval Library
Advance registration is required.

The tournament is back by popular demand, with the same legendary fun, but all new surprise games! Compete head-to-head with other players in a friendly but fierce competition to claim the title of tournament champion. There’ll be awesome prizes for top players and plenty of pizza to keep you fueled throughout the action! Whether you’re a casual gamer or a seasoned pro, this is your chance to connect with fellow gamers and discover some indie gems.

Wednesday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m. (90 minutes)
At the Dorval Library and online
Advance registration is required. 

Discover the Canary Islands, a perfect winter getaway, where the climate is always just right and there is no shortage of things to see and do. Lecturer and seasoned traveler Alain Benoit shares highlights from his six-week journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the two archipelago’s largest islands.

Visit charming beaches and natural swimming pools, take in spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, and explore picturesque villages full of character. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of local carnivals, including the world-renowned Tenerife Carnival!

Admission is free and is reserved for Library members.

At the Dorval Library

Join in on one of the book clubs’ monthly get-togethers to “talk books” with fellow readers.

Ask at the Circulation counter for more details and to have your name added to an interest list.