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| Elilzabeth Waterston, Elizabeth Epperly and Mary Rubio, co-chairs of the 8th International L. M. Montgomery Conference scheduled for June in Charlottetown |
The Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute of UPEI welcomes all Islanders to participate in their 8th annual conference, aptly entitled this centennial Anne year “Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables and the Idea of Classic.” The conference runs June 2529 at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown, with events as diverse as the attendees themselves.
“I think that many Islanders would be surprised by the variety of topics presented at the conference and the types of events that take place. There really is something for everyone,” says conference organizer Elizabeth DeBlois.
“Our speakers are fascinating people who come from more than 10 different countries and they have some intriguing points to make about the value and impact of this story all over the world.”
These guest speakers will be presenting on all things Anne, providing us opportunities to learn more about our iconic redhead and her creator. Some panel presentations of note include Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Power of the Imagination; A Ministry of Plum Puffs: Cooking as a Path to Spiritual Maturity in L. M. Montgomery’s Anne Books; Smart Girl Heroines and Smart Girl Sidekicks: The Shifting Role of Intelligent Females in Classic Literature; Reading a Classic, Writing Like a Canadian; “Waking Up After Being Asleep for Over 60 Years”: Male Redemption in the Writings of LMM; and Classic Stories and their Screen Adaptations.
For presentations with international Anne appeal try South African Idette Noomé’s “Polishing the Moon”: Housewifely Skills—Key to Womanly Power?; Montgomery on the other side of the World: Reading Experiences in Sweden, and the Influence of Montgomery on the Swedish writer by Astrid Lindgren—Asa Warnqvist; Teaching Anne of Green Gables in Islamic Iran by Sami Gorgan Roodi or Anne of Green Gables, a Classic in Italy by Francesca Montuschi.
Along with the presentations, there will be workshops, special events and evening entertainment to take in.
In grand Anne fashion, with plenty of raspberry cordial on hand, the conference plays host to a Bookfair and Official Penguin Launch Party. The June 25 book launch honours this year’s celebratory release of Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson, Imagining Anne by Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, and the Anniversary Edition of Anne of Green Gables. The authors will be signing copies of their books beginning at 6 pm.
Special to the conference, Elizabeth Waterston will have advanced copies of her soon to be released book Magic Island available for sale.
For those interested in a behind the scenes glimpse at UPEI, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute will be opening its doors on June 26 for visitors to tour the Montgomery collection at the University’s Robertson Library.
Another highlight in a string of great events will be taking place on June 26 with Silent Movie Night. Attendees are encouraged to dress in period vintage costume, and will be fascinated by a magic lantern presentation that will shed some light onto the mystery of the lost 1919 Anne film.
The conference gives Islanders the opportunity to expand our Lucy Maud horizons and learn something new about her character, whose legacy stretches along the Island as far as the rugged red shores.
“Since we have grown up surrounded by “all-things-Anne” on Prince Edward Island, it can be hard to understand just how important it is to some people,” echos DeBlois. “I hope that many Islanders will come out to take in a session or two or for one of our events. It's a great chance to meet fabulous people and to learn something new.”
Session, workshop, day and weekend passes are currently on sale. Student rates available. For further information please visit www.lmmontgomery.ca.
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