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Image for event: Local Author: Writing Historical Fiction w/ Mark Jacquemain

Local Author: Writing Historical Fiction w/ Mark Jacquemain

Reimagining the Past: Simcoe County's Forgotten 1870s

2026-01-15 19:00:00 2026-01-15 20:00:00 America/New_York Local Author: Writing Historical Fiction w/ Mark Jacquemain Author Mark Jacquemain shares the research and creative process behind Strange Case of Mr. Bogus and Dr. Price, set in Simcoe County during the overlooked economic depression of the 1870s. Downtown Branch - Gathering Place

Thursday, January 15
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-01-15 19:00:00 2026-01-15 20:00:00 America/New_York Local Author: Writing Historical Fiction w/ Mark Jacquemain Author Mark Jacquemain shares the research and creative process behind Strange Case of Mr. Bogus and Dr. Price, set in Simcoe County during the overlooked economic depression of the 1870s. Downtown Branch - Gathering Place

Downtown Branch

Gathering Place

Author Mark Jacquemain shares the research and creative process behind Strange Case of Mr. Bogus and Dr. Price, set in Simcoe County during the overlooked economic depression of the 1870s.

In this author talk, Mark Jacquemain shares how he brought to life the rarely documented world of 1870s Simcoe County in his novel Strange Case of Mr. Bogus and Dr. Price. Using local newspapers, letters, and regional and Victorian histories, Jacquemain reveals the challenges of writing about a place that is under-catalogued in official records. He’ll discuss how to create your own rules for historical authenticity—when to use real events or figures, how to handle period language and material detail, and how to make smaller communities feel as vivid and complex as London or Toronto. A session for readers and writers of place-based historical fiction.


Mark Jacquemain

Mark Jacquemain is a novelist who dabbles in other forms. His plays have been produced in local theatres and his short fiction has been published on Electric Literature and in various journals, including The Fiddlehead and The Southwest Review. His current project is a historical novel which he is completing on a Canada Council grant.

A graduate of the writing school at the University of New Brunswick and the Humber School of Writers, he has been deeply involved in the local arts scene for many years, as a community advocate, teacher, mentor, presenter, and adjudicator of arts and culture prizes.


Questions? Please call 705-728-1010 or email askus@barrielibrary.ca


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AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Writers & Artists | Special Events | History & Genealogy | Books & Beyond | Authors |

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Downtown Branch

AskUs@barrielibrary.ca
Phone: 705.728.1010

Hours
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Mon, Jan 05 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Jan 06 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Jan 07 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Jan 08 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jan 09 9:30AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Jan 10 9:30AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jan 11 9:30AM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Our Downtown Branch is centrally located in the Downtown core at the corner of Worsley and Owen Streets. The building and facilities are fully accessible. Enjoy a beverage or a small snack from our Café located inside the lobby, use our complimentary wifi, experiment with technology and maker tools, or soak up the sun on our Rooftop Reading Garden.

Upcoming events

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Mon, Jan 05, 10:00am - 10:30am
Tinker Lab

Mon, Jan 05, 6:00pm - 8:45pm
Angus Ross Room

Tue, Jan 06, 10:00am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Tue, Jan 06, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Gathering Place

Tue, Jan 06, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Wed, Jan 07, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Wed, Jan 07, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Angus Ross Room

Wed, Jan 07, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Mini-Flex

Wed, Jan 07, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Thu, Jan 08, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downtown Children's Picture Book Area, 2nd Floor

Thu, Jan 08, 10:30am - 11:30am
Angus Ross Room
This event is full

Thu, Jan 08, 10:30am - 11:30am
Mini-Flex

Thu, Jan 08, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Thu, Jan 08, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Fri, Jan 09, 10:00am - 11:30am
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 10, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 10, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Gathering Place

Sat, Jan 10, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Oro Lions Room

Sun, Jan 11, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Mon, Jan 12, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downtown Children's Picture Book Area, 2nd Floor

Mon, Jan 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Angus Ross Room

Mon, Jan 12, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Tue, Jan 13, 10:00am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Tue, Jan 13, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Wed, Jan 14, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Wed, Jan 14, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Angus Ross Room
This event is full

Wed, Jan 14, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Mini-Flex

Wed, Jan 14, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Thu, Jan 15, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downtown Children's Picture Book Area, 2nd Floor

Thu, Jan 15, 10:30am - 11:30am
Mini-Flex

Thu, Jan 15, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Thu, Jan 15, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Angus Ross Room

Fri, Jan 16, 10:00am - 11:30am
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 17, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 17, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Gathering Place

Sat, Jan 17, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 17, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Oro Lions Room

Sun, Jan 18, 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Angus Ross Room

Sun, Jan 18, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Mon, Jan 19, 10:00am - 10:30am
Tinker Lab

Mon, Jan 19, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Gathering Place

Tue, Jan 20, 10:00am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Tue, Jan 20, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Wed, Jan 21, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Wed, Jan 21, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Mini-Flex

Wed, Jan 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Thu, Jan 22, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downtown Children's Picture Book Area, 2nd Floor

Thu, Jan 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Mini-Flex

Thu, Jan 22, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Fri, Jan 23, 10:00am - 11:30am
Angus Ross Room

Sat, Jan 24, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 24, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Gathering Place

Sat, Jan 24, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Sat, Jan 24, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 24, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Oro Lions Room

Sun, Jan 25, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Mon, Jan 26, 10:00am - 10:30am
Tinker Lab

Mon, Jan 26, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Mon, Jan 26, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Gathering Place

Tue, Jan 27, 10:00am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Tue, Jan 27, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Wed, Jan 28, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Wed, Jan 28, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Mini-Flex

Wed, Jan 28, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Angus Ross Room

Thu, Jan 29, 10:00am - 10:30am
Downtown Children's Picture Book Area, 2nd Floor

Thu, Jan 29, 10:30am - 11:30am
Mini-Flex

Thu, Jan 29, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Oro Lions Room

Fri, Jan 30, 10:00am - 11:30am
Tinker Lab

Fri, Jan 30, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 31, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 31, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Gathering Place

Sat, Jan 31, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Sat, Jan 31, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Creative Spaces

Sat, Jan 31, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Oro Lions Room

Sun, Feb 01, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tinker Lab

Mon, Feb 02, 10:00am - 10:30am
Tinker Lab

Mon, Feb 02, 6:00pm - 8:45pm
Angus Ross Room

Tue, Feb 03, 10:00am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Tue, Feb 03, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Oro Lions Room
Registration opens Tuesday, January 20 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Feb 04, 9:30am - 11:00am
Tinker Lab

Wed, Feb 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Angus Ross Room

Wed, Feb 04, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Mini-Flex