Margaret Atwood is coming to the Regent Theatre

Friends of East Lake (FOEL) is proud to present Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic and environmental activist Margaret Atwood in a special presentation at Picton’s Regent Theatre on November 23, 2011. Her provocatively titled presentation “Bulldozing the Mind: The Assault on Cultural and Rural Heritage” follows a reception with Ms. Atwood at Books & Company featuring County food and wine.

Tickets are available for the presentation only or for the combined event, which is a fundraiser for the Al Purdy A-Frame Trust and Friends of East Lake.

The A-Frame Trust is dedicated to preserving the cottage built by celebrated Canadian poet Al Purdy and his wife Eurithe on Roblin Lake in Ameliasburgh. The cottage was a destination for outstanding writers of the era, including Ms. Atwood, at a time when its owner became one of Canada’s most popular and important 20th century poets.

Purdy lived in Ameliasburgh for 40 years until his death in 2000, but, sadly, the existence of this literary landmark in our backyard is not well known locally. It has fallen to donors from across Canada to begin preservation of the cottage as an important piece of local and national heritage.

While the A-Frame Trust seeks to preserve and celebrate a piece of cultural heritage, Friends of East Lake is working to help protect the natural heritage of their local community and Prince Edward County as a whole, currently by initiating Shoreland Management Plans to ensure the health and well-being of the County’s inland lakes. Margaret Atwood is a Canadian champion of threatened heritage, and this joint fundraising event is supported by the Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust and Prince Edward Stewardship Council.

We believe local people will defend their heritage when they know it is in danger, but sometimes, as with Picton’s ill-fated ‘brick church,’ they’re not aware of the danger until it’s too late. We believe Margaret Atwood’s visit and her talk on a subject she feels passionately about will raise awareness of the relatively simple efforts to preserve Al Purdy’s A-Frame in Ameliasburgh and the longer term celebration, preservation and defence of our natural landscapes.

Tickets for the November event will go on sale at the Regent Theatre box office in August at $40 for Ms. Atwood’s presentation only or $65 for the reception and presentation.