No Fuss, Low Fuss Soups! Chilean Cooking Demonstration - Virtual
2026-02-09 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Toronto)
Cold days call for warm, comforting food…and shared traditions.
Join us online for a relaxed and welcoming virtual cooking demonstration as local chef Tonka introduces you to Pantrucas, a traditional Chilean chicken, noodle, and vegetable soup enjoyed by families across generations.
From your own kitchen, watch along as Tonka shares the story, flavours, and cultural traditions behind this hearty dish, along with helpful cooking tips, and a few Spanish words along the way!
This all-ages event is part of the Culture Connect series, presented by the Local Immigration Partnership – Lanark & Renfrew, which creates opportunities for learning, cultural exchange, and connection across our communities.
What to expect:

A live, watch-along virtual cooking demonstration
Cultural insights into Chilean food traditions
A digital recipe card and cooking instructions shared after the session
A space to learn and connect

If you require accommodations to participate, please contactlocalimmigrationpartnership@algonquincollege.com
We would like to thank our partners from Latino Connection in the Ottawa Valley for their support in making this event possible.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE
We look forward to cooking, learning, and connecting with you!

The Culture of Mosaics
2026-02-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Johnie’s Vintage, 54 Madawaska St., Arnprior, Ontario, K7S 1R9, Canada
Join us for a fun, hands-on, and educational mosaic workshop where you’ll learn the basics of mosaic art while creating your own one-of-a-kind mosaic heart!
During this cozy creative session, we’ll explore the art of mosaics together. Breaking, arranging, and transforming pieces into something meaningful and beautiful. Along the way, the Liam of Johnie’s Vintage will share their personal journey: from earning a Fine Art degree to running a vintage shop for over seven years, and how mosaics became a way to honour stories held in broken objects.
A chipped teacup passed down through generations, a plate that once lived in a family kitchen, mosaics allow these pieces to live on in a new form. Participants are welcome to bring a small ceramic item of personal significance to include in their heart (optional), or choose from the wide selection of materials provided.
This workshop is equal parts creativity, storytelling, and gentle connection. Perfect for beginners and seasoned makers alike. Come create something heartfelt, learn a new skill, and leave with a piece that carries both beauty and meaning.

All materials provided
Personal pieces welcome (optional)
No prior experience needed
Limited Spots Available
We would like to thank our partners from Johnie’s Vintage for making this event possible.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Camino de Santiago: Portugal into Spain
2026-02-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Renfrew Public Library, 13 Railway Ave., Renfrew, Ontario, K7V 3A9, Canada
Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to hike the Camino de Santiago, specifically the Portuguese route (Camino Portugués) into Spain? Join experienced traveler Ray Parchelo for an engaging and informative talk that brings this iconic trip to life.
Ray will share firsthand stories, practical insights, and reflections from the trail. Whether you’re dreaming of walking the Camino someday, curious about long-distance hiking, or simply love travel stories, this session offers a meaningful glimpse into what the Camino experience is truly like.
Come learn, ask questions, and be inspired.
Hosted by the Renfrew Public Library
REGISTER HERE

Mardi Gras Extravaganza Fundraising Gala
2026-02-14 19:30 | Arnprior Public Library, 21 Madawaska St, Arnprior, ON, K7S 1R6, Canada
The Arnprior Public Library will be transformed into a magical Mardi Gras gala as you join us for an unforgettable night of food, live music, dancing, décor, and FUN right in the heart of Arnprior.
Dance the night away to Ball & Chain, Ottawa’s premier Mardi Gras band, bringing the energy and spirit of New Orleans straight to the dance floor. Enjoy a cash bar and a mouthwatering spread of NOLA-inspired dishes courtesy of Riley Catering.
Help shake away the winter blahs. Dress to impress and lean fully into the Mardi Gras spirit!
Tickets: $60 per personAll proceeds support adult library programming, including author visits, guest speakers, and more.
Let the good times roll!
REGISTER HERE through the Arnprior Public Libraries Website

Perth Multicultural Food Festival
2026-02-15 11:00 - 14:00 | Crystal Palace, 31 Basin Lane, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1J1, Canada
Come out to the Crystal Palace in Perth for the Perth Multicultural Food Fair! Delight in food samples from vendors from over 10 different cultures, and take part in a variety of cultural performances and workshops! Everyone is welcome to indulge in this spectacular free community event

2026 Frewfest Family Day Winter Carnival - Snowperson Building Activity
2026-02-15 12:00 - 16:00 | myFm Centre, 1 Ma Te Way Park Dr., Renfrew, ON, K7V 4J4, Canada
The Town of Renfrew invites you to celebrate Family Day weekend at the 2026 Frewfest Winter Carnival, a fun-filled event with free activities for all ages.
Visit the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) – Lanark & Renfrew team on Sunday, February 15, 2026, from 12:00–4:00 PM and take part in our Snowperson Building Activity. Use your creativity to build a snowperson or snow sculpture – whether you’re showing off your snow-crafting skills or just giving it a try, everyone is welcome!
Materials will be provided, with indoor and outdoor options available depending on weather conditions. Crafting and fun available while supplies last.
‘Frewfest takes place over Sunday, February 15 and Monday, February 16, 2026, at the myFM Centre and Ma-te-Way Park (1 Ma-te-Way Park Dr., Renfrew). The weekend features a wide range of free, family-friendly activities, including a pancake breakfast hosted by the Renfrew District South Women’s Institute, horse-drawn wagon rides, inflatables, the Meet the Keepers animal show, a Wolves game, and more.’

No Fuss, Low Fuss Soups! Peruvian Cooking Demonstration - Virtual
2026-02-17 17:00 - 18:30
Comforting flavours, shared traditions, and a taste of Peru…
Join us online for a warm and welcoming virtual cooking demonstration with Monica and Edy, inspired by Peruvian home cooking and the rich flavours of Lima. From the comfort of your own kitchen, watch along as Monica and Edy prepares Sopa Criolla, a beloved Peruvian soup known for bringing families together around the table.
Sopa Criolla is a hearty, flavourful soup traditionally made with beef, vegetables, pasta or bread, milk, and warming spices.
As Monica and Edy prepare this dish, they will share cultural insights, and practical tips for perfecting this dish, creating a relaxed space for learning, connection, and cultural exchange.
This all-ages event is part of the Culture Connect series, presented by the Local Immigration Partnership – Lanark & Renfrew, which brings communities together through food, storytelling, and shared experiences.
What to expect:

A live, watch-along virtual cooking demonstration
Cultural insights into Peruvian food traditions and the flavours of Lima
A digital recipe card and cooking instructions shared after the session
A welcoming, inclusive space for all ages

If you require accommodations to participate, please contactlocalimmigrationpartnership@algonquincollege.com
We would like to thank our partners from Latino Connection in the Ottawa Valley for their support in making this event possible.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE

WAR - The Great Forgetting
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Algonquin College – Pembroke Campus, 1 College Way, Pembroke, ON, K8A 0C8, Canada
As William Faulkner said, ‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past.’
It was the Americans, after the Second World War, who led the way in creating a new international system in which aggressive war became a crime and it was illegal for even the greatest powers to change borders by force. And it worked: no great power has directly fought any other great power for the past eighty years. Their proxies have clashed occasionally and lots of little countries have fought little wars, but no nuclear weapon has been used in war since August 1945. Few people alive then would have dared to believe we could do so well. Alas, it is also the Americans who are leading the way back towards the undead, perpetually violent, rule-free past.
From tragedy to farce – from George Bush invading Iraq to Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine to Donald Trump stumbling around in Venezuela – the old ways are coming back and the new rules are being trampled into the dirt. Whether we blame just a few foolish leaders or an entire generation that has forgotten the bitter lessons of the 20th century, we are in deep trouble now. The global cooperation that is needed to cope with climate change is sliding out of reach, and great-power war is thinkable again. We can still change course, but the key thing is to understand the nature of war. We inherited it from our human and pre-human ancestors, but Einstein was right: nuclear weapons have already changed everything except the way we think. We could always change our minds, too
We are engaged in an involuntary planet-wide experiment. Can the human species, which evolved to live only in small groups but now lives in groups up to a billion strong, eliminate the deeply rooted and universally shared cluster of behaviors involving territoriality and violence that we call ‘war’? Those behaviours were functional for hunter-gatherers, but now they threaten our future. Human beings recognised that problem in the mid-20th century and came up with some useful responses. Some high-profile major players are now seeking to destroy the ‘international rule of law’, but not all is lost. The great majority of countries and of people still support it, and the outcome is still in doubt.
Biography
GWYNNE DYER has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for most of his adult life, but he was originally trained as an historian. He was born in Newfoundland and received degrees from Canadian, American and British universities, finishing with a Ph.D. in Military and Middle Eastern History from the University of London. He served in three navies and held academic appointments at the Canadian Forces College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University before giving up the day jobs in favour of a twice-weekly column on international affairs that is published in more than 20 countries. His first television series, the seven-part documentary ‘War’, was aired in 45 countries. One episode, ‘The Profession of Arms’, was nominated for an Academy Award. His more recent television works include the Gemini Award-winning series ‘The Human Race’. He has written eleven books (most of them Canadian best-sellers) on war, international politics and climate. The most recent ones are ‘The Shortest History of War’ (2022) and ‘Intervention Earth’ (2024). He has spoken in most BC high schools, some of them many times. Dr Dyer lives in London. In 2010, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada.

REGISTER HERE

Multicultural Games Night - Equator Coffee Almonte
2026-02-20 18:00 - 22:00 | Equator Coffee, 451 Ottawa Street, Almonte, Ontario, K0A 10A, Canada
Join us at Equator Coffee Almonte for an Around the World themed evening! Learn games from around the world, like Mancala, Senet, Scopa and more! Feel free to show off your own culture’s traditional attire, grab a themed drink or snack, and have a great time!
Equator Coffee – 451 Ottawa Street, Almonte, ON, KOA 1AO
