NORTH DURHAM: Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874, in Clifton, now New London, in Prince Edward Island. After a life of successes and celebrations, also filled with sadness and heartbreak, she died in 1942 at the age of 68.
In spite of a lonely childhood and turbulent adult life, Montgomery wrote joyful, funny, lively novels and short stories, full of keen observations of the foibles of human nature. She described the landscape of PEI so evocatively that tourists still flock there. Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908 when she was 34, was an instant best seller, and her popularity has increased ever since.
How do we celebrate the 150th birthday of this famous person who lived among us?
In June, the Biennial International Conference at University of PEI will welcome delegates from Australia, USA, Brazil, Chile, Finland, India… and eleven other countries. The theme of the Conference is “The Politics of Home”. Delegates from Leaskdale, the site of Maud’s first home of her own, will give a presentation highlighting her life in the Uxbridge area as Mrs. Ewan Macdonald.
The Town of Uxbridge has declared 2024 as the Year of Montgomery. Throughout the township many ongoing activities and projects will be focusing on Montgomery, with an affectionate “Nod to Maud”.
At the National Historic Site in Leaskdale, special presentations include a one-woman play, “Anne Older and Wiser”, by Maja Bannerman, and a new play by Marion Abbott, “Maud and Anne”, to be produced by Rylepuss Theatre Productions. Look for more performances of “Maud of Leaskdale”, the excellent one woman play starring Jennifer Carroll.
All these will be on stage at the Historic Leaskdale Church.
Programs for the popular Wednesday teas put on by the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society will include a Maud-inspired fibre arts demonstration, a Japanese tea ceremony, and a performance by Rosalee Peppard, popular singer and songwriter, who sings about Maud Montgomery.
And on November 30th, 2024, at the Leaskdale Historic Church where Maud listened to her husband’s sermons every Sunday for fifteen years, the Society will host a great big birthday party for our favourite author, inspiring historical figure, and Canadian icon.
Celebrate with us!
For all the events, visit www.lucymaudmontgomery.ca
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