Women’s Fair
March 7, 2026
10:00AM to 4:00PM
FREE
(donations to the Period Drive are encouraged)
A vibrant celebration of women.
Join us for a women’s fair, art hive, and author talk
on motherhood and mental health with Brianne Sommerville.
7:00-8:00PM10:00-3:00PM
PROGRAMMING
Registration recommended
(see below)
*
4:00-6:00PM
KATHA 2026
(Held off-site by SAMM)
Tickets required (click to purchase)
*
CONVERSATION ON MOTHERHOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH
An Evening with
Brianne Sommerville
(book signing to follow)
(click to) Save Your Spot
PROGRAMMING
Registration recommended – not necessary for the Art Hive.
Limited drop-in spots available.
Seating is first-come, first-served.
Drop-in.
Be inspired.
Create.
All ages welcome to come in and express yourself in this pop-up art hive.
All supplies provided.
No registration required.
Run by art therapists from Art as Therapy.
Explore the vital connection between gut health and overall wellness. Discover connection between gut health and its impact on various aspects of our vitality and life force, from inflammation and digestion to mental health and body composition. Leave with practical strategies to remain healthy and strong.
Althea is a Certified Reflexologist and Holistic Practitioner with a background in Nutrition, Herb Blending and Aromatherapy and has been practicing for over 15 years. She is the founder and formulator of Shea Essence Wholesome Food for Skin – a plant based skincare brand that supports women, men and children with various skin sensitivities. Althea is passionate about health and wellness and aims to provide holistic options, products and services to various communities.
Register here:
https://beinspired.libcal.com/event/4003430
Limited drop-in spots available.
Explore hormonal transitions, bone and heart health, metabolism, mental well-being, sleep, and practical strategies for thriving at every stage. Attendees will leave empowered with science-backed tools, clarity around common symptoms, and confidence to advocate for their health at any age.
Join clinical pharmacist, menopause expert, and bestselling author Sandra Tadros Guirguis for an engaging and evidence-based talk on women’s health from young adulthood through midlife and beyond.
Registration recommended.
Register here:
https://beinspired.libcal.com/event/3998174
Limited drop-in spots available.
Seating is first-come, first-served.
Join us to learn about cancer screening and take charge of your health. Discover what screening involves, why early detection can save lives, and the steps you can take to get checked for cervical and breast cancer.
Registration recommended.
Register here:
https://beinspired.libcal.com/event/4003429
Discover the support, connections, and opportunities waiting for you. HMC Connections helps newcomer women and their families build confidence, find meaningful employment pathways, strengthen language skills, and create lasting community connections. Join us at the Women’s Fair to learn about programs and resources designed to help you not just settle but succeed.
Registration recommended. Limited drop-in spots available.
Register here:
https://beinspired.libcal.com/event/4002820
Seating is first-come, first-served.
Discover how your body changes over time and why the right bra fit matters at every stage of life. Join certified bra fitter Pauline Thomas and owner of Comfort Bras by Pauline as she shares expert tips to help you find comfort, support, and confidence with a fit that’s perfect for your age and lifestyle.
Registration recommended.
Register here:
https://beinspired.libcal.com/event/4003438
Seating is first-come, first-served.
Women are often the caregivers, the organizers, the emotional anchors: before, during, and after death. Explore how to honour this role while normalizing the complexity of grief. Leave with practical tools to move forward and heal. Designed as both an affirming and informative experience, this talk offers insight, validation, and actionable strategies for navigating loss with resilience and self-compassion.
Registration recommended.
Register here:
https://beinspired.libcal.com/event/4002993
Limited drop-in spots available.
Seating is first-come, first-served.
PERIOD DRIVE (MARCH 1-31)
MPL is collaborating with Help a Girl Out.
Help combat period poverty.
The following items are being accepted at any of the 3 MPL locations:
Pads and Tampons
Menstrual Cups
Menstrual Discs
New Underwear
Soaps and Washes
Hair Care Products
Toothpaste, Brushes and Floss
Deodorant
Newborn Items
Drop by and express yourself!
Art supplies will be provided and a photocopier will be available for use.
Feel free to bring copies of old photographs or other older or archival material to create your own photo-based art project.
Drop-in. No registration required.
This session will be run by a certified art therapist.
All ages and levels of experience welcome.
Book signing to follow.
Books available for purchase.
Brianne Sommerville studied English literature and theatre at Queen’s University before building a career in public relations and marketing.
Her love of storytelling eventually pulled her from crafting brand narratives to writing the kind of dark, twisting fiction she couldn’t put down herself.
Her debut novel If I Lose Her arrived in 2024 to critical acclaim, drawing comparisons to the work of Ashley Audrain and Stacey Willingham.
Her sophomore thriller What She Left Behind followed for fans of Mary Kubica and Colleen Hoover.
Brianne lives in Toronto with her partner and their three children under five — proof that real life can be just as thrilling as fiction.
https://briannesommerville.com/#about
IN CONVERSATION WITH BRIANNE SOMMERVILLE
Exploring Motherhood and Mental Health
A powerful and candid conversation with Brianne Sommerville about motherhood, mental health, and identity. Drawing from her own postpartum experience, Brianne will share how the pressures of new motherhood, career expectations, and societal stigma shaped both her personal journey and gave inspiration for her debut novel, If I Lose Her.
Join us as Brianne moves us beyond the page to explore resilience, creativity, and the realities of maternal mental health and femininity.
Book signing to follow.
Books available for purchase.
SAVE YOUR SPOT NOW
FLOOR PLAN
COMING SOON
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
EXHIBITORS
