Now accepting Living Book applications!
Want to Become a Living Book?
Are you an open book? Have you experienced stereotypes or prejudice? Have you overcome challenges or hardships? Have you led an unconventional life? Do you have life lessons or wisdoms to share? Have you experienced an extraordinary event?
Interested in sharing your story? Complete the 2025 Living Book Application.
What is a Living Library?
A Living Library is where people become “books” on loan. Visitors check out a book they want to read, but instead, the books are people, and reading consists of a conversation between the Living Book and the borrower.
A Living Library allows people to connect and listen to stories about life experiences that differ from their own, helping to challenge assumptions, break stereotypes, and promote understanding.
What will I do as a Living Book?
Living Books will participate in the Age-Friendly Ajax Living Library event on Saturday, June 21, 2025. During the event visitors can "borrow" a Living Book for up tp 45 minutes to engage in authentic and respectful small group conversations.
Living Books will share their personal narratives and answer questions and engage in conversations with their readers in a safe and supportive environment. Check out the 2024 Living Book titles for inspiration:
2024 Living Books
Jolly Abrakasa
Domestic Abuse among the "Top Tier" of society: Surviving the immigrant Neurosurgeon
I was raised to believe that elders are knowledge keepers, repositories of information, and it is their duty to transmit this knowledge to those coming after them who are then responsible to build on the knowledge passed down to ensure that the errors of the past are not repeated. Since I now consider myself an elder, I am ready to pass on my knowledge in the form of telling my life’s stories.
In my Sudbury, Ontario, chapter, I had what I consider a very eventful and interesting life by the time I reluctantly arrived in Sudbury. I was the last person anyone would expect to find in a controlling and abusive marriage, but that is exactly where I found myself, and I want to tell you my domestic abuse survival story.
View Jolly's full video
Meagan Bailey
I'm Here, I'm Queer, and I Want to Tell You About It
What’s life like if you’re attracted to...no one? Not men, or women, or both – but neither? Moreover, what if you couldn’t even understand what attraction was like in the first place? That’s the situation I found myself in.
Hi, I’m Meagan, I’m aromantic asexual (aro ace), and I didn’t figure that out until I was in my early twenties. Before that, I went through life very confused – why did everyone care so much about romance? Why did people find sex jokes funny? I also figured out that I’m agender last year, and before that, I went through daily life uncomfortable at so many things – being called sister, or daughter, or Miss. Ever since figuring myself out, life has been so much richer and more enjoyable. I want to share that richness with people and save people the confusion I went through for so long.
Check out Meagan's full video
Maryam Chana
Finding Light in the Darkness
Have you ever felt lost in a sea of darkness, bombarded by chaos or misery? Have you ever experienced things that still echo in your mind, both day and night? Have you ever looked in the mirror to find a tired reflection you’d rather not see?
Waking up to anxiety, heartache, or pain, and feeling already drained of energy, can lead one to think that life and living hold no real purpose or meaning, especially when there appears to be no resources to turn to. I know because I’ve been there, in that dark pit of despair, unfortunately more than once. This is how I know there truly is hope.
You are not alone, and you do matter. There are ways to get out of the darkness, as hard as it may seem to believe. Join me in a real conversation. Let’s talk about finding the light and learning to live again.
Check out Maryam's full video
Jason Humphreys Kinte
The Overcomer Who is Gifted Like You
Book synopsis coming soon!
Summi Siddiqui
The Road is My Home
My travels have exposed me to diverse cultures and societies. I have seen the value of people motivating and inspiring each other. As a travelling storyteller / educator / artist / poet / writer / performer/ musician / motivational speaker, I find I can connect and understand people on various levels. I have broken bread with nomads in the desert, monks in monasteries, connected with people on the streets of other nations and in the great palaces of the world. We need to experience the world with our senses, instead of viewing it on tiny screens from the comfort of our homes. I will talk about strangers I have met, conversations I have had, emotions I have witnessed and felt. The world is full of wonders. It is an exciting place that is forever changing. Ignore the barriers… they are just man-made.
Check out Summi's full video.
Taylan Turner
Becoming Visible
At the age of six, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Although this disease is one that’s caused many struggles and sleepless nights, it’s not always something that is visible to those around me. For years, I was able to almost completely hide any indicator of my disease from classmates, teammates or while out in public. This was true until the day I met my best friend, Kelly – my Diabetic Alert Dog Guide.
Check out Taylan's full video.
Catherine Johnston
Rock and Roll, Politics and High Tech: The lessons I learned
I always wondered how my life might have turned out if I had learned specific lessons earlier. It’s not that people didn’t try to tell me; they just didn’t explain the benefits of listening and learning. I’ve had a marvelous life and an unusual career path that took me backstage in the world of rock and roll and into the back rooms of politics. I’d like to offer my insights, because regardless of your age or career, these lessons could impact your life. Join me and find out how Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau helped me learn the lessons that I took to the C-Suite in the business of high tech.
Ray Smith
A Ray of Sunshine
In 1986, I suffered a workplace accident that left me legally blind. This incident had the capacity to send me to a negative place, but with some tough love, and support from family and friends, I chose to look on the bright side. I am a strong advocate for building accessible and age-friendly communities. In my professional career, I worked for Sun Life Financial as an ambassador for workers with a disability, WSIB promoting the importance of health and safety, and was a Union Steward and co-chair for the
CUPE National Accessibility Committee.
Since retirement, I am actively involved with the CNIB and am a member of the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, Age-Friendly Steering Committee, and Recreation & Culture’s Older Adult Task Force. Through my committee work, I have facilitated improvements to the accessibility of my neighbourhood, provided educational presentations to Town staff, and used my lived experience to improve the accessibility of Town communication materials. I was recently awarded the Town of Ajax, Senior of the Year.
Now accepting Living Book applications!
Want to Become a Living Book?
Are you an open book? Have you experienced stereotypes or prejudice? Have you overcome challenges or hardships? Have you led an unconventional life? Do you have life lessons or wisdoms to share? Have you experienced an extraordinary event?
Interested in sharing your story? Complete the 2025 Living Book Application.
What is a Living Library?
A Living Library is where people become “books” on loan. Visitors check out a book they want to read, but instead, the books are people, and reading consists of a conversation between the Living Book and the borrower.
A Living Library allows people to connect and listen to stories about life experiences that differ from their own, helping to challenge assumptions, break stereotypes, and promote understanding.
What will I do as a Living Book?
Living Books will participate in the Age-Friendly Ajax Living Library event on Saturday, June 21, 2025. During the event visitors can "borrow" a Living Book for up tp 45 minutes to engage in authentic and respectful small group conversations.
Living Books will share their personal narratives and answer questions and engage in conversations with their readers in a safe and supportive environment. Check out the 2024 Living Book titles for inspiration:
2024 Living Books
Jolly Abrakasa
Domestic Abuse among the "Top Tier" of society: Surviving the immigrant Neurosurgeon
I was raised to believe that elders are knowledge keepers, repositories of information, and it is their duty to transmit this knowledge to those coming after them who are then responsible to build on the knowledge passed down to ensure that the errors of the past are not repeated. Since I now consider myself an elder, I am ready to pass on my knowledge in the form of telling my life’s stories.
In my Sudbury, Ontario, chapter, I had what I consider a very eventful and interesting life by the time I reluctantly arrived in Sudbury. I was the last person anyone would expect to find in a controlling and abusive marriage, but that is exactly where I found myself, and I want to tell you my domestic abuse survival story.
View Jolly's full video
Meagan Bailey
I'm Here, I'm Queer, and I Want to Tell You About It
What’s life like if you’re attracted to...no one? Not men, or women, or both – but neither? Moreover, what if you couldn’t even understand what attraction was like in the first place? That’s the situation I found myself in.
Hi, I’m Meagan, I’m aromantic asexual (aro ace), and I didn’t figure that out until I was in my early twenties. Before that, I went through life very confused – why did everyone care so much about romance? Why did people find sex jokes funny? I also figured out that I’m agender last year, and before that, I went through daily life uncomfortable at so many things – being called sister, or daughter, or Miss. Ever since figuring myself out, life has been so much richer and more enjoyable. I want to share that richness with people and save people the confusion I went through for so long.
Check out Meagan's full video
Maryam Chana
Finding Light in the Darkness
Have you ever felt lost in a sea of darkness, bombarded by chaos or misery? Have you ever experienced things that still echo in your mind, both day and night? Have you ever looked in the mirror to find a tired reflection you’d rather not see?
Waking up to anxiety, heartache, or pain, and feeling already drained of energy, can lead one to think that life and living hold no real purpose or meaning, especially when there appears to be no resources to turn to. I know because I’ve been there, in that dark pit of despair, unfortunately more than once. This is how I know there truly is hope.
You are not alone, and you do matter. There are ways to get out of the darkness, as hard as it may seem to believe. Join me in a real conversation. Let’s talk about finding the light and learning to live again.
Check out Maryam's full video
Jason Humphreys Kinte
The Overcomer Who is Gifted Like You
Book synopsis coming soon!
Summi Siddiqui
The Road is My Home
My travels have exposed me to diverse cultures and societies. I have seen the value of people motivating and inspiring each other. As a travelling storyteller / educator / artist / poet / writer / performer/ musician / motivational speaker, I find I can connect and understand people on various levels. I have broken bread with nomads in the desert, monks in monasteries, connected with people on the streets of other nations and in the great palaces of the world. We need to experience the world with our senses, instead of viewing it on tiny screens from the comfort of our homes. I will talk about strangers I have met, conversations I have had, emotions I have witnessed and felt. The world is full of wonders. It is an exciting place that is forever changing. Ignore the barriers… they are just man-made.
Check out Summi's full video.
Taylan Turner
Becoming Visible
At the age of six, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Although this disease is one that’s caused many struggles and sleepless nights, it’s not always something that is visible to those around me. For years, I was able to almost completely hide any indicator of my disease from classmates, teammates or while out in public. This was true until the day I met my best friend, Kelly – my Diabetic Alert Dog Guide.
Check out Taylan's full video.
Catherine Johnston
Rock and Roll, Politics and High Tech: The lessons I learned
I always wondered how my life might have turned out if I had learned specific lessons earlier. It’s not that people didn’t try to tell me; they just didn’t explain the benefits of listening and learning. I’ve had a marvelous life and an unusual career path that took me backstage in the world of rock and roll and into the back rooms of politics. I’d like to offer my insights, because regardless of your age or career, these lessons could impact your life. Join me and find out how Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau helped me learn the lessons that I took to the C-Suite in the business of high tech.
Ray Smith
A Ray of Sunshine
In 1986, I suffered a workplace accident that left me legally blind. This incident had the capacity to send me to a negative place, but with some tough love, and support from family and friends, I chose to look on the bright side. I am a strong advocate for building accessible and age-friendly communities. In my professional career, I worked for Sun Life Financial as an ambassador for workers with a disability, WSIB promoting the importance of health and safety, and was a Union Steward and co-chair for the
CUPE National Accessibility Committee.
Since retirement, I am actively involved with the CNIB and am a member of the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, Age-Friendly Steering Committee, and Recreation & Culture’s Older Adult Task Force. Through my committee work, I have facilitated improvements to the accessibility of my neighbourhood, provided educational presentations to Town staff, and used my lived experience to improve the accessibility of Town communication materials. I was recently awarded the Town of Ajax, Senior of the Year.
