Event Phone: 204-987-8850

DATE: Thursday, November 7th at 12:00 p.m.

Michael McMullen has always had a passion for storytelling – from
telling humorous tales to his children when they were young to
creating the customer experience “story” as they walk through the
retail space. Now, in his two books, the recently published Garbage
Boy: The High Bar of Low Expectations and his fi rst book Scarred,
Michael’s storytelling journey continues.
As a storyteller, Michael uses his writing as a tool to refl ect on the
past. His writing doesn’t preach – but his tales are of ascendancy,
rising from low means and social class. The underlying themes of his
stories cover income gap inequities, social class disparities, racism,
stereotyping, and bias – as well as murder, sex, and rock and roll.
Michael was a Garbage Boy! His fi rst fulltime summer job was with a
stick and a spike cleaning the parks of Orillia, Ontario, where Michael
was born & raised. The essence of that experience and other shaping
events on his journey are embedded in the spirit and backbone of his stories. Michael hopes that as
you engage with his books you enjoy the read, refl ect on your own story of ascension and how to help
others ascend. Lifting yourself and others up in spirit and deed is a great story for us all to tell.

DATE: Thursday, November 28th at 12:00 p.m.

Donna Janke is an award-winning Canadian fi ction and non-fi ction writer.
She is a member of the Manitoba Writers’ Guild and lives in Winnipeg,
Manitoba. She loves discovering treasures close to home as much as
exploring the rest of the world. She writes about her travels for various
magazines as well as her own travel site Destinations, Detours and
Dreams.
Donna’s love of words and stories began as child. An avid reader, her
mother often had to call her several times to bring her out of the story and
back to real life for dinner or chores. Donna grew up in a small Manitoba
town with a younger sister and a younger brother. She was surrounded
by a large extended family who taught her about faith, family, community,
the value of hard work, and the importance of play. When she was
seventeen, she moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Manitoba,
where she studied computer science. After a successful career in the information technology
industry, Donna retired to devote more time to her writing.
The guidebook “111 Places in Winnipeg That You Must Not Miss” (being released in fall of 2024) takes
you beyond the usual landmarks to explore the heart of the big prairie city with the spirit of a small
town. Discover the stories, places, rich history, and secrets of this diverse and culturally rich city