Memphremagog Watershed Association hosts autumn event featuring Louise Abbott

NEWPORT –– The Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) is gearing up to host the second in its News and Brews series about the Memphremagog Watershed on Saturday, October 7, from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Taking place aboard the docked Northern Star at the Gateway Center, the Autumn event promises an enlightening evening with special guest Louise Abbott presenting her documentary film, “The Islands of Lake Memphremagog: A Natural and Human History.”

Set against the backdrop of “beautiful waters,” attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the inherent bond of people to their surroundings, a theme highlighted in Abbott’s work. Ann Davidson of the Sherbrooke Record praised Abbott for capturing the spiritual element within the subject matter and illustrating the correlation of the past and the present.

Louise Abbott, a renowned writer, documentary photographer, and filmmaker based in Ogden, Quebec, has earned recognition for giving voice to the lives and concerns of people in outlying regions. Author of seven books, including “Memphremagog: An Illustrated History” (Volumes 1 and 2), Abbott has been acclaimed by international film festivals and her work has been broadcasted on PBS stations.

In addition to the presentation by Ms. Abbott, MWA staff will provide updates on their work since the successful April event at Kingdom Brewery. The event is open to all, featuring complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. In case of extreme weather conditions, the gathering will move to the second floor of the Gateway Center.

Attendees are requested to RSVP to [email protected] for an estimation of seating and appetizers. Abbott, who has been working on a series of short documentaries for the Whiteley Museum since the summer of 2022, is currently penning a book titled “Islands of History” about the eastern archipelagos of the Lower North Shore from Old Fort to Blanc-Sablon.