By Angelica Ingram

When Mary Trepanier was at a fundraising gala she kept getting outbid on a painting she had her eye on.

President of the Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library Trepanier wanted to find out who her competition was on a Group of Seven print she wanted and when she did she was taken aback.

“I looked and thought who’s bidding against me and saw Wayson Choy” she laughs. “I said Wayson Choy! I have his book. And he gave me a grin and I overpaid for it.”

A familiar face around town Choy has been frequenting the Highlands for some time as he visits friends who are in the area said Trepanier.

The FOHCPL president said Choy offered his time and talent to the organization if they were ever interested and they were.

On Wednesday April 13 the FOHCPL will be hosting a Lunch and Learn event featuring Choy as the guest speaker to be held at the Community Room in Haliburton.

An acclaimed author Choy has penned many best selling novels including The Jade Peony Paper Shadows and All That Matters.

“While he was doing All That Matters he took very ill” said Trepanier. “And because of that experience he rewrote All That Matters .”

The FOHCPL president said the only indication Choy gave the organization on what his talk would be about is this quote: “I don’t believe in ghosts but they won’t leave me alone.”

“I think he’s going to be really entertaining” she said. “I think he has some things to say about life.”

Born in Vancouver Choy 76 has written books that have been nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Award.

He has also been named a member of the Order of Canada.

Money raised by FOHCPL goes towards purchasing enhancements for the eight branches of the Haliburton County public libraries said Trepanier.

“Friends raised money last year for a computer station” she said. “It’s a preschool station. We have four in the system … 9000 visits have been made to those four. We want to get them into more branches.”

The Lunch and Learn begins at noon with a buffet lunch followed by Choy’s presentation.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling 705-457-2695. Cash or cheque only.

The Community Room is located at 13523 Highway 118.