2025
Visit The County (Prince Edward County) - February 19
It’s Flashback February in the County!
Join Lorna for this virtual presentation at 6pm on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, where she will discuss the history of the death penalty in Canada, including such topics as the treatment of women, wrongful conviction, and the last two hangings at Toronto’s infamous Don Jail. A comparison of 2 murders in Prince Edward County, the first in the late 1800s and the second 20 years later, will highlight the inconsistent application of the death sentence.
Tickets are available at a suggested price of $10 through the Visit the County website at https://tinyurl.com/4r746zcz
Huron County Museum - February 15
Join Lorna on Saturday, February 15 at 2 pm for this online presentation, where she will discuss the history of the death penalty in Canada, including the treatment of women, wrongful convictions, the difficult journey toward abolition, and the last two hangings at Toronto’s notorious Don Jail. She will also speak to the stories of two inmates of the Huron Historic Gaol: the public execution of Nicholas Melady and the egregious case of teenager Steven Truscott.
This presentation is free and open to the public!
Register via Zoom through the Huron County Museum website at https://tinyurl.com/4m5u8edd
2024
Swansea Historical Society - March 6
On Wednesday, March 6, Lorna speaks to the Swansea Historical Society, highlighting stories about the people associated with the Don Jail – inmates, guards, governors, escapees, and those whose lives ended there at the end of a rope.
If you're in the neighbourhood, be sure to attend!
Wednesday, March 6 at 8:00pm
Rousseau Room - Swansea Town Hall
95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto
The Beach and East TOronto Historical Society - February 28
Join Lorna on February 28 from 7:00 - 8:15 pm at the Beaches Sandbox for a presentation with the Beach and East York Historical Society.
Wednesday, February 28
7:00 - 8:15 AM
The Beaches Sandbox
2181 Queen St. E
Town of York Historical Society - January 25
Join Lorna at Toronto's First Post Office for a presentation with the Town of York Historical Society.
January 25 at 7pm
More details will be available on the Historical Society website shortly.
2023
MOTIVE Crime and mystery show - June 4
Lorna returns to the Toronto Festival of Authors Motive Show in the Crime Writers of Canada tent.
Come say hi and stay for a reading on June 4.
More details and a full schedule for the June 2 - 4 event is available on the Motive website.
Kamloops Adult learners society - May 30
Death by hanging was a grim reality of the Canadian criminal justice system until the abolition of the death penalty in 1976. But what did capital punishment look like in Canada? In this session, we will discuss the history of the death penalty in Canada, with a focus on topics such as the inconsistent application of the death sentence, the treatment of women, wrongful conviction, the difficult journey toward abolition, and the last two hangings at Toronto’s notorious Don Jail.
Read Lorna's interview in the KALS May Newsletter.
The Don: Inmates, Guards, Governors, and The Gallows
Lorna’ illustrated talk will focus on the location and construction of the Don Jail, as well as highlighting stories about inmates, guards, governors, gangs, and officials, and even a pair of star-crossed lovers whose doomed romance unfolded in the shadow of the gallows.
The event is free and open to the public.
North Toronto Historical society - APRIL 26
2022
The Friends of the Library, Trinity College - September 26
7:30 pm via ZOOM
Hailed as a “palace for prisoners” when it first opened in 1864, the Don Jail soon deteriorated into a place of infamy where both jailed and jailors risked violence and death. Lorna Poplak will share stories of some of the extraordinary characters — inmates, guards, gangs, governors, and meddlesome politicians — who wandered through the unhallowed halls of the Don during the 113 years it functioned as Toronto’s infamous jail.
Please contact fotl@trinity.utoronto.ca for more information.
FANEXPO CANADA - August 25 - 28
TRUE CRIME ON THE MEAN STREETS OF TORONTO
2:00 pm in ROOM 715B - THEATRE 4 Literary
Hosted by CTV's Film Critic, Richard Crouse, three Dundurn Press authors shine a light into the dark heart of life in Toronto and offer unique insights into the city's history.
From the history of Toronto's infamous Don prison and one of the more memorable Toronto bank robberies of the 1960s to a Toronto journalists' meteoric descent from acclaimed writer to being a drug smuggler in prison, this is a once-in-a-lifetime look at Toronto the Bad!
The panel includes Lorna Poplak, author of The Don, an acclaimed look at the city's infamous prison, to Nate Hendley, author of the award-winning book TheBeatle Bandit, which details a bizarre and unforgettable bank robbery in the early 1960s to Slava Pastuk, whose new book Bad Trips details his meteoric descent from renowned VICE Magazine reporter to becoming a drug smuggler doing time in prison.
For more information, visit: https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpocanada/schedule/
WORD ON THE STREET - June 11 - 12
Celebrate the stories that connect us at Toronto’s friendly, neighbourhood book festival!
Stop by and visit Lorna at the Dundurn Press table at The Word On The Street on the weekend of June 11-12 at Queen’s Park Circle.
MAPLE LEAF MYSTERY CONFERENCE - May 24
2021
RIVERDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - September 28
Join Lorna as she reveals the facts behind the Don Jail’s location and construction, and shares tales about inmates, guards, governors, gangs, officials, and even a pair of star-crossed lovers whose doomed romance unfolded in the shadow of the gallows. Listen to the saga of the Don’s tumultuous descent from palace to hellhole, its shuttering and lapse into decay, and its astonishing modern-day metamorphosis.
SISTERS IN CRIME - September 23
Lorna presented a session on writing non-fiction; her journey into the genre and how she approaches writing. She also shared a few case studies of how she selected stories for THE DON, as well as "Don Jail Stories from the Cutting Room Floor"; stories that didn't make it (and why).
Lorna Poplak’s presentation was fascinating. She talked about the history of the Don Jail, and she also explained how she researched her material. It was eye-opening to hear the way she prioritized and organized the scope of the book even before she began to write. Her slides brought to life some of the characters, both inmates and guards, whose stories she shared. Now all we want to know is, what will Lorna’s next fascinating topic be? - Kate Freiman, President, Toronto Chapter, Sisters in Crime
PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH YORK - August 25
On August 25, Lorna was a guest speaker for the Probus Club of North York, sharing stories of some of the extraordinary characters – inmates, guards, gangs, governors, and meddlesome politicians – who wandered through the unhallowed halls of the Don Jail during its 110-plus years of operation.
ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARY TECHNICIANS CONFERENCE - May 13
On May 13, Lorna joins fellow authors Nate Hendley, Dean Jobb, and, Norm Boucher for a Crime Writers of Canada author spotlight at the Ontario Association of Library Technicians 2021 conference.
The authors will discuss their latest non-fiction/true crime works.
2020
Crime Writers of Canada: Does Crime (Writing) Pay? - March 7
In a panel assembled by author Judy Sheluk, Lorna and her fellow Crime Writers of Canada authors participated in a discussion about the writing process, offering a peek inside the minds of some of Canada's most intriguing crime writers.
Kim Burgess, New Tecumseth Public Library Adult Services Programmer moderated this group of crime writers sharing stories of murder, bank heists, mystery, and intrigue.
2019
SISTERS IN CRIME PANEL - JANUARY 16
Lorna and fellow Sisters in Crime authors took part in another panel discussion and a Q&A on January 16 at the Toronto Public Library's Northern District Branch.
Toronto the Good? - TUESDAY DECEMBER 3
Lorna was invited back to another Crime Writers of Canada event in December, appearing on a panel with Nate Hendley (true crime), Sharon Crawford (thriller), Desmond P Ryan (police procedural), and Jim McDonald (short stories).
Sisters in crime panel - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21
Is reading an historical mystery fiction novel a good way to find out about events in history?
Sisters in Crime convened a panel of authors writing in the genre to discuss this idea!
- Nate Hendley (non-fiction)
- Ann Shortell (fiction)
- Caro Soles (fiction)
- Sylvia Warsh
True Crime Tales: A Dialogue - WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13
Lorna's appeared on a panel of true crime authors, moderated by Nate Hendley at the Toronto Reference Library, to discuss the real-life criminal cases that influenced their books and whether (or not) justice was served.
This event was part of the eh List series at the Toronto Public Library; conversations on Canadian literature and culture with award-winning authors, poets, journalists and exciting new voices.
WORD ON THE STREET TORONTO - SEPTEMBER 22
Lorna joined the Crime Writers Canada booth at The Word On The Street Toronto on the afternoon of Sunday, September 22.
Lorna and her fellow authors, including Canadian author and journalist Nate Hendley, were there to sign books and answer questions.
Crime Writers Canada
Booth: #WB4
3:30-5:00 pm
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
The Dark Side of Toronto - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Lorna and fellow Crime Writers Canada authors Nate Hendley, Rosemary McCracken, Desmond P. Ryan and John Worsley Simpson participated in a lively panel focused on the dark side of Toronto at Armour Heights Library in north Toronto.
BRADFORD West Gwillimbury PUBLIC LIBRARY - SATURDAY, MAY 4
Lorna joined fellow authors Judy Penz Sheluk, Ken Ogilvie, and John Worsley Simpson for a Crime Writes of Canada panel at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library for a discussion about their work and the process of writing.
