Speaker Chairperson John Manual
|
|
|
Backup singers for Diana Ross
MARCH MEETING: Deidrey Francois, “Celebration” pictures provided by Mary Gibson |
|
APRIL SPEAKER:
Our April speaker is Lianne Harris. She has presented to us before and is quite entertaining. She often uses visuals and costumes to add interest. She has been a teacher, an author and a curriculum advisor and has been on radio and TV. Lianne has a special interest in history. Her topic this time is "Royal Scandals." Some scandals were idle gossip but some changed history! Gossip, intrigue, love affairs, clandestine meetings, mystery children . . . secrets shared and confidences broken---it’s all in a day’s work for the royals! Some royal scandals were nothing more than juicy tittle-tattling or passing fancies--but some were real ‘game changers’. Tiptoe around the European courts for 1-hour with Lianne Harris and with chop-licking anticipation, uncover those true scandals that really did changed history. |
|
|
|
|
|
Our May speaker is Rob Stimpson, an internationally renowned nature photographer and outdoorsman with a background in tourism. He teaches photography, writes for various publications and maintains his personal photo gallery.
He has a special love for the wilderness, especially the world's polar regions. Rob will speak to us about his adventures photographing Ontario's beautiful provincial parks. |
|
|
Our June Speaker is Eileen Kennedy an Economic Development Officer and Creative Industries Specialist for The Region all Municipality of Durham.
SYNOPSIS: Durham Region plays a significant role in Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar film and television industry due to its proximity to Toronto, and unique blend of film locations, production services, studios, and Canada's largest backlot. Learn how Film Durham’s role is to attract filming and support the film and television industry through location scouting, permitting, marketing, workforce development, location tours and creating film-friendly neighbourhoods and business community. |
|
Our speaker this month is Sherwood (Sherry) Bassin. Sherry has been involved in the Ontario Hockey League for over 36 years as a General Manager, team owner and coach. Sherry is a former owner and coach of the Oshawa Generals, the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds and the Erie Otters. In addition to his hockey interests Sherry has both a pharmacy degree and a law degree. Sherry taught law and business at Durham College for 25 years and he helped design a paralegal program for Ontario. However, Sherry’s main interest is “All Things Hockey”. Come out and hear Sherry speak about hockey and what it was like to be coach and “best friends” (according to the Toronto Sun) with Connor McDavid. |
JULY SPEAKER - Sherry Bassin |
|
Our speaker for this month is Dan Buchanan. Dan will be speaking to us about his book, “38 Hours to Montreal, The Race of 1840”.
Dan is known locally as “The History Guy of Brighton, Ontario”. Previously, Dan spoke to our club on Zoom, during the Covid epidemic. His presentation then was about the wreck of the HMS Speedy, a boat that sank in Lake Ontario near Brighton. In addition to being the author of 4 books, Dan is engaged in many projects related to local and Ontario history. He is the creator of a genealogy website with a data base of over a 100,000 people. In 2018 Dan published his book “38 Hours to Montreal”. This book tells the unique story of William Weller’s record breaking 1840 SLEIGH ride from Toronto to Montreal on what is now highway # 2. Come out and hear Dan describe this very harrowing “road trip”. Dan will be selling all 4 of his books at the August meeting. AUGUST Speaker |
|
John Cooper Entertaining Members with Comedy
"When John was growing up in Largs, Scotland, people were encouraged to bring a ‘Party Piece’ if they visited someone’s home for a party. This was always a form of entertainment… music, a skit, a poem. In John’s case, it was humour. For him, a skit or a joke gradually developed into a lengthy second career doing stand-up comedy. For many years, he acted as MC for events put on by the Barber Shoppers, Sweet Adelines, Shriners, Scottish Associations, as well as many other organizations. He headlined the award winning ‘Perth Pavilion’ shows during Metro’s ‘Caravan’ years. He also performed at such venues as Massey Hall, Hamilton Place and the Imperial Room at the Royal York hotel. The following is a quote from The Hamilton Spectator - “John is a treasure to everyone who has ever been in one of his audiences”. " Picture provided by Mary Gibson |
|
|
OCTOBER SPEAKER: Joyce Perrin
Our October speaker is Joyce Perrin, world traveler, adventurer and author of “Ants in My Pants”. She has visited 156 countries on seven continents. Joyce has a background in nursing and hospital administration and was one of the first female hospital CEOs in Canada. At age 57, she left Canada to work in healthcare in Saudi Arabia and was then involved in various health and development projects around the world including projects with WHO and the United Nations for the next 23 yrs. Eventually, in her 80’ s she returned to Canada to write a book about her exploits. She is also a breast cancer survivor. She now resides in Pickering and enjoys speaking to others about her interesting life. Joyce wants to inspire people to follow their passion no longer how long it takes. Her topic is “I’m Not Dead Yet- Let’s Talk About Aging”. |
|
November speaker will be Susan Raby-Dunne.
Susan will be speaking to us about the life of John McCrae, the man who wrote In Flanders Fields. Susan has written 2 books about John McCrae, the first is called, John McCrae, Beyond Flanders Fields and the second book is called, Bonfire, The Chestnut Gentleman. Susan’s second book is a story about John McCrae’s horse. Susan is a military historian, composer, veterans advocate, first and Second World War battlefield guide and the author and editor of numerous military books. Her musical version of the poem, In Flanders Fields debuted on CBC radio and internationally in 2006. Susan’s books will be available to purchase after her presentation. |
|
|
DECEMBER SPEAKER (MUSICAL PRESENTATION): VINTAGE SOUL
Our presentation for December will be a musical duo called Vintage Soul. Vintage Soul features the musical talents of Nick Reynolds and Cheryl Gow. While working together with other bands and musical projects, Nick and Cheryl discovered a shared passion for “vintage” music and decided to create a working duo catering to more mature adults. In keeping with the season, for the December meeting, Vintage Soul will play a medley of Christmas music as well as music from the 1960’s and the 1970’s. They will cover music from artists such as Dinah Washington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Nat King Cole. They are also familiar with the music of Elton John, The Monkees, Fleetwood Mac and the Beetles. Please come and join us for this musical holiday treat! |
|
January Speaker - May Cooper
May Cooper emigrated to Canada from Scotland in the late 1950s at the young age of 18. May has enjoyed an active and busy life. Whether it has been travelling through Canada, the US and Europe with her husband John, playing tennis; cross country and downhill skiing; Scottish country dancing; singing in several choirs and performing in amateur theatre, she has always kept occupied and considers herself to be a lifelong learner. In addition to contributing to the community, working a long and successful career and raising her two children, May is now also a proud grandmother and great grandmother. While delighted to have made the decision many years ago to become a Canadian citizen and to have lived her entire adult life here, May is rightfully very proud of her Scottish heritage. Speaking about Robert Burns gives her the opportunity to share her knowledge about this fascinating man. May has been an active member of Probus since 2013. |
|