YCLML 001 - MCLL Lectures

Presenter: Grace Rostig 

My presentation/interactive workshop will focus on ways in which we, as spouses, lovers, friends, children of the elderly, can bring joy, meaning and compassion to the daily lives or weekly visits with the elderly people we love. It will begin with suggestions based on an approach I have honed over 15 years of education and work with the elderly, coupled with 40 years of spiritual practice and exploration. Equally important, I will encourage participants to share their experiences. The workshop will also include a few one-minute periods of meditation. In this video, watch the magical Naomi Feil interact with Gladys Wilson, an elderly woman suffering from dementia.  

Presenters: Romano De Santis & Giovanna De Santis 

After a life centered on technical and scientific endeavors, I recently developed a passion for creative writing. Particularly in crafting short non-fiction family stories and composing sonnets (in several languages). In this new creative area of interest, I have replaced the traditional writer’s toolbox—dictionaries, thesauruses, rhyme manuals, poetry anthologies, and similar resources—with the assistance of an AI chatbot. I have found this experience not only exciting, but also deeply enriching and personally most rewarding. The idea of the lecture is to share my journey and show how this approach might open creative doors for equally minded and motivated others.  

Presenter: Anne-Marie Hubert

En français avec participation dans les deux langues officielles 

Techniques d’écriture pour captiver les lecteurs dès les premières lignes, incluant l’introduction, les personnages (même s’il s’agit de vous-même!), la création de liens émotionnels avec le lecteur, maîtriser la tension et le rythme, ainsi que la prose. La séance comprendra des exemples concrets. The lecture will be in French, but questions in English will be answered.  

Presenter: Paul Kuai-Yu Leong

Dame Vera Lynn and Marlene Dietrich were enchanting singers known as the ‘WWII (Allied) Forces Sweethearts'. Their songs We'll Meet Again, The White Cliffs of Dover, and Lili Marleen uplifted the spirits and hopes of the fighters and strengthened a resilient mood, despite the harsh reality of war. It was said that Winston Churchill didn't (alone) beat the Nazis, but those two singers sang them to defeat as well. 

Presenters: Tony Frayne & Hélène Robillard-Frayne 

Our presentation will show photos of Peru in 1972 and of Chile in January earlier this year. Two neighbouring countries but with very different cultures and landscapes. The photos include Cuzco and Machu Picchu in Peru, and Valparaiso and the The Road to the End of the World, (Torré del Peine) in Chile.  

Presenter: Barry Lane

The years between the end of the Civil War and the early 20th century became known as the Gilded Age because the country was glittering on the surface but problematic underneath. In this period, the U.S. became an economic powerhouse with its railroads and its steel, oil and banking industries, and the “captains of industry” - Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt and the like - amassed vast wealth while many citizens crowded into tenements and worked in factories under dangerous conditions. 

Presenter: Marna Murray

Didion chronicled the world as she saw it from the middle of the 20th century forward. Her insights provided in essays, novels, and screenplays, articulate the idealized vision we have and offers us a different reality. Her poignant Year of Magical Thinking on the illness of her daughter and death of her husband helps many to understand the complexities of grief. 

Presenter: Lewis Cattarini 

How did a group of American scientists in June 1945 try to prevent the nuclear bombing of Japan? This lecture examines the diplomacy behind the Franck Report, including the involvement of Szilard versus Oppenheimer. 

Presenters: Frank Nicholson, Nadine Ozkan, & Elisabeth Robino 

Born in Paris to Armenian refugees in 1924, Charles Aznavour went on the stage at age nine. After earning a reputation as a singer and songwriter in Montreal, Aznavour launched a career lasting seventy years, in which he wrote or co-wrote 1,000 songs, sang in several languages, visited 90 countries, sold 180 million records and became an international star. Lecture attendees will watch and discuss videos of Aznavour singing five of his classics first in English and then in French, and then five other songs sung in French accompanied by English lyrics onscreen.  

Presenter: Iryna Malynovska 

By posing such a provocative question, I invite the audience to reflect on the challenges that people face when trying to communicate their ideas to others. If reaching mutual understanding between people is never easy, then these difficulties increase tenfold when it comes to communication between people who speak different languages. We will try to understand the reasons for such difficulties and the ways of overcoming them. Examples from political, mass media and literary discourses will be considered.  

Presenter: Eduardo Cabrera 

Nostalgia may be one of the deepest feelings socially shared and dearly celebrated. This sometimes-overwhelming longing for the past, for our common history, for our personal memories or for an idealized long-gone era, can shape our identity, influencing our behaviour. This lecture is an invitation to immerse ourselves through the diverse ways and mechanisms used in art to evoke the past and its regrettable absence. 

Presenter: André Berdais 

Malta was the most heavily bombed location during the Second World War. 25 % of the aviators on the island were Canadians. They flew fighter planes against Axis attacks on the tiny Mediterranean island and used reconnaissance and bomber aircraft to stop supply convoys to German and Italian armies in North Africa. Their actions and sacrifices directly contributed to Allied victories at the Battle of El Alamein, the invasion of Sicily and the liberation of Italy. If Malta had fallen, the war in Europe would likely have had a different ending. 

Presenter: Doug Woolidge 

After looking at a map of China and learning about regional dialects, we will focus on the sounds of Mandarin, and the way that Chinese characters are written and classified. Finally, we will look at aspects of Chinese language that might interest those with a casual interest as well as people who are considering learning Chinese. 

Presenter: Laurie Nixon 

In this lecture, I will go over the iconography, the historical context, the original location and the original function of several of the art works, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, in the permanent collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. 

Presenter: Robert Paris

A two-hour interactive workshop focused on rediscovering the joy and health benefits of laughter in today’s often negative world. Through shared stories, classic comedy clips, and lighthearted group activities, participants explore how laughter reduces stress, boosts mood, and fosters connection. With a mix of science, silliness, and soul, the workshop offers practical tools to help participants bring more humor into everyday life—leaving them uplifted, energized, and smiling. 

Presenter: Nandita Bajaj 

Human population has doubled from 4 billion in 1970 to 8 billion currently and is a key driver of climate change, resource scarcity, and biodiversity collapse, yet it's a taboo topic. Nandita will discuss how growth-biased economies, pronatalism, and anthropocentrism drive population growth and undermine social and ecological justice, and how we can elevate this important discussion. She recently wrote on the subject for The Toronto Star, (click here) and was interviewed on Toronto 640 AM Radio, click here.  

Presenter: Craig Webb

Enjoy an engaging presentation by an experienced dream analyst/author and learn how to cultivate, remember, harvest and enact your nighttime dreams for surprising, practical benefits such as deeply inspired creativity, emotional and even physical healing, learning new skills, personal growth, and helping make important choices in life. Presenter’s website. 

Presenter: Wayne Larsen 

This illustrated lecture follows the maverick Group of Seven and Beaver Hall artist on his lifelong quest to paint the various regions of Canada, battling harsh weather and hostile critics along the way. We will examine Jackson’s landscapes and working techniques through colourful anecdotes from his prolific career as both artist and champion of modern Canadian art. 

Presenter: Paul Kuai-Yu Leong  

This lecture focuses on George Takei's life voyage: as a kid growing up in a U.S. internment camp, as a star in the popular Star Trek television series, and as an activist for DEI (Diversity; Equity; Inclusion). At 80+ years 'young', George continues 'To Live Long and Prosper'. 
For more information, please click here.  

Presenter: Alana Gowdy

Soon after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, a remarkable work of art was created. The Bayeux Tapestry is an outstanding piece of embroidery that is 20 inches high and over 200 feet long. It tells the story of events leading up to the battle and then shows the battle itself. This world-renowned piece of needlework will be discussed in its historical context. 

Presenter: Sharon Harris

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1654) was a trailblazing Italian Baroque painter whose genius defied the limits placed on women of her time. Though celebrated today, her talent was long overshadowed by scandal—she was at the center of history’s first documented rape trial. But Artemisia refused to be defined by tragedy. Through her bold, dramatic paintings, she turned pain into power and revenge into art and cemented her legacy as both a master artist and a 17th-century feminist icon. 

Presenter: Doug Woolidge 

After looking at a map of China and the learning about regional dialects, we will focus on the sounds of Mandarin, and the way that Chinese characters are written and classified. Finally, we will look at aspects of Chinese language that might interest those with a casual interest as well as people who are considering learning Chinese. 

Presenter: Ron Krystynak 

Ensuring that everyone on our planet has enough to eat has become a major global challenge. The World Health Organization reports that one in 11 people faced hunger in 2023, while 2.33 billion faced moderate to severe food insecurity. Climate warming is a major contributing factor, especially in poorer countries. There are measures that can be taken to address the issue, but they will require developed countries to contribute more resources. Ron will lay out the problem along with steps that could be taken to address it.  

Presenter: Doug Woolidge

Participants will examine a selected text from Sunzi’s classic, and in that process, learn about how Chinese characters are written, and how classical Chinese grammar functions, while gaining an appreciation of this ancient text.     

Presenter: Chris Dowrick

While acknowledging Auguste Rodin’s abusive relationships with women, Chris Dowrick, a distinguished British academic and clinician specializing in primary mental health, is an admirer of the sculptor’s ability to portray intense emotional states in physical form. The talk will focus on Rodin’s most famous works: The Burghers of Calais, with its stoicism in the face of despair; The Gates of Hell, with its turmoil and chaos, and his many sculptures of the human hand, which the artist felt were as expressive as faces. 

Presenters: François Labonté & Paul Doucet 

National security refers to the protection of stability and well-being for a nation or continent, or group of nations from various threats, e.g., military, economic, social, environmental. These threats can significantly impact the quality of life and choices available to governments and people. This is an intergenerational panel discussion with a mix of McGill students and MCLL members participating. The two-hour session would include five presentations, approximately 10 minutes each by five panelists, followed by a 45-minute Q&A. 

Presenter:  Wolfgang Schneider

It is often assumed that hunter-gatherers ate mostly meat, nuts, fruits and a few root vegetables, and didn’t eat much starch. However, well before the advent of agriculture, humans in the Middle East were busy grinding grains to make porridge and bread, and to brew beer, probably for use in feasts. Intriguingly, Homo sapiens have developed genetic adaptations to a starch-rich diet. These findings change our view of the role of carbohydrates in human evolution and history. 

Presenter: Harald von Cramon

In 1917, a major collection of art from the 14th through 16th century (including Botticelli, Bosch, Holbein et al) was auctioned off in Berlin. As a grandson of German jurist Richard, I have always wondered where these treasures might be found today. With the help of the computer, I have been able to trace about half of the 164 paintings in the auction catalog, and I now know what they really looked like in full colour. Let me share them with you.  

Presenter: Barry Lane 

In 1853 Caroline Schermerhorn, a member of a New York aristocratic family of Dutch origin, married the grandson of John Jacob Astor, America’s first millionaire, cementing the relationship between old and new money. Caroline went on to define the city’s social elite with the 400 invitations she issued for her annual ball. Nouveau riche families like the Vanderbilts were initially left out, but ultimately pushed their way in. Come hear the fascinating story of how ancestry, wealth, class, culture and ambition combined to decide who was who in America’s Gilded Age!  

Presenter: Robert Wilkins

This presentation will cover some of the city's more momentous fires - from the Longue Pointe Asylum Fire of 1890 in which approximately 100 people perished, to the destructive blaze that engulfed the High School of Montreal later that same year, to mention just two. Later in the session, if time permits, I will share with participants the story of one of the most unusual and controversial deaths ever to take place in Montreal, and the authorities’ botched attempt at explaining it. 

Presenter: Paul Kuai-Yu Leong

Before the Nazi occupation of France and Norway in 1940, Frederic Joliot-Curie (1935 Nobel Chemistry Laureate & son-in-law of Madam Curie) warned of the peril of Norwegian heavy water falling into Nazi hands. Subsequently, efforts were made to limit German access to heavy water for its atomic plan. This lecture focuses on those efforts to sabotage. For more information, click here or google The Battle for Heavy Water. 

Presenter: Iryna Malynovska

This lecture is devoted to the evolution of views on language from ancient times to the present day. Particular attention is paid to linguistics of the 20th-21st centuries: the emergence of new areas of linguistic studies and interdisciplinary connections, the identification of new subjects of research, and the development of new methods. Prospects for further research are outlined: how linguistics can contribute to society.  

Presenter: Allen Chubb

With 2025 marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of the British Romantic artist J.M.W. Turner, Chubb will take us through Turner’s life and work, starting with his birth and humble childhood in a crime-ridden red-light district, before being accepted as a student at the Royal Academy of Arts. A workaholic who drew and painted thousands of landscapes in Britain and later in Europe, Turner is regarded by many art historians as the founder of Impressionism, even though he died 23 years before the first Impressionist exhibition in Paris.  

Presenter: Raymond Stern

There were significant differences between Ancient Greek and Roman architecture - not simply with the built form but driven by the contrasting cultures which became expressed in stone. Whereas the Ancient Greeks sought sublimity in design, the Ancient Romans strove for an expression of power. Each had three basic design concepts, which explain their priorities. Theirs were fundamentally different patterns of life and architecture. This period greatly affected all walks of life, particularly the path taken by architecture, and still affects us today in many ways. This lecture will have a dynamic image-driven format. 

Presenter: Lewis Cattarini

It was exactly 500 years ago that Martin Luther printed what many claim as his theological magnum opus: The Bondage of the Will. The lecturer will attempt to assess Luther's achievement in his dispute with Erasmus and against the perspective of humanism. 

Presenter: Jean-Pierre Raymond

Colonel R.H. Bruyère, Royal Engineer, born in Montreal in 1765, was chief engineer of Upper and Lower Canada. I will re-enact the Flanders battle in which he fought François-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry, the chief engineer of the French Republican Army, with his brother Alexandre-André-Victor. He fought alongside the other two brothers who remained faithful to the king and fought in the Austrian and the Russian Armies. For this re-enactment I will wear a Royal Engineer uniform of 1812. I was at the commemorations of the New-Orleans battle of 1815 and served as aide de camp of the ambassador for the UK in the USA. 

Presenter: Anthony Frayne 

The word constitution has been defined as “the supreme law of the land” and “a set of fundamental rules that determine how a country or state is run”. This lecture is based on a participant presentation study group held previously in the spring term. Over 10 countries were selected for comparative analysis. Are they closer to the British Parliamentary model or to the American separation of powers? Audience participation in discussion will be encouraged.  

Presenter: Nancy Posel

Changes in healthcare delivery call for shared and proactive patient and family involvement, particularly for post-discharge and chronic conditions. Clinicians must be aware that difficulties can arise when knowledge gaps are overlooked. These in turn can result in suboptimal outcomes. Solutions to ensure better understanding, support and clear communication are available when this need is recognized and addressed. These issues will be explored in this lecture.  

Presenters: Dale Bonnycastle & Debra Fisher 

Hearing loss affects at least 30 per cent of persons over the age of 60. It is invisible and insidious, but its impacts are serious. This talk will focus on the basics of hearing loss, and why it is so important to treat hearing loss in a timely manner. We will provide practical information about services and technology, and constructive communication tips. 

Presenter: Suzie Bogos

En français avec participation dans les deux langues officielles

Honni soit qui mal y pense. Pourquoi cette devise est-elle inscrite sur le château de Windsor? Challenge, mushroom, bowl, sont-ils d’origine française ou anglaise? Explorons l’incroyable histoire d’amour entre le français et l’anglais et les 1001 mots venus de l'arabe comme magasin, sofa, hasard, jupe et chimie. Découvrons le fabuleux voyage des mots et la ressemblance entre la langue du roy de France et le québécois: on va en placoter!  

Presenter: Gordon Burr

This presentation will cover the history of the McGill Observatory. It will feature the online  Data Rescue: Archives and Weather (DRAW) project, which rescues data hidden in the analogue registers for climate scientists and its journey to become a participatory archive for individuals. The presenter teaches in McGill’s School of Information Studies, where he regularly uses DRAW as an example of a participatory archive. DRAW website.

Presenter: Thomas Conway

Learn how to better manage your finances and make your money stretch for you in your retirement. The presenter is a retired Chartered Accountant and Certified Financial Planner. The objectives for participants are to understand why it is so important to manage finances in retirement, to learn the art of budgeting, to understand how to stretch your retirement resources, and to learn about the different stages of retirement. 

Presenter: Prithu Mukhopadhyay

Not only do diet and nutrition play key roles in our body functions, but they also have significant effects on our mood and mental well-being. We tend to focus on food tastes and search for superfoods. Here’s the thing: It is the digestive system that matters most. Without digestion, ingested food becomes waste, called stool. Can food improve our brain health? How does food relate to our mental well-being?

Presenter: Frank Nicholson

Midway through the Easter Mass on April 26, 1478, in Florence’s grand cathedral, the Duomo, assassins supported by the Pope struck at the heart of the Medici regime. Come hear the full story of the event known to history as the Pazzi Conspiracy — its roots in family rivalries and papal politics, the savage attack on Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici and the brutal aftermath that shook Renaissance Italy. 

Presenter: Brian Webber

Joseph-Elzéar Bernier, perhaps Quebec's greatest sea captain, was Canada’s champion during the heyday of polar exploration in the early 1900s. Stephen Harper, speaking in 2008, said that Bernier's 1908–09 mission to Melville Island was “as important to our national destiny in the North as the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway was in the West.” Bernier, raised in L'Islet-sur-Mer, was nurtured by a long tradition of shipping and shipbuilding on the Saint-Lawrence River. Aided by photos, old and new, I will elaborate on the man, his achievements, the milieu from whence he came, and his legacy. 

Presenters: François Labonté & Paul Doucet 

The global state of democracy, as assessed by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) indicates that “while democracy faces challenges globally, it continues to be a valued system for citizens worldwide.” This is an intergenerational panel discussion with a mix of McGill students and MCLL members participating. The two-hour session would include five presentations, approximately 10 minutes each by five panelists, followed by a 45-minute Q&A.