YCLML 001 - MCLL Lectures

Organizer:  Alain Lessard

If you want to improve your conversation skills in French, MCLL will assign you a partner from a French-language community organization for seniors who want to improve their English. The two partners will arrange between themselves when and how they will meet (in person or otherwise) for one hour of conversation per week, alternating between French and English. Many participants enjoy this activity because, in addition to practicing a second language, they find it interesting to converse with people from a different background.  

Presenters: Howard King and Marie Gravelle 

This is non-threatening. You will learn different techniques on how to avoid situations and if unavoidable, how to produce a positive outcome. You will have a live demo on some fun techniques. Please be prepared to learn, enjoy and laugh. 

Presenter: Harald von Cramon

The first simple mosaics go back some 5000 years. During Roman times mosaics were a status symbol in every larger villa. Mosaic art reached apogees in Ravenna between the 5th and 7th centuries and in Sicily in the 12th century.  

Presenter: Claude Rivard

Since 2015, the number of patients requesting medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada has grown by approximately 40% a year and now represents, at 7%, the largest cause of death in Quebec. Dr. Claude Rivard, a MAiD provider and advocate, will provide an update on the recent changes in federal and provincial law and discuss how these may affect the evaluation and provision of MAiD care to patients requesting it in future.

Presenter: John Felvinci

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) was born in Germany and emigrated to the US after 1933. She was a prolific writer of political philosophy and became very influential through a few of her books: The Origins of Totalitarianism, Eichmann in Jerusalem, The Human Condition, On Revolution and her unfinished last book The Life of the Mind. In this lecture we will briefly review her fascinating life and her important ideas. 

Presenter: Dylan White

Technologies powered by artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science increasingly influence significant aspects of our lives. We will discuss six of the main ethical issues that arise as a result of rapid advances in AI: privacy, responsibility, opacity, bias, equity, and sustainability (known as the PROBES model). Dylan White teaches this subject at the University of Guelph. 

Presenter: Thérèse Bouchez 

Forty years ago, UNESCO recognized the three 18th century squares in Nancy as World Heritage: “the oldest and most typical example of a modern capital where an enlightened monarch [Stanislas Leszczynski] proved to be sensitive to the needs of the public. Built between 1752 and 1756 by a brilliant team led by the architect Héré, this was a carefully conceived project that succeeded in creating a capital that not only enhanced the sovereign's prestige but was also functional.” Let us stroll by Stanislas’s achievements in Nancy!  

Presenter: Tim Ewbank

Cecil Rhodes was truly extraordinary. Born into modest circumstances in England, he became one of the richest men on the planet, the Prime Minister of the Cape Province (South Africa) and had a country named after him. All this before his early death aged just 49, leaving a controversial legacy. My talk will outline the key moments of his life, with particular emphasis on the founding of Rhodesia, a country with which I have a direct personal connection.  

Presenter: Paul Kuai-Yu Leong 

As consul general in Vienna in 1938, HO Feng-Shan saved perhaps tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust by issuing them visas to Shanghai. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded Yad Vashem's Righteous Among the Nations title in 2000. Let's remember HO Feng-Shan in this International Holocaust Remembrance Day (2024.1.27) 

Presenter: Tania Chomyk

Self-awareness - the meta skill of the 21st century. How well do you know yourself? How well do you think others see you? Self-awareness isn't one truth- it's a delicate balance of two distinct, even competing viewpoints. Knowing who we are and how others see us is the foundation for strong leadership, smart choices and lasting relationships. Despite the critical role self-awareness plays in our success and happiness, it is a remarkably rare quality. Our use-of-self is in constant play in many situations both in our personal and professional lives. How we show up matters as every action or decision we make can have an impact on others. Make the leap from self-blindness to self-insight and in turn, gain the rewards of making better decisions, building strong relationships and a better life for yourself. It all starts with you. 

Presenter: Sharon Harris

After WWI, there was a building frenzy in New York City with fierce competition to create the world’s tallest buildings there. This presentation will describe the intense race between two noted architects to construct buildings at unprecedented heights and Walter P. Chrysler’s deep financial support of, and commitment to, the iconic structure that bears his name which was briefly the world’s tallest building.  

Presenter: Paul Kuai-Yu Leong

Baron Elie de Rothschild called Pamela a 'European Geisha'...But she was more than a great courtesan... The morning after her death, French President Jacques Chirac placed the Grand Cross of the Legion d’honneur on Pamela's coffin, and the U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke glowingly of Pamela's public service at her quasi-state funeral in Washington DC... Come to discuss Pamela Harriman's amazing story. 

Presenter: Susan van Gelder

We know that as far back as the 1500s, there was a black composer of classical music. Come on a musical adventure as we hear about black composers, many of whose music was silenced by a world that celebrated white men. Listen to their music and you be the judge. Should these names be known?  

Presenter: John Felvinci

In this lecture we will look at Russian and Ukrainian history and try to find in them the origins of this war. Tensions between the two countries existed for centuries and while the Russians always considered Ukraine as their own, the Ukrainians always tried to separate themselves from Russia. Western interference after the collapse of the Soviet Union added to the basic problem. 

Presenter: Richard Flanagan

This is an account of a 20-year genealogical treasure hunt to find the origins of a man with no known history: Eduard Bauch. When he died in 1974 his original family name and year and country of birth were completely unknown. In 2012, his birth record was finally found in the state archive in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, and a family of lost relatives as far away as Kazakhstan uncovered. This is a journey through 500 years of history and the story of the Volhynian Germans, whose pathway to freedom often passed through the Gulag.  

Presenter: Ruth Allan Rigby

This lecture is a detective story from Tudor times. Current research found that both Queen Catherine and Anne Boleyn had the same printed Book of Hours (scriptural prayerbook). Furthermore, a third copy was found to exist at Cambridge. How has this most exciting Cromwell discovery in a generation been in plain sight for over 500 years? The lecture will explore the theme of the Book of Hours, the research undertaken for provenance and supporting evidence. 

Presenter: Richard Flanagan

This is the final installment in the continuing search for Eduard Bauch’s family. The hunger for affordable land was the driving force behind the family’s perpetual movements: from the Spanish Netherlands in the 16th century, to Northern Poland in the 17th century, to Poznan in Congress Poland in the 18th century, to Volhynia (on the border between Poland and Russia) in the 19th century, and finally to Northern Manitoba in the early 20th century. We will also describe the family remaining in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.  

Presenter: Barry Lane

Three years into WW2, German U-Boats penetrated the St. Lawrence Gulf and River, sinking two dozen Allied ships and taking hundreds of lives. Based on ship logs and interviews with surviving commanders, Barry Lane’s illustrated lecture tells the story of the first naval battles waged on Canada’s inland waters since the War of 1812. Barry will also tell us about the astonishing breakout by captured German sub captains from a POW camp in Ontario.   

This travel tour is brought to you by the Cummings Centre 

Tour Guide: Evgenia Kempinski 

Some of us may have already visited this truly magnificent museum in St. Petersburg. Some may have been hoping to do so, but may have to wait until some future, more peaceful time. So, let us allow our wonderful leader, Evgenia, guide us along its roof, to have a close look at its giant statues, and to wonder at the breathtaking view of the city; to stroll through the grand halls of the Winter Palace; enjoy the collection of Rembrandts, devoid of the crowds; and explore one of the most famous of da Vinci’s works to reveal its secret. Evgenia will help us understand how restoration changes our impression of paintings. She will inform us about the unique exhibition which took place during World War II and give us access to the unique collection of Scythian Gold and the Crown Jewels. 

Presenter: Leora Birnbaum 

This lecture will review normal language development and language learning through lifespan, with a focus on the benefits of learning a new language as an adult. 

Presenter: Lewis Cattarini

The lecturer will read excerpts from his recent book on existentialism and focus psychologically on Sartre's dangerous denial of conscience and toxic promotion of freedom. 

Presenter: Robert Paris

The lecturer will present new knowledge of the brain focused on research that concludes that the majority of us are unaware of our authentic personal stories. The lecturer will demonstrate the power of storytelling by telling his own genuine narrative and guide the group to become comfortable telling their own genuine stories. The lecturer will then relate the power of personal storytelling to self-leadership and fulfilment. 

Presenter: Susan van Gelder

The Orkney Islands, located off the northern coast of Scotland, are a treasure trove of history, myths and surprises. Let’s pass some time together by a virtual peat fire as we learn about their history going back from the stone age through the Vikings to the present Visit the sites. Listen to stories from the islands. Find out why this is a unique and magical place.  

Presenter: Suzanne Charlton

Let's listen to and explore the important movement of 19th C Romantic music, 1820 -1900! "Romanticism" was a movement of virtuoso piano, art songs, opera, and was characterized by stylistic originality and freedom of expression.  Two hundred years later, music lovers still revere and perform this music! 

Presenter: John Felvinci

This lecture will survey the most recent discoveries and newest theories of science. Decisions on what to include will be made a couple of weeks before the lecture. 

Presenter: Marna Murray

In the sixth year of honoring International Women’s Day, this lecture features Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-British architect known for radical designs. Her proposals received rejections for 17 years, but ultimately Hadid became the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Her works yield to curves rather than geometrical designs and controversy as to construction and function. Learn more about this fascinating woman. 

Presenter: Sid Rosensweig

From the late 1920s to the mid-30s, political meteor Huey Long went from state governor to U.S. senator to national phenomenon and possible 1936 presidential candidate. From 2015, political neophyte Donald Trump soared to the presidency in 16 months. The future of democracy was potentially challenged by Long until his early, untimely demise and is now being challenged by Trump. Incredibly, the words “autocracy” and “autocratic” are increasingly seen and heard with reference to the U.S.!   We will colour our American discussion with a bit of what the world has witnessed and learned from recent divergences from democracy. 

Presenter: Robert N. Wilkins

Victoria Square (formerly Haymarket Square) has, for nearly two centuries, played a pivotal role in the colourful history of our city. From the Gavazzi Riot of 1853 to the Montreal Herald Fire of 1910, this historic venue has known its share of triumphs and tragedies to transpire within its confines. It would be my pleasure to share with you just some of the quadrangle's memorable moments. 

Presenter: Nadia Alexan

How monopolies dominate, control, and consume most of the energy of our entire economic system; they function the same as cancer does in a body, and, like cancer, they weaken our systems while threatening to crash the entire body economic. Remember the 2008 stock market crash, as well as the 1929 disaster? Monopolies also seize massive political power to keep the status quo. They need to be regulated.