YCLML 001 - MCLL Lectures

Presenter:   Manon Wascher

 
In this workshop we will take time to journal together. Whether this is your first time or you are a seasoned journaler, this workshop will stimulate your senses. Journaling is private writing about ourselves, our lives and our world. This age-old tool, recommended by professionals from various fields, serves to understand, question, celebrate, lament and observe — the mundane to the miraculous of our day-to-day existence. A workbook is provided; simply bring a pen and get ready to write.  

Presenter:  Paulette Breau

This presentation explores the history and impact of women in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It begins with matrons and jailers in the Klondike era, moves through pioneers such as forensic pathologist Dr. Frances McGill and the groundbreaking female troop of 1974, and covers milestones including the appointment of women commissioners, service with the United Nations and the changes brought about by the Merlo-Davidson lawsuit on gender-based discrimination.  
  

Presenter: Afef Salem

Let’s explore art and the artistry that may be within us all. Undiscovered perhaps, or undeveloped, this lecture will both introduce you to your own artistic abilities and show you the powerful synergy that exists between art and music. Inspired by the works of Paul Klee, we will come to see that connection. You will create your very own work of art in our ‘hands on’ exercise and awaken, perhaps, the artist within you.  
  

Presenter: Alana Gowdy

Shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, a 220-foot-long embroidery was made to commemorate the successful invasion by William the Conqueror. Although made in England, the Tapestry was soon taken to Bayeux in Normandy, where it survived centuries of threats.  Finally, in September 2026, the Bayeux Tapestry was loaned to the British Museum, returning to England for the first time. A world treasure is on the move!  
  

Presenter: Abdul Majeed

Most people think projects succeed because of planning, timelines, and technical tools. In reality, the human element is often the deciding factor. This interactive session explores how communication, leadership, trust, adaptability, and emotional intelligence influence the success or failure of projects in professional, community, and everyday life settings. Aided by real-life examples, participants will discuss and reflect on the people dynamics behind successful collaboration and meaningful outcomes.  

Presenter: Marna Murray

Lise Meitner (1878–1968), an Austrian-born nuclear physicist who later worked in Sweden, played an essential role in the discovery of nuclear fission. Her long partnership with Otto Hahn and collaboration with her nephew Otto Robert Frisch helped her understand the splitting of the atom. Nuclear fission led to nuclear power and the atomic bomb. Meitner was invited to participate in the Manhattan Project; however, she declined, saying, “I will have nothing to do with a bomb.” Related video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/89AZmxrZs0M

Presenter: Dottie Daly

Bring your family history to life in this dynamic genealogy lecture. Define clear goals, take confident first steps and choose the platform that fits your needs. Discover how DNA testing can advance your research, navigate privacy considerations, explore family tree software and apply smart strategies to make your journey more effective and rewarding.  

Presenters: Romano DeSantis & Giovanna DeSantis

This lecture reflects on a personal creative journey that began about eighteen months ago, when one of the presenters, having never imagined writing poetry, started composing English sonnets. Through selected examples, the talk explores what these sonnets are about, why they came into being and why writing them has become a source of joy and positive addiction. It also highlights the cognitive, emotional and social benefits of this creative practice, including the constructive use of modern tools.  

Presenter: Lingheng (Jessica) He

This lecture aims to introduce the gender and marriage culture of historical China to a Western audience and to address some stereotypes arising from the cultural gap. Though constructed on a so-called “patriarchal” framework, traditional Chinese marriage institutions operated in a resilient way, leaving space for individuals to exert agency, and continued to shape marital life and relationships in modern China.  

Presenters: Anthony Frayne & Helène Robillard Frayne

Although we have visited Morocco three times before, my wife and I still love to return, often seeing it from a different angle. It makes an ideal destination: exotic, spectacular scenery, great food, an excellent climate and welcoming people. Please come and discover this wonderful country with us.

Presenters: Paulette Breau

The Klondike Gold Rush of 1896–1899 was one of the most dramatic episodes in North American history. Beginning with the discovery of gold on Bonanza Creek, it drew an estimated 100,000 prospectors northward, braving treacherous trails, brutal winters and staggering hardships. While only a fraction struck it rich, the event transformed the Yukon, turning Dawson City into a bustling frontier town and bringing in violent conflict, RCMP law enforcement and commercial development.

Presenter: Afef Salem

We will explore hue, tint, tone and shade — and look for their manifestations in nature on a slow, mindful walk through Parc Angrignon. Bring your camera or smartphone if you would like to keep a record of your hunt!

Presenter: Tim Ewbank 

Until the advent of portable cameras in the 1850s, Africa was known only through explorers’ travelogues, engravings of paintings, fanciful fiction and legend. Photography offered a way to dramatically change that. The talk will examine who the early photographers were, what they did and did not photograph, how they publicized their work and what impact it had on the Victorian image of Africa. The backdrop is the expansion of the British Empire, with examples drawn mainly from southern Africa.  

Presenters: Dale Bonnycastle & Debra Fisher

Hearing loss affects at least one in three adults over 60, yet it remains widely misunderstood and frequently unaddressed. This presentation explores the nature of hearing loss, its impact on daily communication and social engagement, and why early recognition matters. Attendees will also learn about available support services, current hearing technology and practical strategies to improve communication — for themselves and those around them.

Presenters: Mitch Allen

Many ancient fakes have been uncovered over the years, from the Shroud of Turin, Jesus’s alleged burial cloth, to the Piltdown Man, the “missing link” between apes and humans. Dr. Allen, a retired archaeologist, will answer such questions as: Is acquiring money the only motive for faking? How long has the practice been going on? Can faking fool the experts? How are fakes spotted? What happens if a museum discovers one in its collection? A series of cases — some not widely known — will be covered.  

Presenters: Alison Burch

In our world of inflationary media, we face insidious threats of disinformation and “alternative facts.” Cervantes was there 400 years ahead. When the printing press led to media saturation — propaganda as well as mass-produced fiction — in Spain’s Golden Age, he exposed techniques for manipulating a narrative and the risks of acting on unverified information. If you thought Don Quixote mainly tackled windmills, come explore passages in which the humour, foresight and psychological reach of this first modern novel shine!

Presenter: Nancy Boudreau

Color influences our perception because the brain uses colors to interpret space, mood, temperature, depth, and meaning. Different colors can change how we emotionally and physically experience an environment. Our reactions to color are shaped by both biology and culture.  For example, blue is often associated with trust and stability in many western cultures, which is why many companies use it in logos and user interface. So, color does more than decorate our surroundings — it actively shapes emotion, behavior, focus, and spatial awareness. Come and discover how colors can change the perception of your surroundings.

Presenter: Frank Nicholson

This talk explores the discrimination, disenfranchisement, segregation and violent repression of African Americans in the U.S. South from the end of Reconstruction in 1877 until the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Frank describes how state laws and social customs enforced strict separation of Whites and Blacks in transportation, schools, housing, libraries, theatres and washrooms. He explores the thinking behind the system, the impact on African Americans and the struggle that finally brought the era to an end.