PROBUS Club [of] Alliston
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Kelly Campbell
“The World War One Voyage of Albert Dunn”
Kelly Campbell graduated from Queen’s University with an economics undergraduate degree and an MBA in finance. His first journey to Flanders and Ypres, in 1986, to follow the path of his grandfather and granduncles in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), began a lifelong exploration of the war and its effects on his family, his country and the world. Kelly is a member of COBFWFA (Central Ontario Branch Western Front Association) in Canada, and a member of the Last Post Association in Ypres, Flanders, and partakes in the ceremonial activities under the Menin Gate. Currently, Kelly attends annually the November 10th Canada Day in Passchendaele.
The April 14, 2026 presentation, The World War One Voyage of Albert Dunn covers, specifically, the story of Albert Dunn in the 15th Battalion, CEF, who survived the war and particularly, the first mass gas attack perpetrated against the Allied forces in April, 1915. This story is supported by Albert’s diary.
March 10, 2026
Annemarie Hagan
“The Unexpected Life of Mayor “Hurricane Hazel” McCallion”
A life-long history nerd, Annemarie has a B.A. in History and Women’s Studies from University of Toronto and an M.A. in Public History from University of Waterloo.
She was an award-winning curator and museum professional for over thirty years. From 1998 to 2014 Annemarie was the Manager of the Museums of Mississauga and, more recently, she was Senior Curator, History at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum, and Archives in Brampton. ​
Now retired, Annemarie is loving her “side-gig” of researching untold stories and sharing them with community groups.
She is currently the Historian for the Centre Wellington Probus Club and a volunteer at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. As well, with her siblings, Annemarie helps to care for the legacy of her father, artist Frederick Hagan.
Annemarie enjoys a gentle life in beautiful and historic Fergus with her two rescue cats, Dido and Simone.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Brenda Pufek & Tina de los Santos
“Creating a Positive Environment in our Community”
Brenda Pufek
Manager of Community Engagement & Development
Brenda joined the team at CONTACT Community Services in June 2022 as the Engagement & Development Officer. For over 20 years, Brenda has worked in the non-profit sector in South Simcoe, specializing in community engagement, fundraising, and event planning. As Director of Operations at The Gibson Centre and Manager of Fundraising at Matthews House Hospice, Brenda has had the opportunity to create wonderful relationships with local businesses, media and government. Throughout her career, Brenda has created and executed many unique and effective fundraisers, bringing together community members, donors, and volunteers in support of valuable local causes.
Tina de los Santos
Executive Director
A dynamic nonprofit leader with twenty years of experience, Tina brings a wealth of expertise in strategy, program development and organizational leadership to CONTACT. Her career has spanned local and international initiatives, with a strong focus on community impact, youth engagement, and nonprofit capacity building.
Most recently, Tina served as lead consultant with LURE Communications, where she worked with nonprofits across Ontario to strengthen organizational capacity, diversify funding streams and enhance service accessibility. She has successfully led teams of more than fifty staff, built cross-sector partnerships and implemented innovative programs that address both local and systemic challenges.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Eve Smeltzer
“Do Animals Have Empathy?”
Eve Smeltzer is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Toronto who studies primate social behaviours—cooperation, dominance, and competition. Her current research explores how primate groups negotiate where and when to move through leadership and voting behaviour. Her doctoral research on group movements has piqued her interest in the importance of sleeping sites as a collective group decision.
November 11, 2025
Frank Cerisano, CEO, Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation
“Because of You Campaign”
Frank will provide information about the hospital expansion and the future facilities. Also current fundraising.
October 14, 2025
Allyn Willard, Vice-President Probus Club, Alliston
“New Zealand and Cook Islands”
After retiring from IBM Canada and Celestica Canada, Allyn
moved to Briar Hill in Alliston in 2003. Never liking to be idle, he immediately started volunteer works in the area including holdingvarious positions on the Briar Hill Community Centre (BHCC) Board of Directors as well as within his Condominium Phase. He has also held key positions in the Men’s Golf League and assisted with golf and BHCC social functions. He has taken on the tasks of Reporter Editor, A/V technical support and Vice-President with PROBUS. He is always willing to share his knowledge and expertise in computers and BHCC audio/visual equipment with any neighbours in need.
He also creates and presents Travelogue videos at the BHCC.
September 9, 2025
Tanya Shields, Lifestyle Moves Inc.
Certified Transition & Relocation Specialist
“Downsizing & Is It Time to Move?”
Tanya will provide us with great tips on how to get started, questions to ask yourself and what to do with “all that stuff”.
July 8, 2025
Kathy Macfarlane
“Journey to the Floe Edge”
Photography has been my passion for over 30 years. Over the years I have taken many courses to learn the
fundamentals of exposure and composition and I use that
knowledge to shoot many subjects. I recently started to
teach photography at the South Simcoe Arts Council. I am
always up for the challenge of capturing the unscripted
story of people and nature. I like to explore this amazing
world we live in and use my photos to capture stories of
what I see.
June 10, 2025
Michelle Redgwell
“Hearing Health”
Did you know ignoring hearing loss can have far-reaching repercussions? Untreated hearing loss has been shown, through world-wide research, to increase your risks of developing concerning health issues, including dementia and depression. It’s also known to contribute to the risk of a serious fall putting you in hospital—and 1/3 of older adults who go to hospital because of a fall don’t go home. They go to long-term care.
And if that’s not enough, research is now showing the profound impact of ignored hearing loss on relationships. There are some startling statistics. Learn the signs of hearing loss and the risks of leaving it untreated in this amusing, informative presentation.
Michelle Redgwell has been in the hearing industry for over
35 years. During that time, she’s worked in manufacturing of
hearing aids and customer service in both manufacturing and
hearing clinics. Michelle has a very personal view of hearing
loss as she has hearing loss herself from years in the Drum
Corp during high school.
Michelle is incredibly passionate about helping people hear
well and educating them on how to maintain hearing health
and deal with hearing loss.
May 13, 2025
Taivi Tayler
“Estate Planning for Seniors”
As an elite professional, Taivi (pronounced Tie-V) has over 20 years of financial services experience and is recognized for her knowledge and skill in tax-efficient, wealth creation and inheritance preservation strategies.
Savvy at explaining the complex, discerning risk and identifying smart investments, Taivi's role is to educate and guide you so you understand your complete financial picture.
No matter what stage of life you're in, Taivi and her team will create a sophisticated and customized goal-based plan that works for you, your family and your future.
April 8, 2025
David T. Chapman
“Wild, Weird & Wacky Weather”
David T. Chapman is self-taught in both storm chasing and the art of photography. He enjoys taking photographs and videos of weather phenomena, especially lightening, as well as scenery and nature. David likes to seek out unusual examples of nature such as albino robins, ice crystal formations and frozen water droplets. His main areas of expertise are Weather/Aurora Borealis, Local Interests and Scenery of Ontario, Birds and Wildlife.
March 11, 2025
Candace Gordon
“S.H.I.F.T. A Community Working Together”
Candace is a lifelong resident of Simcoe County. Over the years, her work in the non-profit sector has given her a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and the profound effects poverty can have on housing stability.
Candace oversees the promotion of S.H.I.F.T.'s mission, coordinates fundraising initiatives, and fosters meaningful relationships with individual and corporate donors.
Candace believes that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the power to make a difference, and she invites community members to connect, share stories, and build lasting relationships that strengthen the community.
February 11, 2025
Eugene McEleney
“A Life in Television”
Eugene spent 41 years in the Television industry and gave us a fascinating look through many facets of the television industry.
January 14, 2025
Megan Rochford & Maria Borczyk
Matthew’s House
”Navigating the Health Care System”
How to best manage and advocate for the best healthcare outcomes possible.
Megan Rochford is a Registered Social Worker and is the Hospice Care Coordinator for Matthews House Hospice in Alliston. Megan meets clients who are living with a life limiting illness to help them navigate this journey so as to live life fully.
Maria Borczyk is an Occupational Therapist who works at Matthews House Hospice as a Manager of Community Hospice programs and as an OT.
November 12, 2024
Ted Barris
“Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in Their Finest Hour”
Ted Barris has assembled unknown stories of Canadian airmen, ground crew, as well as engineers, aeronautical designers, medical officers and civilians, who answered the call and turned back the very real threat of Nazi invasion. You know the outcome of the Battle of Britain, but now you’ll meet the Canadians who helped secure victory in the first last-stand of WWII.
October 8, 2024
Lisa Taylor
“Gut Health for Aging Gracefully”
Lisa is an Integrative Nutrition and Gut Health Coach and living proof of the power of optimizing gut health. In 2016, she lost 90% of her hair to an autoimmune driven, alopecia areata flare. Lisa's self-healing journey inspires her mission as a health coach: to empower those experiencing chronic inflammatory symptoms and/or disease, to reclaim their health.
September 10, 2024
Leah & Sara den Bok
Leah has compiled her work into a book series called "Nowhere to Call Home - Photographs and Stories of People Experiencing Homelessness". She donates 100% of her profits to local homeless shelters.
Sara authored a booklet titled "Saved by Mother Teresa". Her life
stands as a testament to the transformative power of love and kindness.
July 9, 2024
Tom Herstad
​
“Towards a Kinder, More Compassionate and Empathetic World”
Marketing expert, entrepreneur, lighting designer & Author of 2nd Line West
Marketing expert, entrepreneur, lighting designer & Author of: 2nd Line West
Born and bred in Toronto, Canada, Tom has been an avid hockey player, coach, passionate outdoor adventurer, cooking over campfires and enjoying the Thirty Thousand Islands of Georgian Bay.
Throughout the last 25 years, Tom has had a profound impact on the people he has dealt with in business and in his personal life.
2nd Line West is about a Lady who has “A Message For Us All”. It is also stories of what he has learned over his 5 decades. He would like to see more people look deeper into their own lives and see what they can do to experience more happiness and fulfillment.
June 11,2024
Malcolm Kelly, Journalist
Women in Air Force Blue
A professional journalist for 37 years and founder of the Sports Journalism Program at Centennial College in Toronto, Malcolm’s main interest in his study of military history lies in the human stories of those in combat.
May 14 Ryan Uytdewilligen
Comedy Canadian Style
​
Ryan will define Canada’s specific sense of humour, highlight its contribution to humour around the world, and watch clips from celebrated comedians and entertainers like Dan Akyroyd, Rich Little, Leslie Neilson and Rich Mercer.
April 9 - Power of the Pen Handwriting Analysis -
Elaine Charal
Come prepared to laugh and learn during Elaine's "Power of the Pen" while you discover how to communicate even more effectively with family and friends through knowing what the strokes of handwriting mean. Everyone will learn about their strengths as reflected in the 'paper mirror' of their handwriting. Elaine will be e-mailing Handwriting Profiles to the Participants who fill out the Handwriting Form! [See email from PROBUS].
March 12 - Luck of the Irish
- Lianne Harris
Lianne will bring history to life presenting The Luck of the Irish in period dress. She was a former Social Studies Resource Specialist Consultant with the Toronto District School Board and curriculum advisor for Upper Canada College.
Feb 13 - Information Protection and Privatization
- Steve Chappelle
Steve has been providing security education since 2006 after spending 20 years in information technology management, analysis and customer service primarily in the financial services sector.
Steve will emphasize minimizing unnecessary visibility of your personal information including:
Account and Device Settings, Browser, Records of Activity, Encryption.
Jan 9 - Brain Health and Aging - Maryse Raymond
Maryse Raymond is Education Coordinator at the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County.
The Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County is dedicated to providing help for people living with dementia, and their care partners. They offer programs and services in communities right across Simcoe County. Learn more about healthy aging.
www.alzheimer.ca/simcoecounty.
