PROBUS Club of Alliston

April 11, 2023 - Adam Chapnick - Canadian Multiculturalism in the 21st Century: Challenges and Oppoertunities

Dr. Adam Chapnick is the Professor of Defence studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). He also serves the Deputy Director of Education at the Canadian Forces College. He teaches courses in Canadian government, strategic decision making, critical thinking, Canadian International Policy, and is also an author.

March 14 - Ellin Bessner - The untold story of how Canada's wartime Jewish community helped win the Second World War.

Ellin Bessner is a Canadian journalist based in Toronto. She is the author of a new book about Canada’s Jewish servicemen and women who fought in the Second World War. The book is called “Double Threat: Canadian Jews, the Military, and World War II”.

February 14, 2023 - Dr. Amy Barron - Digger, Teacher, Soldier, Spy

What do archaeologists do when the world is at war?  Surprisingly, many of them turn spy.  During wartime, archaeologists on all sides have become involved with military intelligence, turning their in-depth knowledge of the land and the peoples they studied to support their countries at war.  This was no more apparent than in the Middle East where prominent archaeologists played a very political game during the First World War.  Some of these names, such as T.E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, would become legendary.  Others, when the war was over, simply went back to their museums and their excavations.

Amy Barron received her PhD at the University of Toronto in the field of Mesopotamian history and archaeology, specializing on the military history of Iron Age Assyria.  She has excavated predominantly in the Middle East but has travelled widely studying the archaeology of various remote parts of the world from Peru to China.  Amy has taught archaeology, ancient history and classics at the universities of Toronto and Guelph and presently teaches museum studies in Fleming College’s post-graduate program. She has worked in the museum world for over 30 years and loves sharing her passion for the past.

January 10, 2023 - Marg Ringland - Dying with Dignity

End-of-life issues have become a topic of increasing public interest. In this presentation, learn more about advanced care planning, your rights as a patient and the latest on one end-of-life option - Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Find out what resources are available from Dying With Dignity Canada to support you in advanced care and end-of-life planning and related to MAiD.

Prior to her retirement in 2011, Margaret Ringland spent 17 years working in the field of seniors care with the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (now called AdvantAge Ontario). Through this work and her personal experience, she has recognized the importance of advanced care planning and strengthened public policy for more choices around end-of-life. She is a MAiD independent witness and volunteer speaker with Dying With DignityCanada, a national member-based not-profit organization committed to helping people achieve quality in dying. She is a Briar Hill resident. Presentation - Questionnaire

December 13, 2022 - PROBUS Christmas Luncheon

Nottawasaga Inn Ballroom, Social, 12.00 noon, Luncheon, 1.00 pm

CASH BAR
Luncheon Tickets 50.00 per person.  Lunch includes complete turkey meal, dessert, tea, coffee,
HST and 18% gratuity.
Tickets will be on sale at our October 11th. and November 8th. Meetings
Please make cheques payable to Probus Club of Alliston

November 8, 2022 - Ted Barris - Battle of the Atlantic

Topic:  Battle of the Atlantic which focusses on the people who served – Royal Canadian Navy, Merchant Navy, Royal Canadian Airforce and civilians.

Canadian writer, journalist, professor and broadcaster. He writes a weekly column, "The Barris Beat", and is a regular contributor to The Globe & Mail and The National Post. His non-fiction works focus on Canada's military heritage. Barris has authored 17 books. 

October 11,  2022 - Ellen Roseman - How to be a smart consumer and not get ripped off

Long-time consumer advocate Ellen Roseman talks about how to get the best deals on banking, travel, telecom plans and major appliances.  She also tells you how to complain effectively when you get a bad deal from companies.