2012 Speakers

Our December monthly meeting focused on celebrating the Christmas Season. Bob Henderson led us in singing O Canada with guest musician John Butler accompanying us on the piano.  The musical time was concluded with enthusiastic singing of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Following our mid-meeting break, Art Currie led us through a Christmas Trivia contest to keep our minds sharp!...

Our November monthly meeting was focused on remembering those who served in the armed forces and especially gave their lives for our country. Gerry Taylor present a “A personal/family reminiscence from events of World War I” during which he spoke in the voice of his father who fought and was severely wounded in the front lines. His son, Gary, a...

Our next monthly meeting is on Tuesday, November 13th, a few days after Remembrance Day,  and will be focused on remembering those who gave their lives for our country. Dennis Ray will play The Last Post. Gerry Taylor will present a “A personal/family reminiscence from events of World War I”. Hugh Gayler’s presentation will be titled “Visiting the memorials, cemeteries...

At our October meeting, our speaker was Dr. Janice Giesbrecht, Director of Oncology, The Walker Cancer Centre at the St. Catharines General Hospital (pictured here). Janice took us on a visual tour of the new facility at our almost finished hospital and impressed us with the extraordinary efforts being taken to ensure the comfort of the patients and their families...

At our September meeting, our speaker was Ellis Katzof, Executive Director & CEO of the Pathstone Mental health Centre  who are the primary provider of children’s mental health treatment in Niagara.He provided very compelling insights into the stigmas associated with mental illness and impressed us with the very innovative and aggressive programs that they have launched in our community to address...

On August 14th, Isabel Dopta, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre spoke to us about the Centre and what it does.  She noted that the Centre has been run as a non-profit since 2007 and therefore relies on establishing projects with the agricultural industry. Their goal is to be a world class horticultural innovation centre...

On July 10th, Claude Tremblay, Vice Chair, Crime Stoppers of Niagara spoke to us. He was assisted by Joan Martin, their chairperson.  Crime Stoppers of Niagara started in 1985.  In 2011, they received 1,458 tips resulting in 47 arrests, 39 cleared cases and approved awards of $13,130. Property valued at $361,000 was recovered. At our next meeting on Tuesday August...

Our featured speaker was Ian Kerr-Wilson who heads the City of Hamilton’s team that manages and evolves their great system of 10 museums and historic sites.  He regaled us with the history of the sinking of two schooners, the Hamilton and the Scourge, during the War of 1812. He also told the story of the efforts of many over the...

We had another great meeting on May 8th.  The featured speaker was Gloria Kain, Chief Planning and Development Officer of the Niagara Health System.  Her presentation was titled – “Ready, Set … Move!”.  The hospital is almost complete and will open in the spring of 2013.  Completion of construction will happen in November of this year. Thanks to the very...