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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for PROBUS St. Catharines
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20201208T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20201208T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T141138Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225329Z
UID:4030-1607421600-1607425200@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Matthew Whitley (Detective Sergeant)
DESCRIPTION:Complex details in collision reconstruction unveiled \nFrank Parkhouse introduced guest speaker Detective Sergeant Matthew Whiteley\, officer in charge of the collision reconstruction unit for Niagara Regional Police. \nDetective Whitely gave an interesting talk on the science of investigations of traffic incidents. The collision reconstruction unit investigates all fatal and life-threatening injury accidents\, all departmental collisions\, and all hit-and-run incidents \nThe officers work in teams of two to investigate collisions. The investigation consists of two parts: the criminal investigation role involves interviews of witnesses and canvassing for possible video evidence; the actual collision investigation includes\, what Matthew referred to as the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ stage involving collecting evidence from the accident scene. This includes mechanical inspections of the vehicles\, observing and measuring skid marks\, gouges in pavement\, debris left behind and the position of vehicles after the collision. \nMatthew explained that the accident scene can offer tips about what happened. For instance\, he said that a lack of skid marks could point toward a possible suicide attempt. \nMatthew illustrated how all the information\, including the weight of vehicles\, can be worked into complex mathematical formulas to determine approximate speed and direction of vehicles when they collided. Matthew said that police stage and film collisions to study impacts and provide information that helps in the reconstruction of accidents. \nHe used several training videos to demonstrate what happens in a collision and how the officers use that information in their reconstruction efforts. He said when the investigating officers apply their formulas to the information they gather\, they select the lower value for potential speed of the vehicles and all their results are peer reviewed for accuracy.\nOne of the videos\, Matthew showed was a simulation of a collision with a pedestrian and\, as he pointed out\, it is unlikely that a driver could hit a pedestrian without being aware of it as\, at least in the video\, the vehicle suffered significant damage as the crash-test dummy went flying. \nDuring a question-and-answer session\, Matthew said that winter conditions with ice and snow\ncan hide some evidence and make reconstruction much more difficult. \nAl Higgins thanked Detective Sergeant Whiteley for the behind the scenes view of accident investigations while sparking the interest of the many engineers in the group with his math formulas.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/matthew-whitley-detective-sergeant/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Matthew-Whiteley-181x300-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20201110T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20201110T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T161626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211123T130319Z
UID:4038-1605002400-1605006000@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Master Corporal (Ret’d) Steve Mercer
DESCRIPTION:Veteran of Bosnian conflict continues battle with PTSD \nDuncan McLaren introduced guest speaker Master Corporal (Ret’d) Steve Mercer who joined the Canadian Forces in September of 1990. Steve joined his regiment in April of 1991 after completing basic training. He was trained as an armoured vehicle driver with B squadron of Royal Canadian Dragoons and was part of an 850-person deployment to Bosnia in October 1994. \nSteve spent seven months as part of a peacekeeping force which was\, in fact\, dropped into an active war in which they were not allowed to participate unless they came under direct fire. In Steve’s mind\, one side was as guilty as the other in the three-way conflict between Bosnians\, Serbs and Croatians. He added that reports by the observers were often altered by higher authorities to suit the political agenda. \nSteve said that serving in the military offers in-credible rewards where soldiers develop extremely close friendships and learn to share things that they wouldn’t even share with family members.\nHowever\, on the other side\, Steve said that as an untested 23-year-old he came to realize the potential danger their troops faced. He said that they were on the receiving end of enemy fire which often came from teenagers who were being directed by leaders who were often intoxicated. He pointed out that the enemy forces recognized the peacekeepers as easy targets because they knew the Canadians wouldn’t shoot back. \nWhen Steve returned to Canada\, he felt that he was returning to normal life. He married\, had a daughter\, and continued with various training courses. But his wife died from cancer at age 29 and Steve started to realize that he wasn’t coping with life as well as he should. It took a year and a half to get a diagnosis that Steve was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.\nHe retired from the military after 20 years but a second marriage ended in divorce and Steve said that he was unable to hold a job and ended up jobless and home-less. Steve said that he is still split from his family and continues trying to figure out what happened to him.\nHe said that although he has many good memories of his time in the service\, he can’t forgive himself for his own failings. \nSteve continues to receive treatment for his PTSD and asked that on Remembrance Day\, we think not just about veterans who gave their lives but also those who returned from conflicts but also made lasting sacrifices. \nSteve shared a number of photos starting with his training base in Cornwallis\, photos from the conflict in Bosnia and ending with his boat which he calls his safe place where he can get away from the outside world. \nDuncan thanked Steve for providing us with this intimate look at the sacrifices made by modern-day soldiers. \nSee Steve’s presentation on YouTube click here…
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/master-corporal-retd-steve-mercer/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Steve-Mercer-192x300-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20201008T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20201008T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T162627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225339Z
UID:4043-1602151200-1602154800@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Seniors on the Move
DESCRIPTION:Group aims to reduce work\, stress of moving for seniors \nThe owner of ‘Seniors on the Move’ joined our online meeting via telephone to talk about the services her company provides and to offer some tips for decluttering our lives. \nShe retired after spending 20 years with the Niagara Regional Police\, got the inspiration for her new career after reading an article in a Florida newspaper. She said that statistics indicate that 1\,000 Canadians turn 70 every day. And many of those people are overwhelmed by the thought of packing up and moving after many years in their home. \nShe said that she and her daughter started their business in 2012 and then soon recruited a couple friends. ‘Seniors on the Move’ is part of a national association. \nShe explained that her company is extremely careful about selecting new staff members. In addition to the usual police check\, new recruits are selected from people recommended by current staff. Move managers are trained to understand the needs of seniors. \nShe explained that her company offers a free one-hour consultation to help seniors determine what services best suit their needs as they deal with downsizing. She said the cost can range anywhere from $200 up to $5000 depending on the tasks required. She said that 75% of their business comes from client referrals. \nA full-range move could include helping the customer decide what items to keep\, disposal of unwanted items\, packing\, photographing the furniture layout\, helping determine the layout of furniture at the new home\, unpacking\, setting up furniture\, storing smaller items and cleaning up all before the owners arrive at their new home. \nShe explained that ideally\, they have an opportunity to see and measure rooms in the new home\, but\, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic\, they often have to work from floor plans. She said that they can use a magnetic board to help illustrate what will fit in the new floor space. \nShe mentioned Habit for Humanity and the Furniture Bank as possible places to recycle unwanted furniture. She added that in some cases tax receipts will be offered for donations. Her company will also help with the sale of more valuable items. \nShe said that her company can also help prepare homes for estate sales\, help with packing for people who are having renovations done and even help hoarders clean up their property. \nShe explained that there are three types of hoarders: the proud hoarder who wants no help with their situation; the embarrassed hoarder who knows their situation is not normal but may be affected by depression; the accidental hoarder who is unable to manage because or physical limitations. \nShe pointed out that hoarding presents a real risk of falls and physical injury because of cluttered pathways and stairways. \nYou can learn more\, including contact information by going to the company’s website at www.seniorsonthemove.com \nDuncan McLaren thanked her for her informative presentation and will send her a gift card as a token of the club’s appreciation.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/owner-of-seniors-on-the-move/
LOCATION:ZOOM\, St. Catharines\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Seniorson-the-move-300x297-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200908T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200908T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T170811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211123T130501Z
UID:4050-1599559200-1599562800@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Kevin Vallier (founder and editor in chief of The Niagara Independent)
DESCRIPTION:Online newspaper offers positive take on Niagara \nDuncan McLaren introduced guest speaker Kevin Vallier the founder and editor in chief of The Niagara Independent\, an online newspaper which is distributed to subscribers twice a week. \nKevin\, a native of Sarnia who graduated from Brock University in Human Relations\, spent about 20 years in public relations working with the St. Catharines Stompers baseball team\, Shaw Festival\, and the former Hotel Dieu Hospital. While doing public relations consulting\, he sensed the opportunity to develop an alternative news source in the Niagara area where there is a monopoly on all print media. \nKevin said that his goal was to offer a pro business and pro Niagara point of view and to highlight business success stories which might be overlooked by regular print media. \nHe advised that it is important for people to look to more than a single source for their news. He pointed out that all media sources have certain biases and illustrated the point by showing vastly different headlines that appeared on identical stories in two Toronto newspapers. \nKevin said that even during the current pandemic situation there are instances of businesses doing well. He added that he feels businesses need to adapt to conditions and not rely on government support if they are to prosper. \nEach issue of The Niagara Independent includes stories covering local\, provincial\, federal\, sports\, business and opinion. Kevin writes most of the local stories himself while a group of regular contributors fill out the other items. \nAfter about two and a half years of operation\, the Independent now has 12\,000 subscribers. Copies are emailed to subscribers free of charge on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The paper is also available on Facebook and on the website. Kevin said that the paper generates revenue from advertising\, donations and some Google ads. \nWith the success the online paper has enjoyed in Niagara\, Kevin is exploring expansion into the KitchenerWaterloo and London areas and perhaps even into the United States. \nDuncan McLaren thanked Kevin for providing a look into this aspect of the information age. \nSee Kevin’s presentation on YouTube click here…
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/kevin-vallier-founder-and-editor-in-chief-of-the-niagara-independent/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kevin-Vallier-177x300-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200811T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200811T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T171523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211123T130648Z
UID:4052-1597140000-1597143600@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Zachary Rondinelli\, (PhD student in Educational Studies at Brock University)
DESCRIPTION:Doctoral study exams role of comics in learning \nDan Plunkett introduced guest speaker Zachary Rondinelli\, a Niagara Falls native\, who is a PhD student in Educational Studies at Brock University. Zach’s presentation and his research involves “Documenting Transactional Experiences with the Little Nemo comic strips.” \nZach\, who earned his master’s degree at Brock but also studied at Western and spent time as an English teacher\, said that his research at Brock looks at comics theory and pedagogy which involves studying what comics can offer society. The theory describes an approach to studying comics – what they say and how they say it. Comics pedagogy describes teaching with comics\, teaching about comics\, teaching through producing comics and teaching comics production as a means of processing and learning. \nZach bases his research on a comic titled “Little Nemo in Slumberland” which was produced by Windsor McCay and was published in the New York Herald from 1905 to 1911 and in the New York American from 1924 to 1927. \nZach said that the purpose of his research is to investigate how individual meaning is constructed between a reader and a text. \nHe is in the process of tweeting a new comic strip each day for 549 days. He offers his interpretation of the strip and seeks input from followers. At the end\, all the data he receives will be compiled into his master’s document. \nZach said that he disagreed with the common teaching philosophy of trying to determine what an author meant in a given passage and that it is more important to determine what the passage relays to the reader. \nZach listed a number of expected implications of his research including supporting the use of comics in learning. \nJohn Senn thanked Zachary for providing us with an inside look at the complex study involved in a master’s research and promised that a gift certificate will be in the mail for him. \nSee Zachary’s presentation on YouTube click here…
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/zachary-rondinelli-phd-student-in-educational-studies-at-brock-university/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Zach-Roninelli-194x300-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200714T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200714T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T175559Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211031T164942Z
UID:4088-1594724400-1594728000@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Juliet Dunn\, (Singer\, Musician & Organizer)
DESCRIPTION:Dan Plunkett introduced guest speaker Juliet Dunn as an excellent singer\, musician\, organizer\, and a good friend. \nJuliet\, along with husband Peter Shea\, was the founder of the TD Niagara Jazz Festival which has experienced amazing growth during its relatively brief history but is facing new challenges now in the light of the COVID-19 epidemic. \nThe festival was honoured as best new festival in 2017 and was included among the top 100 festivals in Ontario in 2019.\nJuliet said the festival has been granted charitable status now meaning that it can issue tax receipts for donations. She revealed that various grants have remained stable through this shutdown period but sponsorship donations have dropped off dramatically. \nThe Niagara Jazz Festival\, which started out with events mainly in Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines was spreading throughout Niagara with ticketed events and many free stage performances. The festival backed educational events with a focus on young musicians with workshops geared to young people. The festival staged events at local wineries\, on the beach at Port Dalhousie and at the Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines. \nJuliet said that a study of the economic impact of the festival indicated that it generated almost $1.25 million for the region.\nJuliet and the other organizers have had to make changes on the fly in the new reality and they are working to adapt various events to COVID times. Since March they have put on 30 to 35 live stream concerts. In June and July\, they have been streaming the Niagara to New Orleans jazz con-certs to show the culture of New Orleans and to promote the Niagara Mardi Gras.\nJuliet admitted that she is not confident that we will see a return of large crowds at concerts either outdoors or inside any time soon. She said the restrictions forced by COVID-19 make for very uncertain times for musicians. \nJohn Senn thanked Juliet for her presentation and praised her ability to adapt.\nJuliet Dunn
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/juliet-dunn-singer-musician-organizer/
LOCATION:ZOOM\, St. Catharines\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Juliet-Dunn.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200714T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200714T100000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T172814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225401Z
UID:4057-1594720800-1594720800@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Ron Casselman\, (Probus Member)
DESCRIPTION:Antique waterfowl decoy collecting is big business \nJim Stangier introduced club member Ron Casselman who presented an illustrated talk about collecting handmade waterfowl decoys. \nRon\, who admitted that he was never a hunter\, said he got his first decoy back in 1977. He went on to describe some of the characteristics\, history and investment value of decoys. \nThe history of decoys goes back thousands of years. Ron said that North American natives made decoys\, they were used in early Egypt and in 1928 a discovery in Arizona indicated that decoys made of reeds and mud dated back 2000 years.\nRon said that harvest-ing of waterfowl was big business especially along the eastern seaboard of the United States and thousands of migrating waterfowl were harvested along the Atlantic flyway. \nThe interest in hand-carved decoys grew especially in eastern Canada and the U.S. He pointed out that there are two basic styles of decoys – dabble and dive – and they can be either hollow or solid. To be of value to collectors\, decoys must closely simulate the real things without necessarily being a perfect match. \nIn recent years the investment value has grown to the point where decoys appreciate at 10 to 15 per cent each year. Ron said that Joel Barber\, the first decoy collector\, wrote a book in 1934 and an original edition signed by the author was solid at auction for $9\,000 in recent years. The record price is $860\,000 for a decoy purchased 12 years ago but many older decoys are valued at three to five thousand dollars. \nRon said that Canadians were slow to recognize the value of decoys and many were bought by Americans. However\, there is now great interest especially in Ontario and the Maritimes and the Lunenburg and Mahone Bay are-as are recognized for high value decoys. \nAn auction house in the United States\, Guyett and Deeter\, specializes to dealing in waterfowl decoys.\nRon said various decoy shows are a great place to learn about decoys and collecting. He said form\, original paint and age are key factors in evaluating decoys. He advised that anyone interested in get-ting into the field should do their research and specialize in certain types. He also warned that there are great fakes that could look like the real thing but without the value to a knowledgeable collector. \nJohn Senn thanked Ron for giving us an insight into a field that most of us had little knowledge
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/ron-casselman-probus-member/
LOCATION:ZOOM\, St. Catharines\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Casselman-Ron.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200609T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200609T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T183519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225406Z
UID:4095-1591696800-1591700400@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Russ Milland\, (Probus Member)
DESCRIPTION:Rail history captured by famed photographers \nRuss Milland\, filling in as a last-minute speaker\, offered a short visual experience he titled the “Princes of Darkness” featuring photos of trains taken at night. \nHe started off with a series of photos captured by American photographer O. Winston Link who lived from 1914 to 2001. Link\, who had been a commercial photographer in New York\, devoted his time between 1955 and 1960 taking images to con-vey the end of steam propelled trains on the Nor-folk and Western Railway. The striking photos\, in both black and while and colour\, are now all property of the Link Museum in Roanoke\, Virginia. \nThe second photographer featured was Gary Knapp\, also from the American northeast who used a minimum of 13 flash units to take his night-time pictures. His collection\, which can be viewed online at RailPictures.net\, included Canadian Pacific and CN trains on rail lines in the United States. Russ had obtained copyright permission to include the photos in his presentation. \nThe final section of Russ’ slide show “Seizing the Night at the Toronto Railway Museum”\, included a variety of night photos taken by members of the Toronto Railway Historical Association capturing the evolution and operation of Roundhouse Park at the foot of the CN tower in downtown Toronto. \nGary Knapp’s photos of a CN train at a snowy Plattsburgh\, N.Y.\, station (top) and looking out from the Northfield Falls covered bridge in Ver-mont. Bottom picture is from the Toronto Rail-way Historical Association. \nThanks to Wayne Tester for the screen shots taken during the online presentation.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/russ-milland-probus-member/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200609T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200609T100000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T182715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225411Z
UID:4091-1591695000-1591696800@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:David Merrit\, (Probus Member)
DESCRIPTION:Dave Merritt delivers message that words can indeed hurt \nJim Stangier introduced PROBUS club member Dave Merritt who in the past served as a leader-ship speaker for business and volunteer groups and was former director of the Florida Mental Health Association. \nDave gave a very insightful talk entitled “Words Can Hurt” and illustrated his presentation with his own cartoon-style drawings. He explained how words can be emotional abuse as children tend to believe what adults tell them especially if they are constantly negative and say things such as they are not good enough or make fun of them.\nHe pointed out that the old saying “Sticks and stones can break my bones\, but words will never hurt me” doesn’t apply especially with children. He said that continual put-downs and insults about physical appearance and intelligence by parents\, teachers and other children will affect a child’s behaviour. \nDave provided a list of actions that adults can consider to help break the chain of verbal abuse:\n1. Stop using negative words;\n2. Take a time out if you are upset;\n3. Talk about the problem with a trusted family member\, friend or professional;\n4. Take a parenting or discipline class; 5. Improve your own life. \nHe also provided suggestions of actions to help children feel worthwhile and confident:\n1. Spend time with the child;\n2. Be someone the child can count on;\n3. Protect them from violence;\n4. Praise their abilities;\n5. Teach them how to deal with failure;\n6. Help them to think about and solve their own problems;\n7. Respect their feelings and thoughts. \nIn closing\, Dave said the world would be a better place if we all used helping words and not hurting words.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/david-merrit-probus-member/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/David-Merritt.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200512T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200512T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T185309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225416Z
UID:4100-1589277600-1589281200@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Jill Dennison and Sarah Orgra\, (Canadian Mental Health Association in Hamilton)
DESCRIPTION:Speakers offer tips on dealing with stress and anxiety \nAl Higgins introduced our online speakers\, Jill Dennison and Sarah Orgra\, mental health promotion and resilience facilitators from the Canadian Mental Health Association in Hamilton\, who talked about the timely subject of “managing stress and anxiety during COVID-19. \nJill\, using a power point presentation\, detailed definitions of stress and covered 10 points about mental health and stress. She pointed out that mental health is the capacity of each of us to feel\, think and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. \nShe said that older adults are often more concerned about physical issues. Depression affects five to 10 per cent of older adults but that number increases to 30 to 40 per cent in long term care facilities or in hospital. \nThe COVID-19 outbreak has brought extra challenges through social isolation\, financial insecurity\, worsening of chronic health problems\, increased use of tobacco or alcohol\, changes in eating or sleep patterns\, caregiver stress and burnout and even elder abuse. \nSarah offered ways of coping with stress during the pandemic. She said a key is to take a break from reading\, watching\, or listening to news reports. It is important to take time to de-stress and unwind. She added that it is important to connect with others and talk about how you are feeling. \nSarah said that it is critical to connect with a healthcare provider if stress affects your daily activities. \nHer list of suggestions included learning simple exercises to do daily\, trying to make a daily routine\, paying attention to your own needs and focusing on what you can control.\nSarah mentioned resources available for those who feel overwhelmed by extreme stress such as bouncebackontario.ca; seniors mental health clinic and outreach services at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton or COAST (Crisis Outreach And Support Team) or the Barrett Centre for mental health crisis support. \nIn conclusion\, Sarah advised that people could build resilience through a number of ways such as making connections; avoiding seeing crisis as insurmountable; looking for self-discovery; taking decisive actions; maintaining a hopeful outlook and taking care of yourself. \nShe said it is important to focus on positives and do what feels good for you. \nHugh Gayler thanked Jill and Sarah for their insights and excellent presentation. Al Higgins said that he would send the link out to members so that they could respond to an on-line survey about the presentation.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/jill-dennison-and-sarah-orgra-canadian-mental-health-association-in-hamilton/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Jill-Dennison-Sarah-Orgera.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200414T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200414T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T192559Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225421Z
UID:4114-1586858400-1586862000@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Joe Vanderkooi\, (Probus Member)
DESCRIPTION:Joe Vanderkooi presented a brief talk on memories of people he and his friend Noel encountered during a cross Canada bicycle trip in the early 1980’s. \nRiding from British Columbia\, Joe said the mountain scenery was spectacular\, but it was the people that made the trip so memorable. He talked about riding through a grasshopper infestation that literally coated the road. During a stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant they got into a conversation with a local man about farming in southern Ontario and described the long growing sea-son and variety of crops here. When they went to pay for their lunch the waitress told them there was no charge as the stranger had paid. \nJoe also recalled an incident from north of Superior as they struggled through never-ending hills when they met an old pickup truck swerving on the highway and three young men yelling at them out the window. The bicyclists got a bit nervous when the pickup turned around\, passed them and then stopped on the side of the road ahead of them and the three and waited beside their truck. Joe and his friend feared a confrontation but when they stopped\, they were asked about their trip and then offered a beer as the three were on their way to a party and had started early on their truck load of refreshments.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/joe-vanderkooi-probus-member/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://probusstcatharines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Joe-Vanderkooi.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200310T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200310T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T190316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225426Z
UID:4105-1583834400-1583838000@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Judge Robert Reid (Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Central South Region of Ontario)
DESCRIPTION:Judge offers behind the scenes look at the Ontario court system \nArt Currie introduced guest speaker Robert Reid\, Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Central South Region of Ontario. \nJudge Reid\, a former St. Catharines lawyer who was appointed to the Superior Court in 2011\, gave an interesting\, informative and sometimes humorous talk about the courts and judging. \nRobert explained that a judge must be free from pressure or influence from any source in making a ruling. He said that he must be cut off from outside groups and thus is unable to join service clubs or serve on any administrative boards as he did while being a lawyer. \nHe said that a judge’s ability to be neutral and show a lack of bias offers the protection that he or she is bound only by the evidence presented in court. The judge must listen to both sides of an issue\, be competent to write a ruling based on the evidence presented and the rule of law. He added that a judge must be able to defend his ruling especially to the losing side and also to the appeal courts. \nRobert stressed that all citizens are subject to the same rule of law and that no one is above the law.\nHe disputed the argument that judges who are appointed under the Canadian system are not held accountable in the way elected judges are in the United States. He said that judges in Canada are held accountable to support the reasons for their decisions while also being free of the pressures of seeking re-election. \nRobert said that the Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in Canada with several branches within each province including the Provincial Superior Court and the Provincial Courts of Appeal.\nSuperior court judges preside over the most serious crimes such as murder\, large drug cases and sex crimes. He illustrated the range of cases he hears by telling of a time while awaiting a jury decision in a murder trial\, he was called upon to make a ruling on a case were a woman wanted to sue over a bad hair cut. \nThe Central South Region which Robert serves takes in all of Niaga-ra and west to Hamilton\, Simcoe\, Brantford and Kitchener and includes 1.5 million people. There are currently 247 Superior court positions in Ontario. Judges must retire when they reach age 75. \nTim Kaye thanked Robert for his informative presentation.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/judge-robert-reid-judge-of-the-superior-court-of-justice-for-the-central-south-region-of-ontario/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200211T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200211T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T191543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225431Z
UID:4108-1581415200-1581418800@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Tim Clutterbuck\, (President of Valbruna Steel ASW Inc)
DESCRIPTION:Tim gave a very interesting talk touching on the highs and lows in the history of steelmaking in Niagara and the products that were and are produced here. \nThe Welland facility was originally constructed in 1918 by Dillon Crucible Steel Alloy Company. In 1920 the Atlas Crucible Steel Company purchased the company. The facility was acquired by Roy Davis and Daniel Lanthrop in 1928 and operated under the name Atlas Steel Company. \nDuring the 1930’s Atlas steel produced specialty mining steel for gold mines. In 1939 the Canadian government invested millions of dollars in the facility to produce steel for World War II armaments and by 1948 Atlas Steels was regarded as the largest specialty steel company in the British Commonwealth employing 3\,000 people and ex-porting to 53 countries around the world. Through the 1950s the company added a stainless strip mill and a vacuum arc melting facility. \nThe arrival of the 1960s brought a series of ownership changes forced by financial issues. The expansion with a plant in Tracy\, Quebec in 1963 took some work away from Welland. Rio Algom Ltd.\, purchased the company in 1963\, sold to SAMMI of South Korea which in turn sold to Slater Steel in 2000. Slater was forced to liquidate some of its assets and demolished the East Main Street plant in 2007 and ASW Steel emerged in 2010\, with just 33 employees when Tim returned. \nDespite the changes\, the company enjoyed some good years with its specialized steel products with a capacity to produce more than 300\,000 tons of steel in the mid 1970s. \nTim said that the company has grown to more than 100 employees. The company is now owned by Valbruna Steel\, a privately owned company based in Italy. Tim said that the head of the family\, Nicola\, remains active and continues to look to the future although he is now 101 years of age. \nValbruna Steel is investing millions of dollars into the Welland operation and Tim is convinced the future looks bright.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/tim-clutterbuck-president-of-valbruna-steel-asw-inc/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20200114T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20200114T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T050525
CREATED:20211030T191926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211030T225438Z
UID:4111-1578996000-1578999600@probusstcatharines.com
SUMMARY:Brian Culp\, (St. John’s Cemetery in Jordan)
DESCRIPTION:Green burials one answer to concerns about environment \nDan Plunkett introduced guest speaker Brian Culp who oversees St. John’s Cemetery in Jordan. Brian\, who was accompanied by Rev. Pam Guyatt from St. John’s Anglican Church\, talked about burials in general and introduced PROBUS members to green burials. \nBrian said that St. John’s Cemetery\, which was established in 1841\, offers varied means of interment and disposition from traditional ground burial for caskets and cremation urns to a scattering garden to the more recent green burials. \nHe pointed out that provincial legislation enacted in 2012 brought cemeteries\, funeral directors\, transfer services and market suppliers all under the same laws. \nBrian said environmental groups have been pushing the idea of green burials. He said that there are 109\,000 cremations every year in Ontario with the bulk of those using gas. He pointed out that there are several methods of disposition of ashes. They range for disposition in a licensed cemetery\, to illegal scattering and\, if you have the money\, ashes can even be sent into space. \nGround burials traditionally require embalming\, a casket and concrete liner. Quoting figures from the United States\, Brian said ground burials annually use 30 million board feet of wood\, 90\,000 tons of steel\, 1.6 million tons of concrete and 800\,000 gallons of embalming fluid. \nIt is figures such as these that are behind the increasing popularity of natural or green burials. Brian pointed out that in a natural burial\, the body is wrapped in a shroud or bio-degradable casket so there is no conventional casket\, no concrete liner\, no chemicals and no headstone.\nBrian’s talk led to an extensive question and answer period with many members taking part. \nAndy Redman then thanked Brian for his knowledgeable and thought-provoking presentation.
URL:https://probusstcatharines.com/event/brian-culp-st-johns-cemetery-in-jordan/
CATEGORIES:2020 Past Speakers
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