PROBUS St. Catharines

Tim Clutterbuck, (President of Valbruna Steel ASW Inc)
2020-02-11 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
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.
The 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.
During 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.
The 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.
Despite 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.
Tim 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.
Valbruna Steel is investing millions of dollars into the Welland operation and Tim is convinced the future looks bright.

Judge Robert Reid (Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Central South Region of Ontario)
2020-03-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Judge offers behind the scenes look at the Ontario court system
Art Currie introduced guest speaker Robert Reid, Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Central South Region of Ontario.
Judge 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.
Robert 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.
He 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.
Robert stressed that all citizens are subject to the same rule of law and that no one is above the law.
He 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.
Robert 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.
Superior 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.
The 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.
Tim Kaye thanked Robert for his informative presentation.

Joe Vanderkooi, (Probus Member)
2020-04-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
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.
Riding 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.
Joe 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.

Jill Dennison and Sarah Orgra, (Canadian Mental Health Association in Hamilton)
2020-05-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Speakers offer tips on dealing with stress and anxiety
Al 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.
Jill, 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.
She 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.
The 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.
Sarah 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.
Sarah said that it is critical to connect with a healthcare provider if stress affects your daily activities.
Her 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.
Sarah 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.
In 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.
She said it is important to focus on positives and do what feels good for you.
Hugh 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.

David Merrit, (Probus Member)
2020-06-09 09:30 - 10:00 | Ontario
Dave Merritt delivers message that words can indeed hurt
Jim 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.
Dave 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.
He 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.
Dave provided a list of actions that adults can consider to help break the chain of verbal abuse:
1. Stop using negative words;
2. Take a time out if you are upset;
3. Talk about the problem with a trusted family member, friend or professional;
4. Take a parenting or discipline class; 5. Improve your own life.
He also provided suggestions of actions to help children feel worthwhile and confident:
1. Spend time with the child;
2. Be someone the child can count on;
3. Protect them from violence;
4. Praise their abilities;
5. Teach them how to deal with failure;
6. Help them to think about and solve their own problems;
7. Respect their feelings and thoughts.
In closing, Dave said the world would be a better place if we all used helping words and not hurting words.

Russ Milland, (Probus Member)
2020-06-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Rail history captured by famed photographers
Russ 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.
He 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Gary 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.
Thanks to Wayne Tester for the screen shots taken during the online presentation.

Ron Casselman, (Probus Member)
2020-07-14 10:00 | ZOOM, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Antique waterfowl decoy collecting is big business
Jim Stangier introduced club member Ron Casselman who presented an illustrated talk about collecting handmade waterfowl decoys.
Ron, 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.
The 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.
Ron 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.
The 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.
In 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.
Ron 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.
An auction house in the United States, Guyett and Deeter, specializes to dealing in waterfowl decoys.
Ron 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.
John Senn thanked Ron for giving us an insight into a field that most of us had little knowledge

Juliet Dunn, (Singer, Musician & Organizer)
2020-07-14 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Dan Plunkett introduced guest speaker Juliet Dunn as an excellent singer, musician, organizer, and a good friend.
Juliet, 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.
The festival was honoured as best new festival in 2017 and was included among the top 100 festivals in Ontario in 2019.
Juliet 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.
The 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.
Juliet said that a study of the economic impact of the festival indicated that it generated almost $1.25 million for the region.
Juliet 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.
Juliet 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.
John Senn thanked Juliet for her presentation and praised her ability to adapt.
Juliet Dunn

Zachary Rondinelli, (PhD student in Educational Studies at Brock University)
2020-08-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Doctoral study exams role of comics in learning
Dan 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.”
Zach, 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.
Zach 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.
Zach said that the purpose of his research is to investigate how individual meaning is constructed between a reader and a text.
He 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.
Zach 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.
Zach listed a number of expected implications of his research including supporting the use of comics in learning.
John 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.
See Zachary’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Kevin Vallier (founder and editor in chief of The Niagara Independent)
2020-09-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Online newspaper offers positive take on Niagara
Duncan 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.
Kevin, 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.
Kevin 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.
He 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.
Kevin 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.
Each 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.
After 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.
With 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.
Duncan McLaren thanked Kevin for providing a look into this aspect of the information age.
See Kevin’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Seniors on the Move
2020-10-08 10:00 - 11:00 | ZOOM, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Group aims to reduce work, stress of moving for seniors
The 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.
She 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.
She 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.
She 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.
She 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.
A 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.
She 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.
She 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.
She 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.
She 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.
She pointed out that hoarding presents a real risk of falls and physical injury because of cluttered pathways and stairways.
You can learn more, including contact information by going to the company’s website at www.seniorsonthemove.com
Duncan McLaren thanked her for her informative presentation and will send her a gift card as a token of the club’s appreciation.

Master Corporal (Ret’d) Steve Mercer
2020-11-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Veteran of Bosnian conflict continues battle with PTSD
Duncan 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.
Steve 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.
Steve 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.
However, 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.
When 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.
He 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.
He said that although he has many good memories of his time in the service, he can’t forgive himself for his own failings.
Steve 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.
Steve 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.
Duncan thanked Steve for providing us with this intimate look at the sacrifices made by modern-day soldiers.
See Steve’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Matthew Whitley (Detective Sergeant)
2020-12-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Complex details in collision reconstruction unveiled
Frank Parkhouse introduced guest speaker Detective Sergeant Matthew Whiteley, officer in charge of the collision reconstruction unit for Niagara Regional Police.
Detective 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
The 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.
Matthew 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.
Matthew 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.
He 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.
One 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.
During a question-and-answer session, Matthew said that winter conditions with ice and snow
can hide some evidence and make reconstruction much more difficult.
Al 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.

Jean Bridge, Rodman Hall Alliance
2021-01-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Alliance working to secure site for a public art gallery
Duncan McLaren introduced guest speaker Jean Bridge, a recent retiree from Brock University where she was an associate professor of Visual Arts. Duncan said that Jean is a community builder and a key member of the Rodman Hall Alliance. The alliance is leading the push to secure a public art gallery for St. Catharines in light of Brock University’s decision to sell Rodman Hall.
Jean said that the purpose of a public art gallery is to be both educational and humanitarian. She added that it is important as a place where the community engages with and considers the insights they derive from what they see.
Jean provided a brief history of Rodman Hall which was built in 1863 as Thomas Rodman Merritt House. The building was purchased in 1960 by the St. Catharines and District Arts Council and is designated by Heritage Canada as a Category A institution to collect, preserve, and exhibit cultural property. There were also two additions made to the original building in the 1960s.
Brock University took over operation of Rodman Hall in 2003 operating it as a university and public gallery but in 2016 sought to withdraw from the arrangement but neither the City nor the Region.
was prepared to step in and assume the related costs. Just last year, Brock sold the property to local developers while transferring the art collection and endowments to the Rodman Hall Art Centre, Inc.
The RHAC, a not-for-profit corporation, is currently conducting an audit of the art collection (some 1,000 pieces) while doing feasibility studies for a new public gallery, looking at potential sites and putting together a business plan.
Of course, finances play a major role in the future of any gallery wherever it is located, and the Alliance hopes to re-engage the community, improve communications, expand its board while developing and sustaining fund raising.
Jean said that the Alliance has studied art galleries in other cities such as Guelph and Windsor.
During a question-and-answer session, Jean also made an appeal for anyone interested in the arts to get involved by providing whatever expertise they could to the Alliance.
Duncan thanked Jean for her presentation and said that PROBUS will send donation in Jean’s name to Start Me Up Niagara.
See Jean’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Suzanne Soto-Davies, WISH Book
2021-02-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Guest speaker Suzanne Soto-Davies, publisher of Silver and Gold Magazine for Boomers Plus, has also developed a WISH (What If Something Happens) workbook.
Suzanne, who was born in Peru and came to Canada when she was 15, said that her grandparents gave her the idea for the magazine which is published and distributed in southwestern Ontario four times a year although, like many things, it has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The magazine is currently available only online at www.silvergoldmagazine.ca.
Suzanne related her personal story that led to the development of the WISH workbook. Her mother, who was living in Haliburton, suffered an aneurism and had to be flown by medical helicopter to hospital in Toronto on Christmas Eve. Her father was legally blind and forced to stay at home, so it was up to other family members to provide doctors with information about Suzanne’s mother’s medical history.
Her mother was given only a two-per cent chance of survival when she arrived at the hospital and Suzanne said that without access to medical information back in Haliburton the family struggled to remember details the hospital and doctors required.
Her mother did start to improve but the recovery period stretched over a year as she slowly regained memory and had to relearn how to do many things and regain much of the weight she had lost.
It was during this period that Suzanne said that she had to learn about her parents’ financial dealings to be able to pay bills and how to access bank accounts. She said that something as basic as her mother’s favourite sleeping position helped aid her comfort while in hospital.
Suzanne said the WISH workbook allows you to list medications, any supplements taken, day-today banking, insurance policies, pensions and even information about your will. She also emphasized the need to complete the paperwork to have someone you trust given Power of Attorney.
The WISH workbook can be ordered online at www.wishworkbook.ca . There is also a link to provincial websites to download Power of Attorney forms.
See Suzanne’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Wendy Sturgeon, Indigenous History
2021-03-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Wendy Sturgeon, the Executive Director of the Niagara Chapter, Native Women Inc., based in Fort Erie presented to us this month.
Wendy, who was born in Toronto, is of Anishinaabe (Ojibway-Chippewa of the Thames or Muncee) and Welsh decent. She explained that her father came from a residential school and lost the connection with his heritage and now has no interest to learning about it. Wendy and her brother now have a strong interest in their heritage.
She said that her people are affiliated with the 3 Fires Confederacy which is part of Turtle Island which refers to all of North America. Wendy said that different nations have different traditions but gave some insight into the culture of her people. She pointed out that four elements — tobacco, sweet grass, cedar and sage — have special meaning and are important parts of gatherings or pow wows. She said that at a typical gathering people would be welcomed into doors from four directions symbolizing bringing minds together and people would be invited to join in a circle to share their stories.
Wendy displayed a Wampum Belt that symbolized an original treaty with the newcomers to this land. The belt had parallel lines that stood for the river of life that was open ended, going on forever. The treaty signified peace, friendship and respect between the two parties.
Wendy also offered a power point presentation to explain about Niagara Native Inc., and what it does to support the community through social, legal, medical and educational means. She said that we are part on Living History. She explained the cultural significance of women braiding sweet grass and how it is done for a specific person and for a specific reason.
The Niagara chapter was incorporated in 1983 and is now one of nine chapters and 14 Native women councils. One of the group’s early successes was the fight to restore status of women who moved off reservations. You can learn more about the Ontario Native Women’s Association online at www.onwa.ca and the Niagara Chapter at www.ncnw.net

Stewart Campbell, English Channel Tunnel
2021-04-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Stewart Campbell, who lives in Helensburgh on the west coast of Scotland, is our first international speaker joining us through the technology provided by Zoom. Stewart was in charge of Health and Safety during construction of the English Channel Tunnel which was officially opened in 1994. He pointed out that the idea of a tunnel linking Great Britain and the Continent goes back to 1802 but costs and other considerations prevented anyone following through on the idea.
Stewart said that Canada had early experiences in building tunnels as well, mentioning the rail tunnel between Sarnia and Port Huron which first opened in 1891 and the Mt. Macdonald rail tunnel at Rogers Pass which opened in 1916.
Stewart said some early attempts at tunnelling were made in the late 1800s and a partial tunnel was bored in the 1970s. The final tunnel, started in 1988, is the third longest rail tunnel in the world at 50.5 km and the longest under sea section at 39.7 km. He said the land section on the UK side is 9.3 km compared to 3.3 km on the French side.
Tunnelling crews started work on each end and worked toward the middle. The British crews had six boring machines and the French had five. In total each side had about 7,000 workers. Stewart said that the British crews actually advanced more than half-way across because they experienced easier boring conditions. The two crews celebrated the official breakthrough on December 1,1990. Both sides were slowed by water coming into the tunnel forcing alterations to their erection methods. Stewart pointed out that the tunnel actually involves two separate tunnels, 7.6 metres in diameter and 30 metres apart, for traffic to move in opposite directions as well as a smaller service tunnel running between the two rail lines. There are also linking tunnels in case of emergencies and numerous piston relief ducts to control ventilation.
Stewart said that safety was a major concern during construction especially related to the fear of fire since there was only one way out. No smoking rules were strictly enforced and measures were taken to reduce the danger of electrical fires. Stewart said that about seven UK workers died on the job and another two or three on the French side.
Stewart showed a clip from the movie Mission Impossible that purported to show a helicopter linked by cable to a high-speed train being pulled into the tunnel, but he said that that would not be possible because of the dimensions of the tunnel. Stewart said that his part in the construction ended with the actual tunnelling but outfitting the tunnels with rail lines and other finishing touches took a few more years.
He recommended the book “The Tunnel under the Channel” by Thomas Whiteside for anyone wishing more information. There are also several YouTube videos that provide excellent descriptions of the tunnel and its construction which ended up costing £9 billion.
During a question-and-answer session, Stewart said he was unsure of the financing details of the massive project. However, a follow-up email pro[1]vided a link to an article by Christian Wolmar, a well-known railway commentator in the UK. In the article Wolmar says Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pushed through the decision to build the tunnel but insisted that it had to be built with private money. However, Wolmar claims that although there were various hidden subsidies in the scheme the project’s early financial difficulties meant that the debt could never be conceivably paid off and was eventually all but written off.

Adrian Petry, First Welland Canal
2021-05-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Adrian Petry, visitor coordinator at the St. Catharines Museum, presented to us on the topic: “Open for business – the Welland Canal in 1830”.
Adrian explained that in the history of the Welland Canal the first canal is often overlooked. It was built between 1824 and 1829 prior to photography and few written records were kept with the result that there are many gaps in its story.
William Hamilton Merritt was a driving force behind the idea of the canal and Adrian said that much of Merritt’s time was spent trying to secure financing for the project. Banks were not interested or able to invest so Merritt had to seek private investors.
Stock in the canal was sold in United States and in the UK. John Barentse Yates, a Congressional representative from New York, became a major stockholder and that fact pushed the Canadian government to also invest.
Attempts to cut costs contributed to a series of problems with the canal. Design faults, mud slides and the use of wood to construct the 44 locks all played a role. A heavy rainstorm forced a temporary closure just two weeks after the canal opened for business in 1830. Another closure was caused by lack of water in the system and there were frequent blockages caused by sawdust from the many mills along the canal.
Adrian said that the canal was only open for about three months that first year. That first canal started in Port Dalhousie and moved up the escarpment to Port Robinson where it joined the Chippawa Creek out to the Niagara River and on to Lake Erie. It wasn’t until 1833 that the canal was completed through to Port Colborne.
Adrian displayed early maps which showed the canal route as well as the route of the feeder canal which flowed from the mouth of the Grand River to ensure adequate water levels.
Adrian agreed that although Merritt was the main visionary behind the canal, part of the reason for him selecting Twelve-Mile Creek as part of the route was to bring water to his mills. Despite the many problems linked to that first canal it was an important first step in the development of a major water transportation route that was to benefit North America.

Marieke E. Schmidt, Rover Explorers
2021-06-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Marieke E. Schmidt, Professor of Earth Sciences at Brock University. Marieke has been involved in the study of Mars since 2005 and has been selected by NASA to be a participating scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory working with the rover exploration missions.
Marieke said that the big question about Mars remains whether it is habitable. She said that Mars is most closely situated to the habitable zone in our solar system. Evidence gathered by four different rover missions indicates that there was water on the surface at one time although there is no liquid water on the surface now.
The four rover missions have explored different areas of Mars. The first rover, Spirit, was active from 2004 until 2010 and the second, Opportunity, was active until 2018. Pictures returned by Opportunity showed that sediments were deposited by water and that water percolated through rock. Marieke said that this may have happened millions of years ago.
The third rover mission, called Curiosity, was sent to explore and assess a region on the Mars surface as a potential habitat around the 150-kilometre Gale Crater. Here, it found rock deposit[1]ed in lake-like situations.
The most recent rover mission, Perseverance, landed on Mars in February. It was accompanied by a small helicopter called Ingenuity which made history by flying in the low atmosphere and has allowed scientists to greatly expand their area of exploration. Ingenuity has returned pictures from a site called Santa Cruz, a hill located 1.5 kilometres from Perseverance.
Marieke said that pictures show land strewn with large rocks from volcanic activity but there is no evidence that there have been active volcanoes in millions of years. She pointed out that some of the small rocks are so sharp that they forced a redesign of the tires for the last rover.
Marieke added that the ultimate goal of the Mars exploration is to send a lander and fetch rover to the planet to collect rock and soil samples and return them to Earth for further study. However, she pointed out that the target timeline for that to happen is 2034.
Marieke also said that the United States is not alone in the exploration of Mars as both China and the UAE have launched probes.
See Marieke’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Christine Allum, Financial Scams
2021-07-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Christine Allum, a senior advisor, investment engagement and stakeholder partnerships in the Investor Office at the Ontario Securities Commission presented to us at this month’s meeting. Christine, a graduate of Ryerson University, previously worked at the Ontario Stock Exchange.
Her online presentation was entitled “How to Protect Your Money from Fraud” and she also provided tips on working with a financial advisor. Christine said that surveys show that 30% of Canadian investors have been more stressed about their investments during the COVID-19 pandemic. She provided statistics about the number and age range of people who have been victims of fraud and said one in five Canadians is approached by fraudsters and that only one in three victims report the fraud to police.
She gave brief descriptions of some of the most common types of fraud schemes such as Pump and Dump, Affinity Fraud and Ponzi schemes. She also referred to a Double Dip/ Repeat Scam where scam artists reuse and sell lists of fraud victims often using the approach of giving the victims an opportunity to get their original investment back.
Christine provided a list of warning signs such as high-pressure sales tactics, phone calls, emails or texts from unknown sources, offers of free incentives, promises of high or guaranteed returns. Other warning flags include encouragement to recruit friends and family, offers from unregistered businesses or individuals, suggestions to falsify financial information to avoid taxes or the offer to act on inside information.
She also had tips to protect your money: keep personal and financial information safe; do background checks before you invest; don’t send money and don’t respond to unsolicited calls.
Christine encouraged victims of fraud to con[1]tact the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The Anti-Fraud Centre website also has more information about common scams. You can also reach the Centre toll-free at 1-888-495-8501.
Christine had a number of recommendations for dealing with a personal financial advisor. She said it is important that the advisor knows you, makes suitable recommendations for your situation and tells you how they are paid. She added that it is also important that you understand and know the product that the advisor is recommending and that you maintain regular communication with your advisor to keep your financial information up to date.
If you sense a problem, Christine said you should first talk to your representative but that you can file a written complaint with the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments.
See Christine’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Marcella Haanstra, Library Services
2021-08-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Librarian reveals vast array of services now available
Duncan McLaren introduced guest speaker Marcella Haanstra, the training librarian at the St. Catharines Public Library who has also worked in Collections, Programming and Reference. She is a graduate of the MLIS Master’s Program from the University of Western Ontario (August 2008).
Marcella, who’s presentation was titled “What’s new and how the St. Catharines Public Library engages with the community today and in the future,” gave a very enlightening and informative talk on the St Catharines Libraries’ traditional and online services offered to card holders. The library has over 325,000 books and materials available. In addition to the down-town Central library there are three branch libraries serving different areas of the city. Library membership cards are free to residents of St Catharines and 49% of the population has a library card which is above average.
Marcella explained how their online services have expanded during the pandemic. The online services are easily accessible using your library card and pin number.
The online services include Press Reader, providing access to many newspapers and magazines; Linked In, offering online courses in such things as Microsoft Excel; Grant Connect; Digital collections offering downloads of audio books, e-books and magazines; Hoopla Digital, with down-loads available of books or movies; Flipster allows you to download an app to get access to a great variety of magazines. Other programs available include such things as Brock Talks and Canadian authors in action.
The wide range of other services available include 3D Printers, book bundles available to adults for curbside pickup, MiFi hotspots at the library for internet access. There is even a VHS to DVD converter. A member can register for a three-hour appointment including a half-hour personal technical training session.
Services probably not normally associated with a library include sports and leisure equipment avail-able for loan, passes for Ontario and Niagara parks and telescope sets that can be checked out.
Marcella said that there has been a very high demand for the telescope sets and additional sets have been obtained.
Marcella pointed out that, as of May, fines are no longer charged on overdue materials for children, teens or seniors.
She said that anyone who lives or works in the city can easily apply for a library card online at www1.stcatharines.library.on.ca/memberships or you can go to the main website at www.myscpl.ca to search for other information.
Duncan thanked Marcella for an informative and eye-opening talk. He will send her a $30 gift certificate as a token of the club’s appreciation.
See Marcella’s presentation on YouTube click here…

Romeo Lunch
2021-08-25 08:30 - 09:30 | Dalhousie Yacht Club, 74 Lighthouse Rd, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Gentlemen our Romeo lunches are back beginning August 25th at the Dalhousie Yacht Club. Gathering time is noon and lunch will be served at 12:30.
Emily will take the drinks order at your table and payment will be at the table as well – preferably by debit or credit card.
As usual lunch will be “Chef Edward’s surprise” sandwich with your choice of salad or fries + dessert and tea or coffee.

Our club group breakfast is Tuesday, August 17 at 8;30 at Johnny Pastrami’s on Lake St in the Club Heidelberg building. Please use the side entrance.

For both functions COVID-19 protocols will be in place so wear your mask entering and leaving. I hope I am right in assuming that all of you attending have been double vaccinated against COVID.

Garden Tour
2021-09-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Ontario
We need some text description in here for this event.

Peter Greco, Canon Greco Management Limited
2021-09-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Lions Hall, 732 Niagara Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2M 7W7, Canada
Condo managers tasked with many responsibilities
Art Currie introduced guest speaker, Peter R. Greco, a graduate of Brock University, who is President of Cannon Greco Management Limited, a St. Catharines firm which specializes in condominium and residential rental management.
Peter provided a comprehensive look at the duties of a management firm and also described different types of condo corporations and the variety of responsibilities and services they provide.
Peter said that condo managers work with the condo board of directors and are responsible for such things as the physical property, making sure repairs are done and deal-ing with contractors. They are also charged with managing finances, preparing financial statements and budgets.
The management firm serves as an advisor and communicator with the board of directors, unit owners and staff. Managers also deal in human relations in charge of hiring and firing staff.
Peter said that the requirements are set out in the Condominium Act Ontario of 1998 which came into effect in 2001 and was updated in 2017. Among the stipulations set out in the act is the requirement for condos to maintain a reserve fund which must be updated on a regular basis. Condo managers must be licensed if they are paid. The act also requires people joining a board of directors to take an on-line training course.
Peter said that sometimes people try to compare their monthly fees but pointed out different condo corporations provide very different services for those fees. He said the standard condo corporation is what most people are familiar with but ex-plained that a Vacant Land Condo, most often used in townhouse developments, covers only the outside grounds and not individual units. A common elements condo covers only things such as a common club house or park equipment.
Peter pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has created extra challenges for managers and condos. Buildings have been faced with higher costs for sanitation, repair costs and lack of availability of contractors and building materials. The pandemic has also meant that meetings have had to be held via Zoom rather than in person. Some amenities have been closed down.
Peter said managers and condo boards commonly refer to the three P’s that they must deal with – pets, people, and parking.
Insurance rates have become a major financial problem for condo managers. Peter said that many insurance companies are no longer interested in covering condos and those that do have raised their rates on aver-age by 30% or more. He advised con-do unit owners to check their own coverage because in some cases they can be held responsible for the amount of deductible on the overall coverage.
Despite the problems, the number of condominiums in Niagara continues a fairly rapid growth as developers from the Toronto area are drawn here.
Peter also talked about Life Lease agreements. He said these projects are often started by clubs or church groups. He said that under a Life Lease, you have no deed but purchase a unit for a designated time limit and, in most cases, for a pre-determined amount at time of sale while also paying condo fees.
Duncan McLaren thanked Peter for his presentation and said that the number of questions reflected the interest in his talk. Duncan will forward a gift certificate to Peter in appreciation of his talk.
Click here to read the full presentation (PDF)

Romeo Lunch
2021-09-29 08:30 - 09:30, 2021-10-27 08:30 - 09:30 | Dalhousie Yacht Club, 74 Lighthouse Rd, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Romeo lunches are back at the Dalhousie Yacht Club. Gathering time is noon and lunch will be served at 12:30.
Emily will take the drinks order at your table and payment will be at the table as well – preferably by debit or credit card.
As usual lunch will be “Chef Edward’s surprise” sandwich with your choice of salad or fries + dessert and tea or coffee.

Furry Friend Competition
2021-09-30 08:00 - 17:00 | Ontario
The winner of last month’s Furry friend competition was Ludo, the proud Furry Friend of Denis Greenall and the winner of the Grand Dog competition was Carolina Ivan, best friend of Frank Parkhouse’s daughter-in-law.
Congratulations to the winners and all the participants who presented a strong field of fine canine family members.
A special thanks to our judges Linda and Peter Mahovolich.”

Michael Jacques, (Author)
2021-10-12 10:00 - 11:00 | ZOOM, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Speaker delivers message of hope despite disabilities
Our October guest speaker, Michael Jacques who has had to learn to cope with autism and a mental disability, was introduced by his father Marcel.
Michael is the author and self publisher of a book entitled “Can’t Read, Can’t Write, Here’s My Book”. Michael spent five years recording his thoughts and experiences speaking into an iPad that converted his words into text. His sister accidently discovered Michael’s work and helped him produce a book. Ten different artists contributed illustrations to help make the book highly visual and provide Michael with the clues to memorize the stories in each of the 10 chapters.
In the book, Michael described the difficulties of fitting in and being the kid who was sometimes mistreated or forgotten. But he also described his determination not to let his disabilities limit him.
Michael, who shared screen time with his father during the Zoom meeting, is 30 years old and just recently became the youngest and only per-son with an intellectual disability to be elected president of Ontario Community Living, a confederation of more than 100 local agencies across the province. It promotes inclusive education so people with intellectual disabilities can remain in their communities and stay with friends in local schools.
Michael, who took seven years to complete high school, is an employee at the Sobeys store in Fonthill and was Pelham’s citizen of the year in 2019. He has been involved in Special Olympics in baseball and basketball and is a member on a board that advises the minister of education.
Michael has written a second book with Heather Gale. “I Belong, Can I Play?” is a children’s book which tells the story of Michael’s experiences growing up in elementary school and teaches the importance of inclusion, friendship and belonging.
Michael has had strong family support especially from his father Marcel who serves as his executive assistant dealing with emails and arranging Michael’s many speaking engagements across Canada and now into the United States.
Marcel said that Michael has appeared on breakfast television several times and his in-person speaking engagements have included speaking at Sobeys head office. Marcel also said that prior to the COVID pandemic Sobeys stores throughout Ontario had Michael’s book for sale.
Marcel pointed out that Michael contributes a portion of the profits from his book sales to Special Olympics.
You can find out much more about Michael’s accomplishments or order a copy of his book online at www.heresmybook.com.
Duncan McLaren thanked Michael for his enjoy-able and educational presentation and said that a donation in Michael’s name will be sent to Ontario Community Living.
Michael Jacques A story to be shared pdf click here

Men’s Breakfast Group
2021-10-18 04:30 - 05:30 | Angel’s Diner Restaurant, 395 Ontario Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
We are resuming the PROBUS monthly breakfasts starting Tuesday August 17th. at Johnny Pastrami’s Diner in the Club Heidelberg building on Lake St near Lakeshore Rd.

Our previous venue, Angel’s diner has closed. This new location offers plenty of parking and a dining section just for us
Breakfast time is 8:30
Wear your name tag, wear a mask and bring a hearty appetite.

Art Currie

Nancy Speck, (Crime Analyst)
2021-11-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Nancy Speck, Retired crime analyst from the Niagara Regional Police talking on the subject of criminal analysis
Crime analyst helps police track down criminals
John Sallman introduced guest speaker Nancy Speck who retired in 2019 after a career with the Niagara Regional Police as a civilian crime analyst. A St. Catharines native, Nancy was born into a policing family. Her parents were Judy and David Gittings. David, a Staff Superintendent with the NRP, was a long-time PROBUS member until his death in 2019.
Nancy said that she had many doubters who didn’t believe that, as a civilian and a female, she would be able to cope as a crime analyst. But over the years she certainly proved those doubters wrong.
In May 2011 she received a civilian achievement award from Ontario Women in law enforcement. That was the first time that a Niagara Regional Police civilian staffer had received a provincial award. In the same year she was nominated for and received a civilian achievement award from the International Association of Women Police.
Nancy was assigned to work in one of three districts in Niagara and worked closely with officers and detectives within her area but also with other police services to compile information on all manner of crimes in an attempt to find patterns. She provided examples of crimes where similar MOs would show up in weekly crime reports and allow her to direct officers to a potential suspect.
She pointed out that part of her job was to keep track of offenders who were on parole Nancy Speck since many times they returned to the same types of crimes that they had been involved in before. She said that a data base of things like nicknames, tattoos and popular hangouts often helped direct police to suspects.
Nancy said that part of her on-going learning process involved attending crime scenes as well as attending many extensive courses.
She did point out that some crime groups travel around the province and that makes them much more difficult for analysts to track.
Nancy was praised by then Chief of the NRP, Wendy Southall for her expertise in crime analysis and for her passion to upgrade her knowledge and skills over 40 years. For her part, Nancy said that she enjoyed the work and loved the challenge it offered.
Duncan McLaren thanked John for suggesting her as a speaker and thanked Nancy for her enlightening talk. He presented her with a gift certificate as a token of appreciation.
See Nancy’s presentation on YouTube click here…
