Archive

Festival brings world-class jazz musicians to Niagara Dan Plunkett introduced guest speaker Juliet Dunn who is Executive Director, Artistic Producer and co-creator of the TD Niagara Jazz Festival. Juliet, who has an impressive musical career in her own right, gave an informative and lively talk about the non-profit organization and the more than 50 shows and events which it stages […]

Young explorer recounts trip across Canada’s Arctic Adam Shoalts, a native of Fenwick, who graduated from Brock and received a PhD from McMaster University, has undertaken a number of expeditions for Canadian Geographic. Adam talked specifically about two books that he has written. The first, titled Alone Against the North, recounts his amazing solo 4,000-kilometre journey across Canada’s Arctic and […]

Andy Redman introduced July’s guest speaker, Danny Lamb, saying that he had known Danny from the time he was born and surprised Danny by presenting him with a couple photographs taken when he was an infant. Danny’s talk was on the Power of Music in my Life and he began his presentation by performing a song he wrote called “Champion”. […]

Speakers offer photographic journey to Machu Picchu Wayne Tester introduced his daughter Lynn Miller and her husband Jim and provided some background for the presentation on their trip to Peru and Machu Picchu. Lynn and Jim took the pictures during their trip in 2015 while Wayne did the editing and composing of the program match-ing pictures with the pan flute […]

Cancer researchers seek solutions to hundreds of different mutations Don Walker introduced the guest speaker, his son-in-law, Dr. Michael Olson, who is a professor at Ryerson University in the Department of Chemistry and Biology. Michael is a graduate of the University of Alberta, where he got a Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics. He then went to the University of […]

Beaverdams church restoration a lengthy and costly project Bob Halfyard introduced guest speaker David Cowan, a well-known organist in Niagara, who was appearing in his role as President of the Friends of Beaverdams Church. David, a native of Thorold, illustrated his talk about the historic church with pictures showing various stages of the restoration work done over the past seven […]

Brian Narhi provides tips for tracing family roots. Duncan McLaren introduced Brian Narhi of St Catharines who chairs the St. Catharines heritage advisory committee and is a historian for Toronto based Archeological Services Inc. Brian has been awarded a Lieutenant-Governor’s Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement. Brian began his presentation with an introduction to genealogy 101 stressing the importance of starting […]

Russ Milland goes in search of the Newfie Bullet Fellow PROBUS member Russ Milland has a keen interest in steam locomotion and railways. Russ gave a very interesting and lively travelogue presentation titled “In Search of the Newfie Bullet” based on his trip to Newfoundland and his search for stories and remains of the Newfie Bullet passenger train.d took 5,600 […]

Green burials one answer to concerns about environment Dan 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. Brian said that St. John’s Cemetery, which was established in 1841, offers varied […]

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 […]