February 2021 - Adam Shoalts - Journey Alone Across Canada’s Arctic. Adam tells the story of his nearly 4,000 km solo journey across Canada's Arctic. Shoalts has a Ph.D. from McMaster in history and is currently the Westaway Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He shared the story of his journey alone across Canada's Arctic."
March 2021 Steafan and Saskia Performance. Steafan from Ireland and Saskia from England, the Celtic duo have performed together for 20+ years. They have recorded over 100 albums with other musicians and have run their own recording studio. Steafan has collected over 800 musical instruments during his travels, 40 of which he plays on a regular basis. Saskia plays violin, viola and cello. Together they make lovely Celtic music
December 2021- Mike Daley. Dr. Mike Daley tells the story of the Beatles, the band from Liverpool that charmed the world and changed popular music. Dr Mike Daley is a guitarist and singer based in Toronto. As a professional singer for over 30 years, Mike has toured Canada, the United States and England and has recorded extensively in a variety of music styles. Visit www.mikedaleymusic.com
July 2021 Dr Ken Shonk -There ain’t much fun in medicine but there is a lot of medicine in fun! is a retired physician and a very experienced and prolific speaker who has attended seven international conferences on Laughter and Play and has done over 950 speaking engagements in the last 15 years
November 2021 Dr. Plaskett's - "Sewing Lessons: My Year in Arviat, Nunavut" focused on the vital importance of cultural exchange and living in community. She shared experiences of her arrival in the treeless, snow-covered tundra, the symbolism of the ulu and joining a women's sewing group. Dr. Victoria Plaskett, OCT is an English teacher (retired) with 35 years of experience in Ontario classrooms.
August 2021 Dr Tommie Sue Montgomery Tommie Sue is the author of three books on El Salvador, editor of books on Mexico and on peacekeeping in Latin America and has written widely for academic and popular publications. She has received three Fulbright awards, opportunities to study, lecture and/or conduct research, to Argentina, Belize, and El Salvador.
September 2021 Sarah Vaisler, Chief Librarian & Executive Officer of Ajax Public Library Sarah spoke about the services and programs the Ajax Public Library currently offers including those which are specific for older adults. She also briefed us on the Library’s future plans to make the Ajax Library a community hub for information, education and social interaction
Earlier Speakers at Probus Club of Durham West
2020
Jan.9th Celtic Duo - Steafan Hannigan and Siskia Tomkins
Feb.13th Karl Clarke - A Travelogue on the Highlights of Israel and Jordan
Aug.13th Kevin Donovan - The Billionaire Murders
Sept.10th Keriann McGoogan - Chasing Lemurs: My Journey into the Heart of Madagascar
Oct. 8th Karl Clarke - The Galapagos Islands
Nov.12th Lianne Harris - The Roaring 20's
Dec.10th Dr. J ( Jeff Ewing ) - Entertainer
2019
Jan.10th Jim and Sue Waddington - In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven
Feb.14th No speaker - 10th Anniversary Celebration
Mar.7th Eric Conroy - The story of the S.S. Keewatin
Apr.11th Andrew Jordan - Regional Manager of Canadian Cannabis Clinics
May.9th Dave Patterson "the 1492 Guy" - An examination of this period of North American History
Jun.13th Christine Allum from the Ontario Securities Commission - Protect Your Money
Jul.11th Tom Rosebush - DNA and Me
Aug.8th Tim Burrows - Electric Cars
Sept.12th William Thomas - author, scriptwriter, and humour columnist
Oct.10th Angelica Ganea - singer, songwriter and author
Nov.14th Terry Fallis - Writer and Public Relations Consultant
2018
Nov. 8 Dr.Amy Barron - Agatha, Archaeology, and Alzheimers's
Oct. 11 Peter Jennings, Author - Why Being Happy Matters
Sep.13 Dave Phillips, Senior Climatologist at Enviroment and Climate Change Canada
Aug. 9 Lianne Harris Racioppo - History, Culture & Social Studies Resource Specialist Consultant with the Toronto District School Board
"The early history of Canada, Rogues and Rebels"
Jul. 12 Zac Wrixon, Regional VP with AGF Investments - Investing in Unstable Times
Jun. 14 Neil Crone, actor, author and comedian
May 10 John Mason, President of "Friends of Guild Park and Gardens"
Apr. 12 Janine Agnew-Cato from the Durham Literacy Network
Mar. 8 Ted Barris, The Great Escape http://tedbarris.com
Feb. 8 Michael Neumann, Electrical Solutions Advisor (electrical &home safety) contact: Angela Hoyos at 905-569-1818, or email at ahoyos@birnie.com
Jan. 11 C. J. Calvert , inspirational speaker & author - Living an Exceptional Life http://www.cjcalvert.com/
2017
Jan. 12 Andrew Felker, Lawyer at Walker-Head law firm - Estate Planning & Probate Process https://canadalawyerlist.com
Feb. 9 Social activity
Mar.9 Rick Atkinson, President of RA Retirement Advisors - Don't Just Retire. Live It. Love It http://whencaniretire.ca/about/
Apr.13 Dan Buchanan, Author - A family tree search led to a murder buried in the past. http://danbuchananhistoryguy.com
May 11 Steve Craig - Zoos and their importance
June 8 Steve Burrows, Author - Murder Mysteries and travel regarding birds and other events. http://www.abirdermurder.com
July 13 Becky George, Librarian and historian - Pickering/Ajax in the Age of Confederation https://durhamregionarchivesgroup.com
Aug.10 Thanh Campbell, Motivational speaker - Orphan 32 (Vietnam rescue) http://orphan32.com
Sept.14 Talli Osborne, Inspirational speaker - How to stay positive when life is difficult https://talliosborne.com
Oct.12 Dr. Francine Dallaire, Chiropractor - Optimum Health and Detox. http://www.healingpower.ca
Nov.9 Bill McKee, Award winning Town Crier for Scugog, Uxbridge & Oshawa http://towncrier.on.ca/members.htm
2016
Jan.12 Speaker from Room 217 Foundation “Music & Palliative Care” https://www.room217.ca
Feb.11. Loretta Tanner "Alzheimer's and other related issues" http://www.centraleasthealthline.ca
Mar.10 Speaker ?
Apr. 11 Gord. Whatley , owner of The Armchair Motorist, will talk about his small museum of automobile books and items of history!
May 12 Barry Risk, author, retired border security & intelligence officer "Border Protection and You"
June 9 Speaker ? "Camp X, but from a daughter's perspective" http://www.camp-x.com/campx.html
July 14 Laura Clements, corporate trainer and health specialist, Alzheimer Society of Durham Region "Brain Health and Vitality" http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/durham
Aug.16 Jason Slone (Dr. J.) " Music from the 50's to the 80's" performance http://www.drjislandmusic.com
Sept. 8 Tammy Miller, owner Country Cheese Company "Cheese with including types and pairing with wine" http://www.countrycheesecompany.com
Oct.13 Kristie Virgoe, Land Securement Program Manager "Oak Ridges Moraine and Land Trust" http://oakridgesmoraine.org
Nov.10 Becka Soyka, Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator at CAMP ERIN "Dealing with grieving children and family dynamics." https://drjaychildrensgriefcentre.ca
2015
Jan. 8 Bruce Woods, author "Between Two Women"
Feb.1 Robert Winslow, playwright, actor, director. theatre founder "Fourth Line Theatre" https://www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca
Mar.12 Lesley Page, motivational speaker " On Becoming a Pilot" http://couragetosoar.com
April 9 Brock Godfrey, volunteer with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) "Fraud Awareness"
May 14 Maryanne Ford & Steven Nash "Nordic Pole Construction"
June 11 Alan Mallory, speaker, author & performance coach "Climbing Everest" http://alanmallory.com
July 9 Lisa Smith "Horizon House" http://www.herizonhouse.com
Aug.13 Speaker ?
Sept.10 Geoff Cutten, Ministry of Environment ret. "Gardens and Bugs"
Oct. 8 Speaker ?
Nov.12 Christopher Colton " National Air Force Museum of Canada" http://airforcemuseum.ca/en/contacts
2014
Jan. 9 Speaker none recorded
Feb.13 Freda Daniels "Living Under Apartheid in South Africa"
Mar. 20 Johnathan Van Bilsen, photographer "Exotic Travel" http://www.photosntravel.com
Apr. 10 Speaker ? "Fun Yoga"
May 8 Gary Bowen, watershed planning specialist "Toronto Region Conservation Authority" https://trca.ca
June 19 Speaker none recorded
July 10 Anne Walker, musician & storyteller performance http://annewalker.ca
Aug, 14 George Laidlaw, author "The Joys of Canadian history" http://georgelaidlaw.ca/contact.html
Sept. 11 Janet Matthews, author "Chicken Soup For the Soul" http://janetmatthews.ca
Oct. 9 Terry Fallis, author https://terryfallis.com
Nov.13 Speaker is a representative from ACE. Advocacy Centre for the elderly http://www.advocacycentreelderly.org
2013
Jan. 10 Dr. Nicholas Anthony, chiropractor "Fall Prevention & Exercise for Healthy Living"
Feb.14 Speaker none recorded
Mar.28 Cheryl Cooper, author "The War of 1812" http://cherylcooperauthor.com
Apr.11 Speaker none recorded
May 9 Brian Finley & Donna Bennett, performers/founders Westben Arts Festival Theatre performance http://www.westben.ca
Jun 13 Jim Craigen, instructor facilitator, Jim Craigen Educational Associates "Brain Research"
July 11 Olexander Wlasenko, Station Gallery curator "Art and the Cinema" https://www.stationgallery.ca/staff/olexander-wlasenko/
Aug.8 Ellen Roseman, columnist Toronto Star ret. "Consumer Advocacy" http://www.ellenroseman.com
Sept.12 Eduard Klassen, harpist performance https://www.eduardklassen.com
Oct. 10 Speaker ? "Haunted Houses in Ontario"
Nov.14 Shen Yun Performing Arts "Chinese Music & Dance"
The information above is not an endorsement by the Durham West Probus Club or any of its members.
Often contact information is available through the speaker’s Linkedin professional profile, the organizations or businesses listed or online. The details are true to the date they were originally posted
2021 Speakers at PROBUS Club of Durham West
October 2021 Jennifer Merrick on Haunted Places. Jennifer presented onhaunted places in Toronto, across Canada and the world. Highlights included Fort Henry: The most haunted place in Canada? The ghosts of Sable Island Other-worldly guests at the Banff Springs Hotel Ghosts of the Donnelly Homestead The Keg Mansion Toronto’s restaurant and The “bloody lady” at Čachtice Castle, Slovaki
April 2021 Katie Daubs - The Missing Millionaire”
Katie Daubs will be speaking about an unsolved mystery of the disappearance of a Toronto millionaire in December 1919. Ambrose Small, the mercurial owner of the Grand Opera House in Toronto, closed a deal to sell his network of Ontario theatres, deposited a million-dollar check in his bank account, and was never seen again.
May 2021 Sue and David Williams - Adventure on the High Sea and Journey Within Without any real blue water experience, cast off in their 37 foot sailboat from Hamilton and headed east to the North Atlantic Ocean. In the space of a year the couple completed two transatlantic crossings and spent 86 days on the high seas. Their adventure is chronicled in a memoir by Sue, Ready to Come About.
June 2021 Dr Amy Barron - “Digger, Teacher, Soldier, Spy”, The presentation was about the archaeologists working for military intelligence in World War I. Amy Barron has worked in the museum field for over twenty years most recently as the Curator of the Scugog Museums. She has a PhD in Ancient History and Archaeology from the University of Toronto as well as a Certificate in Museum Studies from the OMA.