PROBUS Club of Durham West

JANUARY SPEAKER

DR. CHRISTOPHER DICARLO

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY.

Dr. Christopher DiCarlo is a philosopher, educator, and author. He is the Principal and Founder of Critical Thinking Solutions, a consulting business for individuals, corporations, and not-for-profits in both the private and public sectors. He currently holds the position of Senior Researcher and Ethicist at Convergence Analysis – a UK-based organization focusing on AI Risk and Governance.

Dr. DiCarlo is also the Ethics Chair for the Canadian Mental Health Association and is also a lifetime member of Humanist Canada and an Expert Advisor for the Centre for Inquiry Canada. He often teaches in the Department of Biology at the University of Toronto (Mississauga) and at The Life Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University and is a past Visiting Research Scholar at Harvard University in Department of Anthropology and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Dr. DiCarlo has won several awards including TV Ontario’s Big Ideas Best Lecturer in Ontario Award and Canada’s Humanist of the Year.

Dr. DiCarlo has been invited to speak at numerous national and international conferences and written many scholarly papers ranging from bioethics to cognitive evolution. He is the author of several books and his best-seller: How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass: A Critical Thinker’s Guide to Asking the Right Questions, was released by Prometheus Books as a 2^nd Edition to mark its 10^th–year anniversary. His last book: So You Think You Can Think. Tools for Intelligent Conversations and Getting Along was published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers and was released in June of 2020. And his current book from Rowman and Littlefield, will be released in January, 2025, and is called: Building a God: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the Race to Control It.

Dr. DiCarlo also hosts a new podcast called: All Thinks Considered in which he engages in free and open discussion about current, important issues with world thought leaders, politicians, and entertainers through the lens of Critical Thinking and Ethical Reasoning.    

November Speaker - Julien LeBourdais - A 50 Year Photographic Odyssey

Retired Photojournalist Julien LeBourdais will share his presentation:  “Stanley Cups to Prime Ministers to John Lennon – a 50-year Photographic Odyssey”. 

He photographed the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup victory in 1967, seven Canadian prime ministers over a 20-year period, as well as John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the King Edward Hotel, Toronto.  

The slideshow of his photos of many famous people and events, with tidbits of insight and humour, promises to be informative and entertaining.

 For more information on Julien Click Here

October Speaker - Darryl Rice - Frauds/Scams and Identity Theft

Constable Darryl Rice has been a Police Officer for over 26 years.

He commenced his career with York Regional Police Services in January 1998, and then transferred to Durham in October 2003.

During his policing career, he has been assigned to various divisions and units, working within, Uniform Patrol, Community Response Unit, Nuclear Tactical Response Team, Divisional Traffic Safety Coordinator, Recruiting, Domestic Violence Offender Management and Crime Prevention-Community Safety Officer.

Constable Rice, is the host of the local Rogers Cable 10 program, “Seniors Talk with DRPS”. He has been the Coordinator of the annual DRPS Food and Toy drive for the past 8 years and also serves on the Board of the Durham Regional Police Association, a position he has held for the past 18 years.

He is assigned as the Police liaison officer to the Mississaugas of Scugog Islands, First Nations Community, and was previously the Police Liaison Officer for the Oshawa Generals Hockey Club and a staff member of the 2015 Memorial Cup Championship team, for which he received an OHL sanctioned Memorial Cup Championship ring.

Throughout his career, Constable Rice has received various acclamations, accommodations and awards. He has been awarded by command of Her Majesty The Queen, The Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals, as well as the Governor General Police Exemplary Service medal for 20 years of completed policing service, as well as two PADAN awards for Policing excellence , and the Mike Ewles Community Builder Award.

Constable Rice, takes great pride in community service and is a strong and supportive advocate for all.

September Speaker - Tom Herstad - Author

Tom Herstad is the author of 2nd Line West which tells the story about his mother’s endurances. Born and bred in Toronto, Tom has been an avid hockey player, coach, passionate outdoor adventurer, cooking over campfires and enjoying the Thirty Thousand Islands of Georgian Bay.

Tom will share why his mother’s story is worth sharing, why it is a story worth reading, and why it is a story worth making into a movie. In sharing his mother’s story he hopes to raise the conscious awareness of a kinder, more compassionate and more empathic world for all.

For more information on Tom Herstad Click Here.

Discover Ontario’s Medical Expense and Senior’s Care at Home, Tax Credit.

Jeremy has kindly sent a link for those who may wish to get additional information on tax issues.  Click here to access the webinars.

July Speaker - Phil Craig, Liberation Tours

Phil Craig is Co-Founder, Lead Historian and Master Story-Teller for Liberation Tours. He's also a professional actor with numerous credits in film, television and stage including seasons with the prestigious Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada. In 2014 Phil embarked on a world tour in the highly successful stage production The Last Confession starring David Suchet (who many will know as BBC’s Inspector Hercule Poirot). Film-goers will 

recognize Phil as Rachel McAdams’ father in the hit movie The Time Traveler’s Wife or recall seeing him with Russel Crowe in Cinderella Man, or alongside Ralph Fiennes in David Cronenburg’s Spider. More recently he appears in the award winning Hardy Boys series and guest starred in the NBC mini-series Five Days at Memorial. He can also be seen in The Handmaid’s Tale, The Exorcist and in the acclaimed Netflix horror series Hemlock Grove. He has contributed several memorable characters for the CBC hit series Murdoch Mysteries and continues to lend his voice to numerous radio ad spots. Much to his chagrin, he is often remembered as the guy in the Lotto 6/49 commercial that gives away cottages to his family – and that commercial was a long time ago!

Phil has been guiding battlefield tours for over ten years where his combination of story-telling skills, knowledge and passion for history takes you inside the battle in a way that few historians can. He has been studying military history since his teenage years and has made numerous trips to the battlefields of Europe to investigate, research and remember. Some of the most poignant spots we visit have come as the result of Phil ‘tripping over them’ during his battlefield discovery tours.

For more information on Phil Craig and Liberation Tours Click here.

June Speaker - Deidrey Francois - What's in a Name?

Deidrey Francois is a Singer-songwriter, Speaker, Performer and JoyBringer. She delivers keynotes at Spiritual Centres and Seniors groups as well as concert venues internationally. Deidrey has performed with powerhouses like Jackie Richardson and Patti Austin. Her music has been featured on CBC radio and her musical versatility is performed with infectious enthusiasm. Her intent is to bring Joy in Melody to wiggle, giggle and to touch a listener's heart.

For more information on Deidrey Click here.

May Speaker - Don Cornack - Financial Advisor, IG Wealth Management

Don visited us in February but due to our time constraints he was unable to complete his presentation.  He is back this month by popular demand.

Don services numerous clients in Durham Region and is here to discuss Estate and Tax Planning ideas, including how you can reduce Probate Fees on death.

April Speaker - Amy Barron - Agatha Christie & Archeology

If you don't know how these two are connected, then join us to learn how the great mystery novelist's life is revealed within the pages of her books  Her love for the Middle East and the life she lived with her famous archaeologist husband provided the basis for many of her greatest novels, including Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and Murder in Mesopotamia.  Learn about her life, travels, and the fabulous ancient sites whose mysteries she helped uncover.

For more information on Amy Barron go to https://quarrywood.ca/about/

March Speaker - Lianne Harris– Persia

Take a magic carpet ride for 1-hour with Lianne Harris as we fly into ancient Persia.

From modern mathematics and astronomy to the enduring stories of Ali Baba shared among the caravan drivers along the Silk Route, learn of the enduring legacy of one of the world’s most important empires. Understand better how Persia enchanted and enlightened the past, and why it was the envy of the world.

Click here https://historybyharris.ca/ for more information on Lianne Harris.

February Speaker:  Don Cornack – Financial Advisor, IG Wealth Management

Don Cornack is a Financial Advisor at IG Wealth Management, serving the financial needs of clients for the last 14 years at IG.  Don has designations including the Qualified Associate Financial Planner, Registered Retirement Consultant, and the Responsible Investing Specialist.  Don services numerous clients in Durham Region and is here to discuss Estate and Tax Planning ideas, including how you can reduce Probate Fees on death.

January Speaker:  Jeremy Bertrand - Senior Program Advisory Specialist | Ministry of Finance

Do you find the thought of filing your personal Income Tax and Benefit Return stressful, confusing, or overwhelming? Well come out and listen to Jeremy help you to understand the importance of increasing your knowledge of the personal income tax system.

Find out which tax credits and benefits you and your family may qualify for.  Jeremy will help demystify these programs.  Jeremy delivers his seminars with humour and enthusiasm.