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GUEST SPEAKERS

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2023/24  Upcoming Guest Speakers 

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October:        David Hobson - The Crazy English Language

November:    Judy Hancock-Holland - Take Better Pictures

January/24:    Lynne Bowen - Vancouver Island Coal Mining

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Past Guest Speakers

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Guest Speakers for 2020 to 2022  were held by Zoom. (recordings of these speakers on Members side of website)

 

2023 Guest Speakers 

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January:       Stephen Watson, MSc. Land Use Planning (B.C. Hydro                                                    Communications Lead John Hart Generating Station Replacement                                   Project) 

 

February:     Jane Evans BC Cancer Foundation. Strides made in Cancer research.

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March:         Sharon Speevak - Elderdog Nanaimo

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May:                Ross Peterson from VIU Elder College 

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June:             Laura Kristiansen will give a talk about invasive plant species.

 

September:    Ron Dimos -  How to evaluate the success of your investment portfolio                           and minimize risks in markets.

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2022 Guest Speakers

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March:         Dr. Adel Guitouni of the UVic Speaker’s Bureau on “Sustainable and                              Resilient Supply Chains with Applications in Health and Agri-food”

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June:             Lieutenant Colonel Justin Olsen,

                     Commanding Officer 418 Search and Rescue Squadron

                     CFB Comox

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September:   Bob Crosby - National Parks and Other Highlights of Utah and Arizona

 

October:       Laura Kristiansen - lighthearted and entertaining presentation on                                     Commerce and the Classics

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November:    Evan Arbuckle-  Energy Transitions for the Future:  Canadian                                          Hydropower Resource Assessment - Understanding the  Trade-                                        offs/Economic Impacts of Hydropower and Alternative Energy Sources.

 

 

2021 Guest Speakers 

January:        Diny Van Beers,  walking the iconic Camino del Santiago Trail                                        extending 480 miles / 770 km from Santiago de Compostela,                                            located in Spain's far northwest to St. Jean Pied-du-Port in France

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February:      Philippe Lucas, VP of Patient Research and Access, 

                     Tilray Pharmaceutical Company:  Medical Cannabis in Older                                           Patients, Results from a Canadian National Study of Patients Over 50.

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March:          Sonia Voicescu from University of Victoria - Butterflies of                                                Southern Vancouver Island

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April:            Dr. John Willis from the University of Victoria -

                      The Search for Life  in the Universe 

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May:              Barb Riordan Project Co-ordinator of Mid Vancouver  Island Habitat                               Enhancement Society. Connecting communities to their landscape an                               works with local communities to protect and restore habitat related to                             salmon including watersheds

 

June:             Mayor Leonard Krog, Nanaimo City Mayor 

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September:   Bob Crosby -  Earthquake Early Warning System for BC

 

October:       Dr. David Coupland  from Nanaimo Medical Staff                                                             Engagement Society  an update on their talk last year and how things are                          progressing with the hospital/medical services in Nanaimo. 

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November:   Violet Hayes, Executive Director Island Crises Care Society – speaking                            on the challenges and the organization’s work to help our most                                        vulnerable citizens.

2020

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November:    Bob Crosby,  Oceans Networks Canada and the work being done                                      on  our oceans floor.  VIA ZOOM CLOUD MEETING

 

February:      Dr. David Coupland, President, MSA  - Nanaimo Medical                                                staff  Association Roles and Goals: A Tertiary Hospital at NRGH.                                    

January:        Celebrate 2020 with entertainment by the Frogs, Acapella Group

                      Enjoy Lead  Ray Bertram, Bass Ron Dodd, Baritone Roy Sage                                        and  our own Tenor Mac Dallman  CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW

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2019

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November:   Brian Riddell - Science Advisor, Pacific Salmon Foundation

 

October:       Mike Hooper - President and CEO of the Nanaimo Airport Authority                            

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September:   Mike Annan, Executive Director, Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs                           

June:             Darin Guenette - BC Ferries

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May:             Randy Spensley - BC Kidney Foundation

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April:            No speaker  PNN lunch social

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March:          Greg Fraser - Vancouver Island University Elder College

 

February:      Pierre Simard - Vancouver Island Symphony

 

January:       Robert Grose - Milner Gardens

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2018

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November:   Bob Crosby -  Earthquake Early Warning for B.C

                     

October:       Paul Sibley and Cathy Dyck - Nanaimo Community Hospice Society                             

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September:   Rachelle Muller – Story Telling (and how to pass them on)

 

June:            Jane Hope - Alzheimer's Society of BC

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May:            Melissa Tomlinson RDR Emergency Preparedness     

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April:           No speaker  PNN lunch social

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March:         Joanna Hesketh - VIU - Protecting your Privacy Online

 

February:     Steve Williamson - BC Wildlife Photographer

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January:       Rob Hallam - Habitat for Humanity 

 

2017

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November:  Tim Palmer  North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

                     "Bear Facts" 

                    https://www.niwra.org/

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October:      Lorne Hildebrand - Nanaimo's Proposed Ocean Discovery Center

                    https://ndda.ca/

 

 

September:  Isobel MacKenzie from the office of the Seniors Advocate            

                         

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June:           Janice Perrino, CEO of Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation

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May:           Melinda Franklin - National certification as a Diabetes Educator                                       Diabetes management and prevention of complications.

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April:          No Guest Speaker.  Probus  Special Event.

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March:        Nestor Gayowsky _ a career Canadian diplomat and former                                               charge d'affaires of the Canadian embassy in the Ukraine.

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February:    Tim Schewe -  Retired RCMP  http://www.drivesmartbc.ca 

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January:      Roger Griffiths - Adventures of 5 Old Mountain Men RETURNS!

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2016

November: Michele Hiller - Executive Director of Literacy Central Vancouver  Isalnd.                   

October:     Bill Hicks - founder Bill's Place (cancelled due to illness)

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September: Tracy Samra - Nanaimo Chief Administrative Officer

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June:          Roger Griffiths - Adventures of 5 Old Mountain Men

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May:          Peter Sinclair - Executive Director, Loaves and Fishes

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April:         Bernie Dumas - President and CEO, Nanaimo Port Authority

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March:       Toni O’Keeffe -Vancouver Island Health Authority

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February:   Edward Goodfellow - "Investing is just Math and Psychology"

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January:     Giselle Roeder  - member and author - "My life in 3 Germanys"

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2015

November: Bill McKay - Mayor City of Nanaimo

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October:     Margaret Hosfield and Ian Kennedy - Authors Tofino and 

                   Clayoquot Sound  history 

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September: Jamie Morgan - Hearing Education Outreach Program

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June:          Member Show and Tell

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May:          Darcy O'Toole - Pharmacist Memorial Medicine Center

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April:         Kim Smythe - CEO Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce

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March:       Steve Warren - Nanaimo Public Library

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February:   Katia Langton - Certified Pedorthist Canadian Diabetes Rep

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January:     Umish Lal - Nanaimo Fire Prevention Officer

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2014

November: Anne Sison - Professional Falconer with Eddie the Eagle

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October:     Mark Costales - Johnson Medical Ins and Medoc Prestige travel

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September: Teresa Ludvigson and Traci Higgins  - Habitat for Humanity

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June:          Arthur Black - Author, Humorist, Writer, Broadcaster

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May:          David Minto - BC Salmon Farmers Association 

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April:         Jeff Lott and Gerald Laport - BC  Summer Games

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March:       John R. Manning - Lawyer Estate Planning

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February:   Judy Hancock - Nanaimo Hospice 

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2013

November: John Gillham, Wally Roth, and Barry Tucker  - Photography 

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October:     Rosemarie Davenport - NI Wildlife Recovery Centre

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September: Constable Gary O'Brian RCMP  

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June:           Gord Bibby Oak Tree Manor

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May:          Melanie Craik - BCAA travel insurance

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April:         Lisa Holloway VIHA Home Care and Residential Services 

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January:     Judi Malcolm Bethlehem Retreat Centre

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