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Guest Speakers

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2024  Upcoming Guest Speakers 

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May:

Mali Bain - Getting Unstuck: Finish Your Life Story or Family History Book

June        

TBA

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Past Guest Speakers

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2024

January:

Lynne Bowen - Vancouver Island Coal Mining

February:  

Graham Sakaki, Regional Research Institute Manager; Mandy Hobkirk, Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Coordinator.  Discussing  current projects including climate action initiatives, and opportunities for people to get involved.

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March:

Ross Peterson - Emergency Preparedness 

April:

AGM no guest speaker

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2023 

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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 gave an informative talk about invasive plant species that threaten our local ecology.

 

September:    

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

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October: 

David Hobson - The Crazy English Language

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November:

David Hobson - Part 2 - The History of Middle English

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2022 

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Guest Speakers for 2020 to 2022  were held via Zoom

(recordings of these speakers can be found on Members side of website)

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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 gave a lighthearted and entertaining presentation on              "Commerce and the Classics"  or  "The use of popular classical music in cartoons, movies and advertising".

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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 

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 and            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 gave 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 MEETINGS 

 

February: 

Dr. David Coupland, President, MSA  - Nanaimo Medical  taff  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                 

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 "BearFacts"  

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 Ukraine.

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February:

Tim Schewe -  Retired RCMP officer.   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  Island.                   

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 Centre

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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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