Guest Speakers
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2025 Upcoming Guest Speakers
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April:
AGM - no speaker. 20th Anniversary and Pancake Breakfast!
May:
Planned Car Rally & Scavenger Hunt - no speaker
June:
Donna Hais - Bob Wall Contracting. Building medical facilities (offices & care homes)
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Past Guest Speakers
2025
February:
Tim Schewe - "Bad Habits". Tim is a 25 year veteran of the RCMP. His presentation will focus on a wide range of points.
March:
Bob Crosby - Earthquake Information for BC.
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Past Guest Speakers
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2024
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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
May:
Mali Bain - Getting Unstuck: Finish Your Life Story or Family History Book
June:
Tim Schewe - Tim is a 25 year veteran of the RCMP. He will test our knowledge with a series of quiz questions that should generate some interesting conversation and questions about driving and road safety.
September:
Laura Shanner - "Things you might not know about the BC SPCA"
October:
Const. Gary O'Brien - Constable O'Brien from the Nanaimo RCMP will talk about "Scams and Frauds; what they look like, and what you can do to protect your hard earned money"
November:
Robin Fisher - Robin is with Mid Island Elder College, and will talk about "Elder College Resurgent"
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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"
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October:
Lorne Hildebrand - Nanaimo's Proposed Ocean Discovery Center
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
