Topic: “The Chainsaw Artist on His Craft”. From a traditional background as a follow-the-path factory worker, Robbin has become a renowned artist with a unique specialty: he carves amazing figures from tree trunks with a chainsaw. An instructor at the Haliburton School of the Arts, he fashions his works out of trees, giving a second [...]
Carlijn Van Kessel and Desty DeMille, two members of Original Kids Theatre Company, will talk with us about their interest in drama and especially about their trip to Lingen, Germany last summer. As members of the London troupe, they represented Canada at the World Festival of Children’s Theatre, with their original collective creation, “Dream Journey.”
Topic: “Me and the Writing Life”. Born in the UK and emigrating to Canada as a teenager, Maureen has been a teacher, assistant dog trainer, a coat check girl (very briefly), and a psychotherapist. We know her better as the writer behind Murdoch Mysteries and Bomb Girls, her pair of very popular television series. She [...]
Topic: “Muslim Women in Canadian Society”. A member of The Order of Canada and recipient of an honorary Ph. D. (from Queen’s University School of Religion), Alia Hogben is the Executive Director of the Canadian Council for Muslim Women. She is a proponent of liberal, modernist practices in Islam and believes in interfaith understanding. The [...]
We are pleased to have the opportunity for Ewan Hartman to both speak to us and dance for us. Last year he claimed a national Dance Masters of America title for eight to nine year-old boys at a competition in Orlando, Florida. He took top honors in tap, ballet and acro, which is a combination [...]
Topic: “Uprising: A New Age is Dawning for Every Mother’s Daughter”. Human rights activist, journalist, and award-winning author Sally Armstrong has covered stories about women and girls in zones of conflict all over the world. She has received many awards such as the Amnesty International Media Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Journalism [...]
Topic: The Impact of Domestic Violence on the Workplace Dr. Jaffe is the well-known Academic Director of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Western and has spent over 30 years working to champion women and children victims of domestic violence. The Centre’s Community Director, Barb MacQuarrie, will co-present [...]
Ellen McDonald was the winner of the 2014 essay contest “Proud to be Canadian” and is excited to share it with the WCC audience. Ellen was born in March 2003 and will enter grade 7 in September. She lives in Thorndale with her parents and 2 younger brothers. Ellen is passionate about acting, singing, and [...]
Topic: Music and the Brain: Why Rhythm Makes Us Move With many degrees and awards to her credit, Dr. Grahn brings her knowledge and experience in neuroscience, piano performance and the psychology of brain and mind to our podium. Her research is currently funded by the National Sciences and Engineering Council, Parkinson Society Canada, the [...]
Jackson Martin is a 15 year-old student in the French Immersion Program at Sir Wilfred Laurier Secondary School in London. He will be our Youth Speaker on Thursday October 8, 2015 at Centennial Hall. Jackson is the son of Katherynne and Richard Martin and has been in 17 films, mostly shorts. He attended the Cannes [...]
