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Past Programs Speakers/Topics
[Updated
16 May 2010]
2009-2010
Thursday,
13 May 2010
Ken Watson, author and member of Friends of the
Rideau, was the Canadian Club of Kingston's speaker at its
luncheon meeting on Thursday, May 13. He spoke about "The Rideau
Route." The luncheon was held at Minos Uptown Village
Restaurant, 2762 Princess Street, Kingston.
Ken Watson worked as a geologist
in the Yukon and northern Ontario before moving to the Rideau area in 1995. He
is a renowned expert on the Rideau Canal. He has developed an amazing website
on the Canal (http://www.rideau-info.com)
and published two books: A History of the Rideau
Lockstations, 2000; and The Rideau Route: Exploring
the Pre-Canal Waterway, 2007. He is publishing a
new book this year: “Tales of the Rideau.”
Ken is a director of Friends
of the Rideau (http://www.rideaufriends.com)
and The Delta Mill Society (http://www.deltamill.org).
He volunteers with various other heritage organizations, including the Rideau
Canal Museum, Kingston Historical Society, Rideau Heritage Network, Chaffey’s
Lock and Area Heritage Society, Merrickville and District Historical Society,
and Canadian Canal Society. He lives beside the Rideau Canal Waterway with his
wife Pat and dog Tika.
Thursday,
08 April 2010
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Speaker: Don Drummond, Senior
Vice-President & Chief Economist, TD Bank
Topic:
"What
comes after the Great Recession?"
Don Drummond was
the Canadian Club of Kingston's speaker at its luncheon meeting on
Thursday, April 8. He spoke about "What comes
after the Great Recession?"
Don Drummond joined
the TD Bank in June 2000 as Senior Vice President and Chief
Economist. He leads TD Economics’ work in analyzing and forecasting
economic performance in Canada and abroad. He travels widely across
Canada and abroad, speaking about the Canadian economy and its
prospects, and he is frequently quoted by the media on economic and
policy issues.
Mr. Drummond joined
the federal Department of Finance upon completing his studies at
Queen’s and held progressively more senior positions in areas of
economic analysis and forecasting, fiscal policy and tax policy.
His last position was Associate Deputy Minister -- responsible for
economic analysis, fiscal policy, tax policy, social policy and
federal-provincial relations. In particular, he coordinated
planning of the annual federal budgets.
Don was born and
raised in Victoria BC, where he graduated from the University of
Victoria. He received his MA in Economics from Queen’s University.
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Thursday,
11 March 2010
Speaker: Alia Hogben, Executive Director of the
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Topic: "The
Challenges of being Muslim."
Alia Hogben was born in Burma, was raised in India and lived
in other countries as the daughter of an Indian diplomat. She currently lives
with her family on a farm near Kingston.
Founded in 1982, CCMW is the most prominent Muslim women's
group in Canada. It assists Muslim women and others to learn about Islam and
its message of equality, pluralism and inclusiveness; and to participate as
fully as possible in all aspects of living. CCMW opposed the implementation of
Sharia law during the debate in Canada.
Alia writes a monthly column on Islam and Muslims for the Kingston
Whig-Standard. She speaks regularly at domestic and international events; and
she is frequently interviewed by Canadian and international media. Prior to
joining CCMW, she worked with the Ontario Ministry of Community & Social
Services. She has also served as Director of the March of Dimes; taught human
studies at St Lawrence Community College; and worked with the Children’s Aid
Society.
Thursday,
11 February 2010
Louis Delvoie was the substitute speaker at this
luncheon meeting. His topic was "Afghanistan:
The Return of History?".
Thursday,
14 January 2010
Dr. Jacalyn Duffin was the Canadian Club of Kingston's
speaker at its luncheon meeting on Thursday, January 14. She holds the
Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine at Queen's University.
She spoke about "Music and Memory: What Can
Dementia Teach Us about the Brain?".
 Dr.
Duffin is an award winning scholar and educator. She is a
medical historian and haematologist, and she is
a great speaker. She was one of the Top 10
lecturers in the 2008 TVO Big Ideas Best Lecturer Competition.
She has made significant
contributions to the field of history of medicine, and is the
author of five books and editor of several others. Her research
interests include 19th century French and Canadian
medicine, medical illustrations, and medical saints.
In 2005, she co-authored, with Dr Lola Cuddy, professor
emeritus of psychology at Queen’s, a prize-winning study of a woman with severe
Alzheimer's disease who showed surprising musical memory. They researched the
question: is music recognition spared in dementia, and how can it be assessed?
The results are both uplifting and fascinating.
Thursday,
10 December 2009
Dr. Ted Hsu –
Executive Director,
SWITCH
Topic:
“Cap and
Trade for Greenhouse Gases:
What is it, why
does it matter, Kingston benefits”
Ted Hsu’s interest in global warming and climate
change has grown steadily in recent years. He is
Executive Director of SWITCH – a non-profit organization that aims to make
Kingston a leading centre for alternative and renewable energy. It provides a
network for businesses, research institutions, public sector participants, and
volunteers. He spoke about our energy economy, greenhouse gas offsets, and
ways to influence public policy.
Ted is highly active in the community. Among other
things, he co-chairs the Kingston Environmental Advisory Forum – which assists
the City in environmental strategy. He studied physics at Queen's University,
received his PhD at Princeton with a thesis on high temperature
superconductivity, and worked as a research scientist at UBC, CNRS Grenoble, and
AECL's Chalk River Laboratories. He then moved into finance, working with Banque
Nationale de Paris in Philadelphia and Paris, and with Morgan Stanley in Tokyo.
Ted provided members and
guests with a highly informative session on the "cap & trade" framework for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions within Canada, and in cooperation with the
United States and other world nations. He described the framework for
attacking the CO2 portion of global warning in a succinct manner, with an
excellent demonstration using an example for three sample CO2 emitters.
The short question period was handled effectively, but it was all too brief to
satisfy the obvious interests of the enthusiastic audience.
Thursday,
12 November 2009
Florence
Campbell, Vice President of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
Topic:
Kingston’s Vital Signs” – a new report by the Community Foundation for Kingston
& Area
Florence
Campbell is Vice
President of the Community Foundation for
Kingston & Area. This is one of over 160 community foundations in
Canadian cities and towns. Its report on Kingston’s Vitals Signs is a
community report card, with key indicators measuring the community’s
“health” and vitality. The idea began in Toronto in 2001 and was made a
national program of the Community Foundations of Canada.
Florence Campbell has a distinguished background in community
board governance. In the health area, she serves on boards of the Community for
Excellence in Health Governance, and Queen’s University Family Health Team; and
was earlier on those of the Kingston General Hospital, Children’s
Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation, and Ottawa Heart Institute.
She has served as Vice Principal, Queen's University; and Vice President,
Conference Board of Canada. She has been on boards of the Kingston Symphony
Association, Grand Theatre Fundraising Restoration Committee; and
the Canadian Clubs of Toronto and Ottawa.
Florence provided a succinct summary of the subject
report to the audience at the luncheon.
Wednesday 07 October
2009
Dr. Henri Habib,
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Concordia University
Topic
“The Middle East in 2009 :
Peace or Conflict?”
Dr Henry Habib, Distinguished
Professor Emeritus, Concordia University, Montreal, was back by
popular demand as the Canadian Club of Kingston's guest speaker. At
its first luncheon of the new season, Wednesday, October 7,
he spoke on: “The Middle East in 2009 : Peace or Conflict?”
Dr
Habib is a highly respected scholar and an authority on the politics
of the Middle East, on which he is frequently invited to speak and
comment. He has published two books on Libya and numerous articles
on Arab unity, the Palestinian question and other Mid-East topics.
He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Concordia University,
Montreal; a Visiting Professor in Islamic Studies at McGill
University; and a Governor Emeritus of Concordia’s Board of
Governors.
Dr Habib founded and chaired
the Political Science Department at Loyola College and its successor
Concordia University until his retirement in 1999. He graduated in
Political Science from the American University of Beirut. He
studied at Princeton University and received his MA in Political
Science at Fordham University. He taught for several years at the
American University of Beirut and at Saint Mary’s University in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received his PhD from McGill.
2008-2009
Friday 19 June 2009
Leslee Thompson,
President and CEO, Kingston General Hospital
Topic :
“The Way Forward for Kingston General Hospital”
Leslee Thompson, President and
CEO of Kingston General Hospital, was the Canadian Club of
Kingston's speaker at its luncheon meeting on Friday, June 19. Her
topic was "The Way Forward."
Ms Thompson
was appointed
President and CEO of KGH this February. She brings extensive health-care
industry experience in both the public and private sectors to this important
leadership role. She will tell us about her first 100 days in office and how
KGH will move towards the future.
She was
previously Vice President, Health System Strategies with Medtronic of Canada, a
global medical devices company. She has served as Vice President, Cancer System
Integration and Performance with Cancer Care Ontario. She has also held senior
executive roles in several teaching hospitals, including Sunnybrook & Women’s
Health Science Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, and the Royal Alexandra
Hospital in Edmonton.
Ms Thompson
started her career as a critical care nurse. She is a graduate of the School of
Nursing at Queen’s University and holds a Master of Science degree in Nursing
from University of Toronto and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
08
April 2009
Don Carty,
Chairman
of Porter Airlines and Virgin America Airlines
Topic :
“Porter
Airlines and new Innovations in Aviation.”
Don
Carty has a distinguished corporate career. He is chairman of Porter
Airlines and Virgin America Airlines (both since 2006). He is a
director of Dell Inc, Hawaiian Airlines, Sears Roebuck, CHC Helicopter
Corporation, and Barrick Gold Corporation. Until last year, he was vice
chairman and chief financial officer of Dell Inc (2007-2008). He is an
Officer of the Order of Canada.
He
was previously Chairman and
CEO of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines (1998-2003). He
joined the airline in 1978 and rose to become
Executive Vice President for finance and planning, then
President of AMR and
American Airlines. In between, he served as President and CEO of Canadian
Pacific Airlines (1985-1987). Before joining American Airlines, he had worked
with Celanese Canada, Air Canada, and Canadian Pacific Railway.
Mr Carty was born
in Toronto, graduated from Queen’s University and Harvard Business School, and
holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s. He
and his wife, Ana, live in
Dallas, Texas. He
is chairman of the Big
Brothers Big Sisters of America, a board trustee of Southern Methodist
University, and a board director of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
Foundation.
12 March 2009
Brian Porter, Brockville
Infantry Company (1862)
Topic :
“Sir John A, the Man Who Made Us”
Brian Porter,
Brockville Infantry Company (1862), aka
Sir John A. MacDonald,
was the Canadian Club of Kingston's speaker at its luncheon meeting on
Thursday, March 12. His topic was "Sir John A, the Man Who Made Us." He
was accompanied by his wife aka Renee Porter, aka Lady Agnes Macdonald.
Brian Porter is a great fan of Canadian history. He enjoys
telling the life stories of Sir John A. Macdonald and Major
James Walsh NWMP. Brian Porter has been playing Sir John
for the past ten years and has spoken to over two hundred
groups, visiting historical societies, schools, conferences
and more.
Brian is an elementary school teacher and taught for 32
years in Brockville until retiring in 1998. He is Chairman
of the Brockville Museum Board, a member of the Brockville
History Book Committee, and a founding member of Brockville
Infantry Company (1862) – which gives historical
re-enactments of the 1860s volunteer militia. He was born
and raised in Peterborough, and was educated at Peterborough
Collegiate and Vocational School, Carleton University (B.A.
History) and Ottawa Teachers’ College.
10 February 2009
Jim Sandford,
Economist, Canadian Automobile
Workers
Topic
“Rethinking
Economics: Why the Current Crisis Should Spur Us to Challenge Conventional
Wisdom”
The well-known
economist Jim Stanford was the Canadian Club of Kingston's speaker at its
luncheon meeting on Tuesday, 10 February 2009. Insights into the new
Federal Budget were anticipated – he’s been prominent on CBC radio recently.
Jim Stanford is a
Senior Economist with the Canadian Auto Workers, Canada's largest private-sector
trade union. He is also a Research Associate of the Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives. He is the author of Paper Boom (published in 1999), and
Economics for Everyone (Pluto Press and Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives, 2008). He writes a regular economics column for the Globe and
Mail. He is a member of CBC TV’s regular National News economics panel. Jim
received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1995 from the New School for Social Research
in New York, and also holds economics degrees from Cambridge University and the
University of Calgary. He lives in Toronto with his partner and two daughters.
08 January 2009
Katherine Barber, Former
Director,
Oxford Canadian Dictionary (CBC’s Word Lady)
Topic
“Bachelor for Rent”
The
definition of knowledgeable – Katherine Barber
Longtime
editor-in-chief of Canadian dictionaries delivers address to Kingston Canadian
Club
Posted By
MATTHEW PUDDISTER, FOR THE WHIG-STANDARD
 Billed as "Canada's
Word Lady", Katherine Barber - former editor of the Oxford Canadian Dictionary -
speaks to the Canadian Club of Kingston Thursday about the use of language in
Canada.
Michael Lea /Whig-Standard
Look up the
word hockey in your dictionary, Katherine Barber suggests, and you'll see what
makes Canadian English so distinctive.
"If you look in
a British dictionary or one of these so-called Canadian dictionaries," Barber
said during a speech yesterday to the Canadian Club of Kingston, "you will
discover that hockey is defined as, 'A game played on a field with 11 players.'
"
That's not
generally the image that comes to mind when we think of the nation's most
beloved winter sport and for Barber, known as Canada's Word Lady, it illustrates
the need for a dictionary from a truly Canadian perspective.
As
editor-in-chief of Canadian dictionaries at Oxford University Press from 1991 to
2008, Barber ensured that when we say hockey, "we mean the thing that's played
on ice, we do not mean the thing that is played on grass."
In her
distinctively witty style, Barber's address - titled Bachelor For Rent - kept
the audience entertained with examples culled from her years as a leading
authority on Canadian English.
No dictionary,
it seemed, could be free of cultural bias, even for seemingly objective words
such as place names.
"Dieppe,'
Barber said, "is defined as follows in the Oxford British Dictionary: 'A port in
Normandy from which ferries depart for Newhaven, Sussex.' " Barber paused for
laughter.
"This is only
slightly Britocentric," she I wrote to my colleagues in Oxford and said, 'If
you're going to have an entry on Dieppe, don't you think that you should mention
the war?'
"They wrote
back and said, 'Did something happen at Dieppe in the war?' "
Language, as
Barber said, is in her genes. Her mother was an English teacher and her father
was always interested in languages. Although she was raised in Winnipeg, Barber
was born in England and lived there until she was eight.
"It was a real
eye-opener to me that people could speak English in such different ways," she
said. "The difference between British English and Canadian English ... piqued my
interest."
Aside from a
unique combination of British and American spelling, Canadian English developed
into its present form through British political institutions and the country's
bilingual status, which helped terms from Canadian French -poutine, anyone?
-seep into the lexicon.
"The fact that
Canada is a multicultural society means that we borrow from Italian and
Ukrainian and Icelandic ... and Canadian native peoples," Barber said. "Then, of
course, we have to use words that describe our particular geographic reality,
dealing with the winter and so on."
Barber's most
reliable rhetorical device was describing Canadian English from the perspective
of an American visitor, for whom terms like "loonie," meaning dollar, and "Can
Stud," meaning Canadian Studies, can be incomprehensible.
"If we are to
maintain Canadian English," Barber concluded, "we have to make sure that we
maintain our Can-Stud attitude and never run out of loonies."
Article ID# 1379974
Top of Page
11 December 2008
Dr.
Art McDonald –
Gray Chair in
Particle Astrophysics, Queen’s; Director SNO Institute
Topic: “Observing
our Universe from 2 km Underground: SNO and the new SNOLAB”
Dr Art McDonald was the Canadian Club of Kingston's speaker at
its luncheon meeting on Thursday, December 11. He holds the Gray Chair in
Particle Astrophysics at Queen's University, and is Director of the Sudbury
Neutrino Observatory (SNO) Institute. His topic was "Observing our Universe
from 2 km underground."
Dr McDonald
joined Queen’s in 1989. He spearheads an international research project
studying tiny particles emitted from the sun. This is one of the most
important scientific experiments being conducted in Canada today. The SNO
Laboratory is located 2 km underground in one of INCO’s old mines in Sudbury,
Ontario. It is designed to detect solar neutrinos and study major scientific
questions such as the nature of dark matter. He explains: “The research that we
are doing ... really bridges the entire universe. We … try to understand the
most detailed things about the universe, how it was created and evolved; in
short, the origins of the universe.”
Dr McDonald
is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He and his team have received some of the
world’s most prestigious prizes in physics. They include the Benjamin Franklin
Medal in Physics (past winners Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Marie and
Pierre Curie), and the Bruno Pontecorvo Prize, the world’s top award in particle
physics.
13
November 2008
Jeffry Simpson,
Columnist, Globe and Mail
Topic “Hot Air”
Jeffrey Simpson, The Globe and Mail’s national affairs
columnist, was the Canadian Club of Kingston's speaker at its luncheon meeting
on Thursday, November 13. His topic was “Hot Air”, the title of his
latest book.
Mr. Simpson
joined The Globe and Mail in 1974. He became its Ottawa bureau chief in 1978;
served in London UK as its European correspondent, 1981-1983; and began writing
his national affairs column in 1984. He has published eight books. His latest,
published in 2007, with Mark Jaccard and Nic Rivers, is titled Hot Air:
Meeting Canada’s Climate Change Challenge. He has written numerous magazine
articles and is a regular contributor to television programs in both English and
French.
Jeffrey Simpson
has won all three of Canada's leading literary prizes – the Governor-General's
award for non-fiction book writing, the National Magazine Award for political
writing, and the National Newspaper Award for column-writing (twice). In 2000,
he became an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He studied at the
University of Toronto, Queen's University and the London School of Economics.
He has received honorary doctorates of laws from Queen's and other
universities. He has been a member of Queen’s board of trustees and the
editorial board of The Queen's Quarterly. He has taught at Queen’s Institute of
Policy Studies and The University of Ottawa Law School. He is a senior fellow at
the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.
He lives in Ottawa
with his wife Wendy, and they have three children.
Top of Page
Globe columnist
lambastes ‘national incoherence’ on carbon emissions - Posted By Lynn Rees
Lambert on Kingston This Week Website 27 November 2008
Now that we won’t have
the Bush administration to bash, get ready to see Canadians hitch their wagons
to the newly-elected Obama administration’s policy on handling carbon emissions.
Jeffrey Simpson, the
national affairs columnist for “The Globe and Mail” and winner of all three of
Canada’s major literary prizes, provided a journalist’s insight into the issue
as the guest speaker at the Canadian Club of Kingston meeting Nov. 13.
While climate change has
grabbed headlines over the last decade, Simpson, whose latest book “Hot Air,
Meeting Canada’s Climate Change Challenge,” co-authored with Mark Jaccard and
Nic Rivers, pointed out that the last six months have put a completely different
spin on the topic.
In essence, it’s been put
on the back burner as the “economic downdraft” packs a global wallop.
“Fourteen months ago,
when we wrote this book, we anticipated that oil would rise in a measured steady
fashion,” he explained. At the time, policy makers were toying with a form of
carbon tax and a range of options to combat climate change.
Not now.
Two things have
completely changed the landscape: the rapid rise in the price of oil, which
started in the summer, and the economic meltdown that began in the United States
and has washed over the globe.
When gas prices
skyrocketed, “people were overwhelmed with talk about a carbon tax,” said
Simpson. “SUV sales went down, factories closed and the sale of fuel-efficient
cars went up.”
“People will change their
behaviour when faced with a new economic reality but people can’t adjust that
quickly,” he noted.
And, while the public
appears to be united in wanting to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, he said,
how and at what cost is another story altogether. It’s a case of NIMBY — not in
my back yard, he said.
“We go for
energy-efficient light bulbs, energy-efficient appliances, but paying higher
prices for energy or gas is an unpalatable option.”
Plus, the general public
is distrustful of all politicians when they say a carbon tax will go to reducing
taxes.
“They fear it will be
wasted, sent overseas or they’ll lose it.”
Simpson lambasted the
“national incoherence” on the political scene, noting that the world is
watching.
“We’re naked as newts,”
he said of our scandalous, but rarely talked about, emissions record, pointing
out that we have the worst record on Kyoto emission levels. Our emissions have
gone up faster than during the Bush administration’s, he said.
But being “morally
superior Canadians,” we have a plan: a 20-per cent reduction in emissions by
2020, a target that is “arithmetically impossible,” as long as we continue to
develop the oil sands.
What’ll we do?
“We’ll join the
Americans, since we can’t come up with a national solution.”
Through this confusion,
Simpson believes we are headed in a new direction.
“We are living in the
early stages of a revolution, or re-organization, towards a new kind of energy
mix,” Simpson stated. “We’re beginning to develop alternatives but we’re not
sure when or its application. A lot will be trial and error.”
But, again, with the
“economic downdraft” front and centre, these issues will get short shrift.
The auto industry, “a
catastrophe,” is one area that needs analysis.
“Four years ago the
government gave a subsidy to GM to build Camero muscle cars,” he pointed out.
And, while he is sympathetic to the workers and families who will be affected by
the massive layoffs that are predicted for the Big 3 companies, should the
government decide to offer bailouts, “every penny has to be invested into green
technology.”
Simpson also pushed for a
national transportation grid, acceleration on the infrastructure that is useful,
as in a fast train from Toronto to Quebec, and an accelerated public transit
project.
“We also need to figure
out a way of pricing carbon.”
The right time to start
such a campaign is now, he said, while gas is low.
Because it won’t stay
this low for long.
Article ID# 1318894
Top of Page
09 October 2008
Don Curtis –
Communications
Consultant and Strategic Planner
Topic: ”Kingston's
Liquid Assets - its Blue Belt Lifestyle and Kingston’s Unequalled Historic
Assets"
Don has over 40
years experience handling communications for over 75 of the largest corporations
in the country. He was partner and managing director of Goodgoll Curtis
Advertising, 1990-2000; and managing director of Vickers and Benson Advertising,
1972-1989. Since retiring and moving to Kingston in 2000, Don has been highly
active in the community. He has conducted a strategic study of the city;
developed a walking-tour book on the Historic Churches of Kingston; developed
Kingston’s Blue Belt (water lifestyle) strategy; developed historic tours; and
is now developing Kingston 360 – a website to bring Kingston’s unique assets to
the attention of the world. Don is a member of the Kingston Imagine Round
Table, a contributing writer to the Kingston Whig-Standard and to Kingston This
Week, and a guest lecturer at St. Lawrence College.
Summary
Don provided a
scintillating set of highlights about
Blue Belt-Kingston – surrounded by fresh, blue waters, Lake Ontario to the
south, the St Lawrence River and the magnificent 1000 islands to the east, the
historic Rideau Canal to the northeast, the Bay of Quinte to the west and a
myriad of fresh pristine lakes to the immediate north. This gives rise to the
finest water lifestyle in North America. He also extolled the considerable
virtues of Kingston's over 600 historic
buildings, most still in daily use, all authentic, with fascinating stories.
His presentation was augmented by an interesting set of colourful slides of the
many blue water and historic heritage jewels in and around Kingston.
Don reported
that 355 years after Count Frontenac arrived on our shores in 1673 and one of
his party purportedly said “This is one of the most beautiful and agreeable
harbours in the world", Kingston remains a magnificent city site.
It’s why later
Fort Henry was built here to defend the supply route of the St. Lawrence and
Great Lakes, it’s why we were a major shipbuilding centre, its why the Naval
dockyards were here, why the Loyalist chose to come here, it’s why many of the
audience came here.
A map of the
Kingston region reveals that the city is surrounded by fresh, blue water: Lake
Ontario to the south, the Bay of Quinte to the west, the St. Lawrence River and
1000 Islands to the east, to the north-east, the historic Rideau Canal and to
the immediate north hundreds of pristine lakes.
Within a 60 KM
circle from Kingston, there are 38 lakes in the circle. Kingston is the Fresh
Water Sailing Capital of the World. The water and wind are why Kingston
was the site of the 1976 Olympic sailing races, are the site of the yearly CORK
races featuring the world’s best young sailors. As for Power Boating,
Kingston has an unsurpassed diversity - 3 entirely different kinds of boating
from one starting point 1. Lake Ontario, 2. St. Lawrence River & the 1000
islands - there are 3 channels trough the islands, where one can stop at quaint
towns on either side of the river, explore the 20 National Park Islands, swim,
picnic, hike and at every twist and turn of the river you have incredibly
beautiful and different vistas. 3. Or travel up the Rideau, a 3-5 day trip -
explore towns and villages of this UNESCO heritage site. Kingston has the potent
to be the Dive Centre of Canada based on 335 years of Marine commerce - ships
from the war of 1812, to every type of schooner etc - 5 minutes away just off
Wolfe and Amherst Islands, with a Virtual under water museum to provide a
history lesson in the types of ships that plied the Great Lakes over the
centuries.
As for Fishing,
there are 2 different types: Lake Ontario charter fishing, like deep sea
fishing, cold water, trolling 85 feet down for 50 pound salmon, 25 inch brown
trout and record muskellunge. Then there are the back lakes, with every kind of
fresh water fish - Perch, Large-Mouth Bass, Small-Mouth Bass, Pickerel, and,
Rainbow trout. For Canoeing and Kayaking, all those 38 lakes, silver ribbon of
lakes, are ideal for such outings. One could kayak or canoe a different lake
everyday for a couple of months if one includes the 20 lakes in Frontenac Park.
For Competitive Rowing, Kingston boasts world class winning championships
starting in 1837, with a resurgence in 1870 because of Ned Hanlon, leading to
the first official rowing competition in1881. On to Windsurfing and
Kite-boarding right by Queen's. From the waterfront, one can view CORK
sailboat race going on further out in the harbour, the kite boarders, the Wolfe
Island ferry going across, and the St. Lawrence tall ship passing by. As
for Hiking, particularly in Frontenac Park, with its 20 lakes and 170 km of
trails, Kingston is blessed with many superb areas. The Park is part of the
Frontenac Arch which has world heritage designation. And if one wants more
hiking, close by are Charleston Lake Park, Bon Echo Park, Lemoine Point Park,
Little Cataraqui Conservation Area - a hikers paradise.
Don proceeded to recount the
highlights of its History and Heritage.
Kingston has been
called the Historic Heart of Canada, having been around for 335 years, with
Canada being only 141years old. Kingston is one of only four cities in Canada
with significant historic pasts - Halifax, Montreal, Quebec being the others!
Kingston
has over 600 historic buildings in our downtown alone - all authentic, all still
in use, not roped off from the public - a mix of commercial buildings, houses,
and beautiful mansions. Kingston was where of Upper and Lower Canada were
united. It was the first capital of Canada, the first parliament was held here,
the first 2 Governors General lived here (and died here ) and, of course, the
first prime minister, our own Sir John A. Macdonald, Father of Confederation,
founder of the Mounties, chief author of the BNA act, builder of the national
railway, considered by experts as the most important political figure in
Canadian history, grew up ,worked and is buried here. Kingston is where
the United Empire Loyalists came to build a new nation based on British laws,
government and religion and their families, and over the next couple of
generations built a lot of the magnificent homes still standing. The old
British Whig building on King Street is the oldest newspaper daily in Canada.
Kingston is home to 13 old 19th century stone churches. St
Georges Cathedral, founding church of Anglican religion in Canada, originally
was a wooden structure where the old British Whig building now stands. The
catholic Church of the Good Thief on west King Street, is the only church of the
Good Thief in the world. St. Paul’s is the oldest protestant cemetery in
Canada with many founding families buried there. St. Andrews is
round inside, St. George’s plaques tell a history onto themselves.
Don mentioned that each of the heritage houses has a story associated with it,
and he recounted several examples. For a King Street experience, one can
drive the 4 KM from City Hall to Portsmouth Village and pass 72 points of
historic interest - houses, statues, commercial buildings, parks. One can
stroll up Princess Street, originally called Store Street, with its examples of
amazing architecture.
Don related some
key aspects of the role of Kingston and impact on the city residents of War of
1812, where Kingston was not attacked because of a very strong commanding view
over the bay. The war had nothing to do with Canada. The British declared
victory because no boundaries changed, the Canadians declared victory because
they had repulsed the enemy, and the Americans declared victory because they won
the last battle - the Battle of New Orleans, even though the battle was waged
three weeks after the treaty was signed. The real losers were the natives who
fought so valiantly hoping to get their lands back from the US government - they
got nothing! The war that seemingly achieved nothing in fact gave rise to a
feeling of nationalism in Canada and gave rise to a new nation, with an
important early role for Kingston.
Don highlighted the fact of
Kingston
being surrounded by our history. One can stand on the waterfront and look
out at the bay where Frontenac, LaSalle, Molly and Joseph Brant, Lord Sydenham
and Sir John A. Macdonald stood.
To emphasise the role of history
in Kingston, Don quoted from
Arthur
Lower, noted Historian and Queen’s History professor: “History is in some ways
to see the past as vital and living. History in an attempt to see backwards
along the path we have come to perhaps glean some inkling of the path down which
we are going. As a Canadian city, Kingston is unique, unique for its structural
material of which it is constructed - much of Kingston built itself out of
itself, small wonder it is called the Limestone city.”
In closing, Don
noted that the architectural remnants, including both the magnificent and
mundane of old Kingston, touch the lives of all citizens. The elegant City
Hall, a legacy from the triumphant, exuberant Kingston of the 1840’s, dominates
its waterfront, a few hundreds yards away from the partially excavated
foundation of Fort Frontenac, each within view of the Martello Towers on the
shore and that in Fort Frederick on the Royal Military College grounds across
the harbour. Don encourage all attendees to become active ambassadors for
this beautiful city blessed with so much of natural environmental and historical
heritage.
Summary by Bruce Morris
In thanking Don Curtis,
Bradley Sumner of the Canadian Club Kingston Executive, provided the
following:
Your comments make some of us wonder
what the future is for a city that displays perhaps its greatest pride in its
206 year old cemetery! Surely this strange remark makes Kingston unique from any
other city on the planet!
That got me to wondering whether life
for many in Kingston is like the movie GOLDEN POND or if it resembles the 1937
film LOST HORIZON. Or both.
In the Lost Horizon, in the
mysterious Eden like valley of Shangri La, its people are protected in the
mountains from the world outside – a seductive escape for all who live there.
Shangri La is a place without illness, war or any type of dispute - clearly
different from any Kingston community experiences!
In Kingston we do not have the
protection of mountains. But we do have Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal on our
boundaries, and maybe that bigger city cover has inhibited our progress. We have
our public service sector here that provides us with an economic base that
should have, but has not been, a cornerstone of business development.
You have provided us with a very
thoughtful analysis of ways in which this community can build on the remarkable
geography and history with which we have been blessed. To not do so is
letting down the generations that follow us.
There are few people who come to this
community, or any other one for that matter to retire, look around their
neighbourhood and decide that changes have to be made – so that we are in fact
not a Golden Pond or a Lost Horizon.
You have seen a lost opportunity
here, and you are bringing to it your life’s experience so that you and others
can have a positive impact on this community.
On behalf of our Club many of us
would like to see action taken on your ideas.
In your presentation you mentioned
our world class sailing and power boat waters. Using that metaphor our history
should not be an anchor on our community progress, but instead a chart to a
progressive future
Again thanks for showing us your
chart and suggesting that the many winds on our back here steer us to needed
changes.
Bradley D. Sumner
Top of Page
2007-2008
08 May 2008
David Phillips–
Senior Climatologist, Atmospheric
Environment Service
Topic: “Confessions of a Weather
Weenie”
David Phillips is the country's
most popular weatherman. He is Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada's
Atmospheric Environment Service. He appears frequently on national radio
and television as a commentator on weather and climate matters and is well known
as the expert on The Weather Network. He writes the 'Weatherwise' column for
Canadian Geographic magazine and originated Environment Canada's Canadian
Weather Trivia Calendar.
David has published several
books, papers and reports on the climate of Canada. They include essays in The
Canadian Encyclopedia; a book on The Climates of Canada; and two
bestsellers: The Day Niagara Falls Ran Dry and Blame It On The Weather.
In 2001, he was named to the
Order of Canada. He has received the Patterson Medal for Distinguished
Service to Meteorology in Canada and twice received the Public Service of Canada
Merit Award. He graduated from the University of Windsor and holds an honorary
Doctorate of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. David,
his wife Darlene and Winston the Weather Dog, live in Aurora ON; they have two
grown daughters.
10 April 2008
Steve Maich – Deputy Managing Editor, Maclean’s Magazine
Topic: “Freedom of the Press versus Political
Correctness”
Steve Maich writes mainly on business and national
affairs. In 2006 he won the National Magazine Award for commentary. Prior to
joining Maclean’s in 2004, he was a reporter and columnist for the Financial
Post. He began his career in 1998 with the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, where he
covered municipal politics and native affairs. He is a graduate of Queen’s
University. Steve
was a four-time Atlantic Journalism Award nominee and two-time winner for his
work investigating financial corruption in native politics. He is co-author of
a new book The Ego Boom: why the world really does revolve around You, to
be released this fall by Key Porter Books. He lives in Toronto with his wife
Erin, and their daughter Avery.
Top of Page
13 March 2008
Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi – Chair,
Local Kingston Islamic History Month, Canada
Topic: “A Framework
for Understanding Islam”
Dr Bayoumi is a pillar in Canada’s Muslim
community. He is a board member and regional director of the Canadian Islamic
Congress. He is a Past President of the Islamic Society of Kingston. He
chaired the  Kingston
Committee on Islamic History Month Canada (October 2007). He has spoken on
Islam at numerous groups, schools and churches.
His other volunteer activities are legion. Inter
alia, he is a governor and board member of Kingston General Hospital (KGH). He
is a board member of Queen's Theological College.
Dr Bayoumi is a Professor Emeritus in Electrical and
Computing Engineering at Queen’s University. He had a distinguished career
there and also taught at the Royal Military College (RMC). He initiated the
area of robotics at Queen's and helped establish the Robotics Laboratories at
both institutions. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt where he graduated in
electrical engineering. He holds a Masters degree in Mathematics and Doctor of
Technical Sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. A Canadian
citizen, he lives in Kingston.
14 February 2008
John Foster
- International
Energy Economist
Topic: “Afghanistan
and the new great energy game”
John is an expert on the world
oil scene. He’s visited and worked in more than thirty countries in Asia,
Africa and Latin America. Born in London, England, he graduated from Cambridge
University in economics and law. After service in the Royal Navy (including
Suez), he joined British Petroleum, working on strategic planning in London UK,
then came to Montreal for a two-year posting. He moved on to the World Bank
(Asia Department) in Washington DC, working on country economic assessments and
loan operations and becoming the Bank's first petroleum economist. When
Petro-Canada was created, he served as its lead economist in Ottawa and
Calgary. Later, he returned to Washington DC and worked with the Inter-American
Development Bank on energy and development issues in Latin America.
Summary:
Afghanistan has become the major focus of
Canadian defence, aid and foreign policy. Why? Official answers omit
Afghanistan’s strategic importance in the geopolitical rivalry for control of
the oil and gas resources of Central Asia – the New Great Game. At stake are
pipeline routes to get energy resources to market, and power and wealth in the
region. Afghanistan’s role as an energy bridge – a geographic link between
Central and South Asia – has long been recognized, but rarely talked about in
Canada. Intelligent decisions on Canada’s future role in Afghanistan and NATO
require attention to energy issues.
10 January 2008
Dr. Ken Wong – Professor &
Teaching Fellow in Marketing, Queen’s University School of Business
Topic: “Kingston’s
Economic Prospects”
Ken is a faculty member and Teaching Fellow in
Marketing at Queen's School of Business. He has taught in degree programs at
Carleton University, Cornell, Radcliffe and Harvard, and in executive programs
at the universities of Alberta, Dalhousie, Toronto and York. He has received
numerous awards for courses in Strategic Planning, Marketing, and Business
Strategy. He is co-author of Canada’s largest-selling introductory marketing
text, Basic Marketing.
Ken is a frequent speaker and facilitator at
conferences and executive development programs around the world. He consults on
strategic planning and marketing issues to a galaxy of private corporations,
public agencies and associations. He anchors a regular feature in the National
Post and is one of Canada’s most frequently cited authorities in media coverage
of marketing issues. He is on numerous Boards of Directors and Advisory
Boards. He received his B.Comm and MBA degrees from Queen’s University prior to
doctoral studies at Harvard Business School.
Top of Page
13 December 2007
Louis Delvoie – Canadian
Ambassador (Retired)
Topic: “A Catalogue
of Failures: The Foreign Policy of the Bush Administration”
Louis Delvoie has had a most distinguished career in
the Foreign Service and since then in academia. He is a Senior Fellow in
the Centre for International Relations at Queen's University and a visiting
lecturer at the Canadian Foreign Service Institute in Ottawa. He has
written extensively on Canadian foreign and security policy and on international
relations.
In the Foreign Service, Louis Delvoie served as
Ambassador to Algeria; Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; and High
Commissioner to Pakistan. Earlier postings included Lebanon, Egypt,
Turkey, Algeria, Belgium and Yugoslavia. In Ottawa, he served as Director
General for International Security and Arms Control in the Department of
External Affairs; and Assistant Deputy Minister for Policy, Department of
National Defence. He was educated at Loyola College, University of
Toronto, McGill University, and the National Defence College of Canada.
08 November 2007
Jan Wong – Author and Globe &
Mail Columnist
Topic: “Beijing
Confidential”
Jan Wong was the much-acclaimed Beijing
correspondent for the Globe and Mail from 1988 to 1994 – reporting on the
tumultuous era of capitalist reforms under Deng Xiaoping. Her first book,
Red China Blues: My Long March From Mao to Now, was named one of Time
magazine’s top ten books of 1996 and remains banned in China. She returned
to China in 1999 to make a documentary and to research her second book, Jan
Wong’s China: Reports from a Not-So-Foreign Correspondent. It tells
the story of China’s headlong rush to capitalism and offers insight into an ever
changing country.
She first went to China in 1972 during the Cultural
Revolution as one of only two Westerners to enroll at Beijing University.
She met and married the only American draft dodger from the Vietnam War in
China. During those six years in China, she learned fluent Mandarin and
earned a degree in Chinese history.
Besides the Globe and Mail, Jan
Wong has also written for The New York Times, The Gazette in Montreal, The
Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal. She has received numerous
prestigious awards for her reporting. She is a graduate of McGill
University, Beijing University and the Columbia University Graduate School of
Journalism. She is a third-generation Canadian, born and raised in
Montreal, and she lives with her family in Toronto.
Top of Page
11 October 2007
Dr. Brian Osborne – Past
President Ontario Historical Society, and Professor Emeritus Queen’s University
Geography Department
Topic: “The Future
of
Kingston: Building on the Past for the
Future”
There is no better authority on the topic than Dr
Osborne. He has published extensively on the Kingston area. He is
now working on a new edition of his classic book “Kingston: Building on the
Past for the Future”, which he co-authored in 1988. He tells us of the
successive phases of First Nations, French, and Loyalist settlement in this
region. He describes the evolution of the city with its commercial,
military, and governmental roles in the past two centuries. He adds a new
theme: the search for a strategy to enhance Kingston’s economic and social
viability, yet protecting its distinctive sense of place and enhancing its
quality of life and ambience.
Professor Osborne is currently Past President of the
Ontario Historical Society, a former President of the Kingston Historical
Society, and serves on the boards of several heritage organisations. He
has taught at Queen’s University since 1967. He has also consulted for the
National Capital Commission, Heritage Canada, Parks Canada, Canada Post and the
National Film Board.
2006-2007
10 May 2007
Mr. Jameel Jaffer – Lawyer,
American Civil Liberties Union
Topic: "Civil
Liberty Abuses."
12 April 2007
Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer – President, National
Cancer Institute and Director,
Investigational New Drugs Program (Oncology) Department of
Medicine, Queen’s University
Topic: “Cancer: Are
we close to a cure?”
The topic was
of great interest to everyone. There is no better authority in Canada than Dr
Eisenhauer to give an assessment on progress in the battle to conquer it. Since
1982, she has been Director of the Investigational New Drug Program of the
Clinical Trials Group at the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC). Her
major responsibilities lie in identifying and bringing new anti-cancer agents
into clinical trial. In 2002 she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the
NCIC and in 2006 was elected as its President.
Top of Page
08 March 2007
His Excellency Lu Shumin -
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Canada
Topic: "China's
Role in the World Today"
08 February 2007
Mr. Volker Thomsen – President,
St. Lawrence College
Topic: “New Energy
Sources and Opportunities for
Kingston”
Mr
Thomsen has long been involved in renewable energy initiatives (wind, biomass,
solar), particularly in Denmark and Germany. In 2006, he helped found the
World Wind Energy Institute—dedicated to learning in the field of renewable and
sustainable energies. He is a proponent of the wind park planned for Wolfe
Island. St Lawrence SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1College has installed a wind
generator at its Cornwall campus; plans others at its Kingston and Brockville
campuses; and is engaged in a large-scale community plan for renewable energy.
He sees an opportunity for Kingston to become the Canadian centre for renewable
energy innovation and conservation.
11 January 2007
Mr. Sean Conway – Director,
Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen’s University
Topic: “Meeting the
Energy Demands of
Ontario
14 December 2006
Dr. Peter Taylor – Head of
Queen’s University Mathematics Department
Topic: “What’s Wrong
with High School Mathematics?”
Top of Page
09 November 2006
Dr. Henri Habib
– Professor Emeritus, Concordia University
Topic: “Dynamics of
Iraqi Politics”
Summary:
Dr.
Habib provided the audience of over 100 interested listeners with a very
comprehensive overview of the historical and current perspective on the politics
of Iraq, an artificial nation comprising three key separate territorial realms
of Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites. He included lucid descriptions of the
ethnic players involved and the impact of the deeply-rooted historical
experiences mainly of the Shiites and the Sunnis within the territories of the
middle-east countries of Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria,
Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Turkey. He focussed on the implications to the
west of the historical developments among the regional countries and their
peoples. An important part of the theme was the resurrection and
resurgence of the Islamic movement, spearheaded by the Shiite-dominated
Iranians, as they manoeuvre towards the establishment of a crescent Shiite
“empire” closely resembling the Persian Empire of old. He related the
historical involvement of the Sunnis who dominated Iraq for many centuries,
despite their minority status. He explained the role of the
Sunni-dominated monarchical regime of Saudi Arabia, and their fear of the
Islamic fundamentalists within their nation. Among the many historical
highlights which are impacting the current and future relations among the
Islamic peoples and nations, and between the Islamic and Non-Islamic nations,
were the great impact of key events in the seventh century on the pilgrim
behaviours in both Saudi Arabia (Sunnis) and Iraq (Shiites). He provided
his perspective of the dangers to non-Islamic nations (USA, Canada, the European
Union, etc) of ignoring the harsh realities of the great significance to Islamic
peoples of these key historic events. Dr. Habib noted that Iran's
aspirations are increasing just as
Iraq's are disappearing -perhaps forever.
The ultimate outcome will be a resurrection of the Persian Empire.
He also explained that Hezbollah, not previously given
much consideration, is now an arm of
Iran. Iran's
aspirations were assisted by the U.S. attack on the Taliban and the
crushing of Saddam Hussein. The U.S. has displayed and continues to
display no understanding of the history of the area or the religious and ethnic
crosscurrents that are centuries old. Henri mentioned to watch for
the emergence of Iran and its Hezbollah 'arm' and for Turkey and Israel to
gain strength in the area. He indicated there are no Arab leaders to
address the situation. The U.S would be well served by putting their
Ambassador back in Damascus and to become a nation much better in the
diplomatic area. He does not hold out much hope for the Saudi regime,
an area with most of the oil and with links to the U.S.
Dr. Habib answered a large number
of questions from the audience with the same clarity and completeness as his
delivery of the highly effective overview. In answer to one of the
questions he indicated that he sees little hope for any positive outcome in
Afghanistan and he regrets our Canadian involvement in that area. Overall,
Dr. Habib provided listeners with a comprehensive framework within which
witnesses of the Islamic “revolution” can view past, current, and future events
related to the interrelationships among the various factions within Shiites and
Sunnis, and among the nations involved in the continuing struggles of Islamic
versus non-Islamic peoples.
Summary by
Bruce Morris
Top of Page
12 October 2006
Dr. Jack Preger
– “Street Doctor of Calcutta” and Queen’s University 2006 Dunning Trust Lecturer
Topic: “Care of the
Poor in
West Bengal”
2005-2006
11 May 2006
Jack Chiang
– Photo Editor, Kingston Whig-Standard
Topic: “Canada
in pictures and stories”
13 April 2006
Ernesto Senti Darias
– Cuban Ambassador to Canada
Topic: “Cuba
Today”
The
Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Mr. Ernesto Senti Darias' address
was “ CUBA TODAY”. At the time of his comments the Cuban people continue
to endure almost a half a century of sanctions from the United States. The
President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, has held power over the same period as
ten different U.S Presidents. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of
human relationships for each other in this world. He was
particularly proud that Centifegues, Cuba and Kingston, Ontario formed the first
formal sister-city partnership in Canada. He mentioned that Cuba has a
very large Terry Fox Run, second only to Canada. Millions of Cubans
participate and he noted that some from Kingston join in the run. He
stressed his and Cuba's thanks for the warm relationship that Canada has had
with Cuba for such a long time. Health care, medicine and education are
areas where Cuba has provided assistance to its citizens and where Canada has
and will continue to find further opportunities. The Ambassador’s wife
accompanied him. She has been prominent in Cuba for advancing the causes
of women.
Many club
members asked questions and The Ambassador was forthright in his response.
Thanks were given to him for honouring The Club and Kingston with his presence.
Summary by
Bradley Sumner
09 March 2006
Dr. John Smol
– Professor, Queen’s University and Canada Research Chair in Environmental
Change
Topic:
“Warnings from
Lake Mud; Long-term Environmental
Changes in the Arctic”
John Smol provided the audience
with a wide range and interesting insight into the results of his many years of
research in the sediments taken from core samples from Arctic lake bottoms.
He described a fascinating spectrum of information on climate changes over the
centuries, and the resultant impacts on plant, animal, and sea life. John
described the processes by which the raw data was obtained and the processing
required to arrive of some frightening conclusions regarding climate change and
its impact on the environment. He highlighted the role of climatic
changes, increased UV penetration, deposition from airborne contaminants, and
pollution from local sources on the changes to the overall environment.
John acknowledged the constraints imposed on any study of climatic change by the
relatively recent historical recordings of temperatures (less than three
centuries). John’s specialty (Paleolimnology: Tracking long-term
ecosystem changes using information preserved in lake and river sediments)
has been instrumental in arriving at so many conclusions relative to the
impacts of climate changes. John outlined the role of the atmospheric
fallout, the catchment, and the aquatic system, in contributing to the raw data
and the derived information on impacts. The focal role of Diatoms
[Bacillariophyta, abundant and diverse, excellent environmental indicators, and
siliceous cell walls (frustules)] was explained to the fascinated listeners.
John used his theme of “warnings from lake mud” to explain the extreme dangers
of the rapidity and severity of the impacts of climate change on the sensitive
Arctic region, and the flow-down effects on the rest of the world. John
was warmly thanked for his unique perspective presented in an informative
manner.
Summary by
Bruce Morris
Top of Page
09 February 2006
Dr. John Rapin –
Past-President, Ontario Medical Association
Topic: "Public /
Private, Whither Medical Care"
12 January 2006
Ron Ridley,
Curator, Fort Henry National Historic Site
Topic:
“Inside
the Walls: A Chronological Journey through
Fort Henry”
08 December 2005
Dr. Henri Habib,
Professor Emeritus, Concordia University,
Montreal
Topic: “Clash
of Civilizations: Myth or Reality”
10 November 2005
Hon, Herb Gray,
Chairman, International Joint Commission
Topic: “The
Future of the
Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement”
13 October 2005
Dr. Karen Hitchcock,
Principal, Queen’s University, Kingston,
Ontario
Topic: “The
Engaged University”
2004 – 2005
12 May 2005
Werner Hirschmann,
former U-boat Officer
Topic: “Another
Time, Another Place”
Werner grew
up in Germany and served in the Second World War as an engineer officer on U
Boats. On the 60th anniversary of the end of that war, Werner spoke to the
membership about those years. He recounted the many interesting episodes of his
naval career, including serving on the destroyer that escorted the Bismarck on
her last operation. On his last patrol to North America, his submarine U-190
sank HMCS. Esquimalt, the last Canadian warship to be lost during the
war. After his submarine surrendered to the Canadian navy in 1945, he spent a
period in Canada and Britain as a prisoner-of-war before being repatriated to
Germany. In the 1950's he emigrated to Canada. He is an honourary member of
the veterans' association HMCS Esquimalt of the warship his U-boat sank.
He remained close to many of the sailors from that ship and spent time in
Esquimalt at many of their ceremonies. Our membership was pleased to be able to
hear a first hand account from a German submariner who spent his time at sea,
and was able to provide a commentary on what it was like. Werner also wrote an
award winning book ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER TIME - A U Boat Officer's Wartime
Album. He has also been an active member of many Canadian Naval
Associations and Clubs.
Summary
by Bradley Sumner
Top of Page
14 April 2005
Terry Dickenson, O.C.,
Astronomer, writer, owner/editor of
Skynews
Topic: “A
Brief Tour of the Universe”
10 March 2005
Ian Baines, CEO,
Canadian Renewable Energy
Topic: “Wind
Energy in
Kingston”
10 February 2005
Gordon Nixon,
CEO, Royal Bank of Canada
Topic: “Achieving
Canada's Potential in the 21st
Century “
13 January 2005
Tom Courchene, Professor,
School of Policy Studies, Queen’s
University
Topic: “NAFTA –
Where Next”
09 December 2004
Bjarni Tryggvason,
Astronaut, Canadian Space Agency
Topic: “Space
– A National Resource for
Canada”
10 November 2004
His Worship, Harvey Rosen,
Mayor of Kingston
Topic: “Kingston
– Challenges and Opportunities”
14 October 2004
Louis Delvoie,
Queen’s University
Topic: “Canadian
Foreign Policy – An Identity Crisis?”
Top of Page
2003 – 2004
13 May 2004
The Honourable Bob Rae,
Rhodes Scholar and 21st Premier of
Ontario
Topic:
“Canada and Public Affairs”
08 April 2004
Dr. Rae Fleming,
Biographer, Researcher, Lecturer, and Editor
Topic: “Canadian
Railways – Past, Present, & Future”
11 March 2004
Sandy Nelson,
Operations Department, Bruce Power, and
Canada’s Representative on the United Nations “Mission Antarctica” Endeavour
Topic: “Mission
Antarctica”
Sandy Nelson provided an
interesting personal perspective of the situation respecting a massive
environmental clean-up effort in Antarctica based on her trip as part of a group
of essay-writing winners on the subject. She related the role of Robert
Swann, the British driving force behind the monumental effort, to the challenges
and accomplishments. Through the means of slides with embedded video
clips, Sandy entertained the audience with a wide range of insights into the
environment and wildlife (e.g. Minke whales, elephant seals, Weddel seals, and
penguins) of Antarctica. She described her experiences at the Ukrainian
Base of Vernadsky, and of her voyages on the sailing ship “2041” from Puerto
Williams Chile to that Antarctic base. Overall, Sandy captivated the
attendees with her fascinating descriptions augmented by her personally-gathered
photos and videos. The environmental aspects of this Antarctic area were
an effective eye-opener to many in the audience.
Summary by
Bruce Morris
12 February 2004
Janet Matthews,
writer, editor, teacher, and co-author /
creative producer of “Chicken
soup and the Canadian Soul”
Topic: “Chicken
Soup for the Canadian Soul”
15 January 2004
Brigadier-General (Retired) Don Macnamara,
Senior Fellow, Queen’s University Centre for International Relations
Topic: “Understanding
Canada’s National Security Interests”
Don
Macnamara provided a comprehensive overview of the highlights of the
ever-changing Canadian National Security situation, within a Department of
National Defence perspective. He summarized the current status of the
state of major conflicts throughout the world. Don explained the role of
national security within the context of a definition as National security is
the matter of guarding national values and interests from both internal and
external dangers. He described the Canadian national values and
interests, covering the total spectrum of sectors that are the most significant
to Canadians. Outlining Canadian security concerns, within an
international context, he described the security interests for Canada. Don
described briefly a security policy framework for Canada, and followed that up
with a series of insightful questions relating to the future of Canadian
national security policy and its implementation. In all, Don stimulated
some provocative thinking in respect of Canada in an uncertain ever-changing
world, full of serious threats to our national well-being.
Summary by
Bruce Morris
Top of Page
11 December 2003
Dr Christine Overall,
Professor of Philosophy and Associate Dean,
Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen’s University, and Journalist
Topic: “Live Long
and Prosper? The Ethics of Human Longevity”
13 November 2003
Trina McQueen,
Vice-Chair, Historica Foundation of Canada,
and former President and COO of CTV Inc.
Topic: "Giving Our
Past a Future
-
Memories Matter"
09 October 2003
Captain (N) (Ret’d) Ted Davey,
RCN former Director of the Juno
Beach Centre Association
Topic: “Juno
Beach”
Please see the new brochure for
the 2008-2009 Program on its own
webpage.
Luncheon meetings for the Canadian Club of
Kingston are on Thursdays 11:30 for 12 noon, in the Minos Village Restaurant at
2762 Princess Street. Reservations for the
luncheon are required and may be made by telephoning Minos at
613-384-2021. Luncheon price is $24 for
members and $29 for non-members.
. Membership forms
are available at each of the luncheon meetings.
Information regarding membership may be obtained by calling
613-530-2704,
or emailing Marg Kubalak at
admin.cc@sympatico.ca.
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