Study groups are courses designed for seniors by seniors, given both online and on campus.
听Spring registration opens April 1, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Term duration: April 14 鈥� June 19, 2025
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Study Group Topics
Spring 2025
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YCMS 626 (in person)/YCMS 627 (online)
Photography: Historical Milestones, Iconic Photographers
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Gordon Campey | gcampey [at] videotron.ca
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group鈥�
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online听
Moderator Location: In classroom
Participants in this study group will explore photography's fascinating journey, from its invention to its impact on art and society. They will ascertain key milestones, iconic moments, and the work of trailblazing photographers who shaped the medium. Whether you're an enthusiast or simply curious about the stories behind the lens, this group will offer engaging discussions and a chance to connect with others who share a passion for the art of photography. No prior detailed knowledge required鈥攋ust bring your curiosity and a love for discovery! Presentations are welcome but not mandatory.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 628 (in person)/YCMS 629 (online)
Street Art, a.k.a. Graffiti
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Linda Sidel | lindasidel [at] me.com
Time: Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting May 22听
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 5 in person, 5 online听
Moderator Location: Remote
This is a Participant Presentation study group. Please do not register in this group unless you are prepared to give a presentation.听
Graffiti, now known as Street Art, has come a long way since teenagers spray-painted the sides of buildings. Leonard Cohen looks down at us on Crescent Street. Banksy is an international success story. Around the world, urban centres have become public art galleries. We will explore the phenomenon that has elevated this art form from illegal to paid commissions. This Participant Presentation Study Group will travel around the world exploring street art that has elevated such talent as Basquiat, Keith Haring, Dondi White and others to 鈥淔ine Artist鈥� status. Montreal, New York and Melbourne have walking tours of street art. Choose an artist, a mural or a city. If there鈥檚 any graffiti that has impressed you, tell us about it. A list of artists and/or artwork will be provided if necessary.
Please register for one section:
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YCMS 249 Writers' Circle
Moderators: Liliane Aberman | liliane.aberman [at] gmail.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Maureen Wilson |鈥�mwilson [at] ucalgary.ca
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 8
Whether you are a novice or an experienced writer, you may want to refine your writing skills with feedback and coaching within a small group. During alternating weeks, each participant will submit their fiction or non-fiction writing (up to 1,500 words) via e-mail, at least two days prior to the workshop. Participants will then read their draft aloud, followed by a group discussion with the goal of enhancing their writing. All participants must be willing to engage in a positive, supportive exchange and be ready to receive thoughtful, diplomatic feedback from the MCLL participants.
YCMS 630 "Literature adds to reality, it does not simply鈥�
Moderator: Barbara Karasek | karasekb [at] vaniercollege.qc.ca
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
...describe it鈥� (C.S. Lewis). And there鈥檚 not much better than a good story! To deepen our understanding of and pleasure in stories, poems, and plays, we鈥檒l examine the elements that make each genre unique and how they create a rich language that can reveal the whole range of human experience. Emphasis will be on close textual analysis and discussion. The drama component will include an outing to Centaur Theatre to see Michel Tremblay鈥檚 For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. As Margaret Atwood has pointed out, 鈥淚n the end, we鈥檒l all become stories.鈥�
YCMS 290 The West and Quebec Through Their Literature
Moderators: Andrew Macdougall (MCLL) | andrewmac [at] videotron.ca
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Sandra Ens (CALL) | sandraens22 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 15
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 10 from MCLL, 10 from CALL
As a collaborative effort between the Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners (CALL) and MCLL, this discussion group will provide participants with the opportunity to increase, through novels, short story collections, and memoirs, their appreciation of two distinct places 鈥� the Canadian West (Prairies, BC and the North-West) and Quebec.
The books to be read and discussed are:
- Real Ones by Katherena Vermette
- Maria Chapdelaine by Louis H茅mon
- Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr
- May Our Joy Endure (Que notre joie demeure) by Kevin Lambert
YCMS 402 Creative Writing I: Structure and Development
Moderator: Michael Moore | michael [at] michaelXmoore.com
Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group鈥�
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
An introductory journey into the art of creative writing, exploring ideas about the nature of creativity; the general disciplines that every writer needs; elements of fiction including voice, narrative, character, plot and the evoking of emotion; ideas involved in different forms of writing such as stories, poetry, novels, plays and even memoirs, with exercises on how to achieve work that will engage the reader from the start and compel them forward to the end.
YCMS 631 Creative Writing II: Part 2 Flash Fiction, Short Story Development
Moderator: Michael Moore | michael [at] michaelXmoore.com
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 16
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group鈥�
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
The five-week session is a continuation of the first part offered in the Winter '25 semester. A greater focus on character development and character voice. Short burst fiction is explored with in-class creative writing challenges and assignments. Reading assignments for authors such as Alice Munro, Ernest Hemingway, Donald Barthelme, Italo Calvino, Steven King and others. Writing challenges that revolve around mood only, are one type of exercise to be offered. As an example, develop/write about a character based on the single word, 'rage'.
YCMS 632 Healing Through Writing 鈥� Part II
Moderator: Michael Moore | michael [at] michaelXmoore.com
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 23
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group鈥�
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
The values of personal journaling wherein methods or procedures are studied and reviewed leading to the examination of introspective self-awareness techniques as expressed through personal writing. Exploration of case studies, reviews of success stories will form a central part of the course content. Attendees will be provided with a variety of apps and/or tools to help facilitate their participation in the writing/recording process. Recent achievements in the use of voice to text apps now allow those who are less comfortable with the physical aspects of writing to easily process the expression of thoughts, ideas.
YCMS 633 (in person)/YCMS 634 (online)
Children's Literature - What Is It For?
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Kay Palkhivala | kaypalk [at] yahoo.com
Time: Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 22听
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: Remote
This study group will look at selections from English-language stories of different styles and historical periods, written for and about children, focusing on the assumed purpose, audience and popularity of each selection. Participants will receive a reading set (about 20 pages) each week, accompanied by a few questions for discussion during the study group session. The readings will include some classic stories plus some surprises. Anyone who has been a child may suggest other stories or poems that might interest the participants. Try this for a sample reading.
Please register for one section:
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YCMS 437 An Ocean Voyage Around the World in 140 Days
Moderator: David Grogan | david [at] davidmgrogan.com听
Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 15
In 2017-18, the moderator voyaged around the world for 20 weeks. The presentation is by high-resolution photographs and explanation and commentary on the historic sites, cities, and people visited during this 60,000-kilometer voyage to 31 countries. Highlights include Havana, Panama Canal, South Pacific, Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Komodo Island's dragons, Indonesia's Borobudur temple, Brunei's water village, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hainan's wet market, Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia's Angkor Wat, Singapore, India, Jordan's Petra, Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Suez Canal, Malta, Algeria, London.
YCMS 487 (in person)/YCMS 488 (online)
Parlons fran莽ais
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Jacques Lalanne | m.jacques.lalanne [at] gmail.com听
Time: Monday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 14
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 12 in person, 12 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
En fran莽ais seulement听
Conversation en fran莽ais sur des sujets d'exp茅riences v茅cues, propos茅s par le mod茅rateur.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 406 For the Love of Travel听
Moderator: Peter Liontos | liontospeter018 [at] gmail.com听
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 16
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
We invite prospective travelers, whether real or virtual, to explore global travel. Topics include suggested destinations, airfare and hotel research, and group versus independent travel.
YCMS 635 Aper莽u de la culture et de l'histoire de l'Espagne
Moderators: Silvia San Miguel | sanmiguel_19 [at] yahoo.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Suzie Bogos | suzie.bogos [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group鈥�
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
En fran莽ais avec participation dans les deux langues officielles
Nous explorerons l鈥檋istoire et la culture de l'Espagne en mettant en lumi猫re des p茅riodes significatives et l'impact des 茅v茅nements historiques sur le d茅veloppement de la nation. Les figures marquantes et les moments cl茅s qui ont fa莽onn茅 l'identit茅 et la culture espagnole seront 茅voqu茅s. Nous aborderons les p茅riodes allant de la pr茅histoire et l鈥橝ntiquit茅 en passant par les Wisigoths, l鈥檕ccupation maure, la Reconquista, le 鈥樷�檚iglo de oro鈥欌��, la guerre civile, le franquisme pour en arriver 脿 l鈥櫭﹑oque contemporaine. En lien avec la p茅riode, chaque participant fera une pr茅sentation de 15 minutes suivie d'une discussion. Exemples de sujets: la conversion de la mosqu茅e de Cordoba, les gitans et les origines du flamenco, Toledo, Guernica de Picasso.
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YCMS 462 (in person)/YCMS 463 (online)
The Evolution of Eighteenth-Century Celebrity
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Belinda Beaton |听belinda.beaton2 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 15
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
The notion of celebrity took off in the eighteenth century. Part of it was due to changes in media that enabled the distribution of information concerning individuals. Suddenly there was a huge audience for personal information concerning not only royalty, but also actors, writers, military commanders, to say nothing of criminals and courtesans. Many of the tropes and criteria modern audiences use to evaluate public personalities were born in this period.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 327 The Immigration Experience
Moderator: Peter Berry |听peterberry [at] myyahoo.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 22
Using films, articles and personal family experiences we will show how four hundred centuries of immigration contributed to the making of the multiracial and multicultural countries of North America. We will discuss why people left their native country, the challenges they faced on their passage to the New World and their efforts to make a place for themselves and their descendants in a different and often unwelcoming environment. In every session there will be a discussion of assigned videos that reveal contemporary immigration issues in other areas of the world.
YCMS 636 Byzantium - The New Rome, Part III
Moderators: Roger Humphrey | rth201002 [at] yahoo.ca
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Jim Wyant | wyantcoinc [at] gmail.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Wendela Stier | wen.la.stier [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 6 weeks, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
Continuing our examination of the Byzantine Empire and its fate. Topics will include the development of Byzantine art and icons, the Latin rule of the empire, the sack of Constantinople and capture by the Ottomans and the aftermath. The effect on Western Europe and the contribution to the Renaissance. The rise of the Ottomans and the leading figures of the period - various emperors. Saladin and Sultan Mehmed II. There is no prerequisite for this study group.
YCMS 637 Indigenous Clowns and Tricksters
Moderator: Randy Kritkausky |听rkritkausky [at] ecologia.org
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 16
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Indigenous Sacred Clowns do literally everything backward. Mythical tricksters aid and fool humans. All are neglected aspects of North American Indigenous cultures. Examine a lighter/darker side of Indigenous social structures and cosmologies: institutionalized humor acknowledging chaos as natural. Explore Indigenous narratives and historical events that reveal complex social relationships documenting the ability of Indigenous communities to be self-critical and reflective. Discover Indigenous Peoples鈥� efforts to make colonists鈥� ethnographers understand that First Nations and Native Americans were not passive 鈥渞esearch subjects鈥� and instead often turned a critical lens back on Europeans. The moderator is an enrolled Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member.
YCMS 638 The Adventure of Archeology in Greece and the Middle East
Moderator: Michel Lamarche |听michel152 [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting May 6
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
This discussion group would focus on the major archeological finds since the Rosetta Stone with a focus on the evolution of archeology and the personalities involved. Five areas will be explored: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, the Aegean and the Levant. A review of the major Egyptologists (Maspero, Msriette, Petrie, Braested, Carter), Evans with Knossos, Schlieman with Troy and the Myceneans tombs and the rediscovery of the great Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian cities starting with Rawlinson, Layard, Wooley, Botta and the later discoveries related to Sumer and Akkad. Then the Biblical lands from Jericho to the Dead Sea Scrolls. The participants will be encouraged to present on one of the major discoveries, still ongoing controversies or museums they visited from a list provided at the first session. Videos, whenever available, can be used.
YCMS 586 Five Discoveries that Changed the World
Moderator: Beverley Ann Lee |听balgran [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting May 20
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
Within a very short period, between 1880 and 1910, a very small number of extraordinary discoveries and innovations unintentionally transformed the entire world into the world we know today. This five-week study group looks at how these developments emerged from a world that had lived, until then, without cars, planes, movies, sound transmission and recordings and genetics. What is most interesting is that while these discoveries rose to surprisingly global significance, they almost did not occur, emerging on the scene only as mere novelties, not taken too seriously by the general population.
YCMS 639 (in person)/YCMS 640 (online)
Vietnam: A War of the 60s?
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Jeff Sidel |听jsidel [at] videotron.ca
Time: Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
A war of the 60s? Not so for the United States, which for 30 years, involved itself in an internal brutal civil war and struggle for independence for the people of Vietnam. For 10 weeks, we will explore in-depth why, despite decisions that were made in good faith, this ended up in failure and divided Americans to the extent not seen since its own civil war. We will hear the personal stories from those who were there and survive to this day to find meaning in suffering.听
Please register for one section:
YCMS 641 Vietnam: A War of the 60s? 鈥� Section 2
Moderator: Jeff Sidel |听jsidel [at] videotron.ca
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 28
A war of the 60s? Not so for the United States, which for 30 years, involved itself in an internal brutal civil war and struggle for independence for the people of Vietnam. For 10 weeks, we will explore in-depth why, despite decisions that were made in good faith, this ended up in failure and divided Americans to the extent not seen since its own civil war. We will hear the personal stories from those who were there and survive to this day to find meaning in suffering.听
YCMS 642 World History Explorer (Tours of Bygone Worlds)
Moderators: Peter Strobach | p_strobach [at] sympatico.ca
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Marna Murray | Marna.murray [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 25
How have you learned history? Dates? Names? Battles? Places? The study group offers a new approach 鈥� yes, places, people, events, and development on a timeline, but with a global perspective. Taking four critical periods to human advancement, the tour explores听many concurrent civilizations from 1206 to 1530. For each period, the moderators will present multi-media narratives that unfold the problems and situations of people back then for whom these matters were real and lead a group discussion/atelier on that period the following week. Experience an alternative way to learn and develop a deeper understanding of history.
YCMS 389 (in person)/YCMS 390 (online)
Ancient Worlds: Uncovering the Past
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Robert Winters |听robertwinters [at] videotron.ca
Time: Monday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
What can we learn from exploring ancient civilizations and discovering how people lived in the past? Recent research into the DNA of ancient people, how they thought and what they believed can challenge our views about the past. Discussion will be stimulated by presentations and videos that explore major events and people that changed history. We will look at civilizations of the Mediterranean, Asia and the Americas, including in Rome, Egypt and Greece. We will also explore the colourful lives of ancient leaders and learn what motivated them. Participants are encouraged to do presentations.
Please register for one section:
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YCMS 643 Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation
Moderator: Lawrence Lincoln | lawrence.lincoln [at] outlook.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Suzanne Alleyn | suzannealleyn_1 [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
The study group is on mindfulness and meditation. It is intended for people who have always been intrigued by the topic but have never incorporated it into their lives. Anyone with experience in the topic is also welcome. Each of the eight meetings will include an online guided meditation by a famous teacher. All topics necessary to understand and possibly incorporate it into your life will be covered. This will be a true peer learning experience. Although both moderators have some knowledge and experience, neither is an expert. Participant presentation is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. A reading and suggested topic list will be available shortly after registration.
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YCMS 644 How Movies Are Made
Moderator: Dan Babineau | danbabineau2023 [at] outlook.com
Time: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
This study group will take a detailed look at how the movies you love are created, examining as many aspects as possible 鈥� from screenwriting and casting through set design, shooting, and editing. From conception all the way to the screen! We will see who does what on the movie crew, how stories are broken down into individual shots, to be assembled into fluid action which seems to have been filmed with many cameras (it hasn鈥檛!). We will look at stunts, special effects, and much more, including any behind-the-scenes details you want to know about. Ultimately, the goal will be to deepen your appreciation of cinema and equip you with a vocabulary to speak more knowledgably about it.
YCMS 592 Music in the Cinema
Moderator: Dan Babineau | danbabineau2023 [at] outlook.com
Time: Thursday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 18
We will explore the rich interchange between music and the cinema. We will see (and of course, hear!) how music has been used to accompany films, beginning with the live performances of the silent era and progressing in power and sophistication to the meticulously scored multi-track films of the present. We will take a detailed look at the work of film composers, learning some of the specifics of the craft and examining many examples of how music supports character and narrative, creates mood, and can help to deliver the central ideas of a film. Discussion is encouraged.
YCMS 645 Commodification of Ageism: The Substance
Moderator: Marlene Chan | marlenechan02 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting May 20
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
The film The Substance creates a gripping and unsettling narrative that exposes the intersection of age discrimination (ageism) and the objectification of women. Rooted in the core principles of ageism鈥攕ystemic prejudice, institutional barriers, and internalized biases鈥攖his workshop will explore how the film exploits the horror genre while reflecting and amplifying these issues. Together we will analyze and discuss the film through the lens of ageism, highlighting how the entertainment industry repackages legitimate concerns and turns them into consumable trends. Arrangements will be made for screening the film.
YCMS 646 America鈥檚 Operetta: Broadway Musicals
Moderators: Philip Ehrensaft | metro845 [at] philipehrensaft.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Rick Jones |鈥�rickjones205 [at] yahoo.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 90
Broadway musicals evolved from 19th-century Minstrel Music, Ragtime through World War I, and Vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley into the Golden Age of the Broadway Musical. This includes works by Berlin, Kern, Gershwin, Rogers & Hammerstein, and Weil. The role of classical training for Golden Age composers and performers is discussed, followed by Sondheim鈥檚 transformation of musicals from his apprenticeship with Bernstein through his final work, Here We Are (2023).
YCMS 647 Th茅芒tre 脿 la carte: lecture 脿 haute voix de sc猫nes de th茅芒tre
Moderator: Jacques Lalanne | m.jacques.lalanne [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 14
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
En fran莽ais seulement听
Lecture 脿 haute voix de sc猫nes de th茅芒tre ancien, classique et moderne, fran莽ais, qu茅b茅cois et am茅ricain. Comme des acteurs lors des premi猫res r茅p茅titions d鈥檜ne pi猫ce, les participant.e.s liront puis interpr茅teront des sc猫nes du th茅芒tre ancien (艗dipe roi etc.), du th茅芒tre classique (Le m茅decin malgr茅 lui, Le malade imaginaire, La m茅g猫re apprivois茅e, Cyrano de Bergerac, Le cid, etc.), du th茅芒tre moderne fran莽ais (L鈥櫭塩hange, Petits crimes conjugaux, En attendant Godot, Art, Le diner de cons, etc.), qu茅b茅cois (Le vrai monde ?, Tu te souviendras de moi, 15 f茅vrier 1839, etc.), am茅ricain (Qui a peur de Virginia Woolf, Vol au-dessus d鈥檜n nid de coucous, Des souris et des hommes, Le premier etc.) et sc猫nes de films.
YCMS 498 What's All the Percussion About?听
Moderator: Lanny Levine | lannylevines [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 16
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 11
This study group will showcase the sounds of orchestral percussion instruments: timpani, cymbals, snare drum, triangle, tambourine, and mallet instruments. It will also demonstrate playing techniques, explain percussion notation, and have everyone try out smaller instruments first-hand. There will be lots of listening. Participants could give a short presentation touching, however tangentially, on any aspect of percussion.
YCMS 648 Famous Francophone Singers
Moderator: Nadine Ozkan |听nadine.ozkan [at] gmail.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Frank Nicholson | fnicholson [at] rogers.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Elisabeth Robino | elisabeth.robino [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 7 weeks, starting April 16
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
This is a Participant Presentation study group. Please do not register in this group unless you are prepared to give a presentation.
Fran莽oise Hardy? Gilles Vigneault? Francis Cabrel? Pauline Julien? Members of this study group will enjoy learning about and sharing impressions of the lives, careers and songs of famous French-speaking singers from France, Canada and elsewhere. Each participant will make a presentation including online video recordings (e.g.,YouTube) on a francophone singer of their choice (click for suggestions). While the songs will be in French, presentations and discussions will be in English, so participants will need to understand but not speak both languages.
YCMS 650 Bel Canto Opera II
Moderator: Clifford Parr | clifford.parr [at] sympatico.ca听听
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Tony Wait | pawait [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Monday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.听
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 18
In this session, we will be watching together and discussion a selection of operas from the bel canto repertoire. Productions include Don Pasquale and L'elisir d'amore (Donizetti), I puritani (Bellini), La Cenerentola and L'Italiana in Algeri (Rosssini).
YCMS 649 The Plays of George Bernard Shaw
Moderator: Clifford Parr | clifford.parr [at] sympatico.ca听
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 14
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
In this session, we will be watching together and discussing a selection of plays by George Bernard Shaw. Productions include Mrs. Warren's Profession, You Never Can Tell, Arms and the Man, Pygmalion, Heartbreak House, The Devil's Disciple, and The Man of Destiny. Please note that these plays are BBC productions that at times may seem dated. The acting, however, is uniformly good.
YCMS 501 (in person)/YCMS 502 (online)
The Life, Times and Music of Leonard Cohen
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Linda Sidel | lindasidel [at] me.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Jeff Sidel | jsidel [at] videotron.ca
Time: Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online Moderator Location: In classroom
Hallelujah. Are you aware that this iconic classic written and recorded by Leonard Cohen in 1984 achieved little initial success? Have you ever wondered who 鈥淪uzanne鈥� and 鈥淢arianne鈥� were? Did you know that Judy Collins was instrumental in launching Cohen鈥檚 music career in the U.S? All this and more will be addressed as we take a deep dive over a five-week period to discover the life, times, and music of Leonard Cohen.
Please register for one section:
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YCMS 651 (in person)/YCMS 652 (online)
How Is AI Changing Our World?
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Nadia Alexan | nadia.alexan [at] videotron.ca
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
We will be exploring the book Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. The author Yuval Noah Harari explores how the role of information has shaped our lives from the Stone Age to the present. But now the world is on the brink of ecological collapse. He addresses the urgent choices we face as non-human intelligence threatens our very existence.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 300 (in person)/YCMS 344 (online)
L鈥楢ctualit茅: perspectives des media Qu茅b茅cois
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Anthony Frayne | anthonyfrayne26 [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 16
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 10 in person, 10 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
En fran莽ais avec participation dans les deux langues officielles
We live in interesting times, in a city which has some world-class media. Join our study group to discuss current events in Qu茅bec, Canada and abroad, as reported in our local print and electronic media. You also get the chance to practice your French. Participants are expected to be able to read and understand French and English but may express themselves in either language.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 653 (in person)/YCMS 654 (online)
Constitutions, the Backbone of a Democratic Society
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Anthony Frayne | anthonyfrayne26 [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
This is a Participant Presentation study group. Please do not register in this group unless you are prepared to give a presentation.
In this study group, we will make a comparison between the constitutions of different countries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the European Union, amongst others to be chosen by the study group participants. Which is the most 鈥榝air鈥�? Which is the most stable? Which most incites people to participate in elections? As the recent debate in Chile is showing, the introduction of constitutional change is no easy task, and may reveal fundamental issues in a society.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 349 (in person)/YCMS 350 (online)
World Topics of Interest for Discussion
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Paul Kuai-Yu Leong | paul.leong1234 [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In classroom
Each week we discuss a variety of interesting topics after viewing videos from a variety of sources. The objective is to expand our horizons on world affairs -- even with controversial or inconvenient opinions... So, let's keep calm and carry on with some stimulating discussions.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 655 Defending Canada鈥檚 Arctic Archipelago
Moderator: Denis Thompson | denisathome [at] hotmail.ca
Time: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
Participants will be exposed to the challenges of delivering on Canada鈥檚 new defence policy: 鈥淥ur North, Strong and Free.鈥� Afterwards, and with the assistance of a semi-retired military moderator, they will have an opportunity to participate in a simulation of a fictitious future conflict in the Arctic in 2028 in the style of a military war college. Doubtless, we will prove yet again that no plan survives first contact!
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YCMS 656 How Can AI Chatbots Help Lifelong Learners?
Moderator: Romano De Santis | romano.desantis [at] polymtl.ca听听
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听Giovanna De Santis | giodesantis [at] videotron.ca
Time: Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 14
This study group will investigate via hands-on practical projects how and to what extent AI chatbots can help learning across domains that are popular with lifelong learners. The domains considered include technical or creative writing, history, visual art, languages, STEM and similar domains. The objective is to gain direct practical experience with the technology, improving learning efficiency, and hopefully showing the way to AI-assisted education to other fellow lifelong learners. Active participation is expected. The availability of a computer is highly desirable.
YCMS 657 The 2025 Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock
Moderator: Philip Ehrensaft | metro845 [at] philipehrensaft.com
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Jean-Denis Gingras | jeandenis.gingras [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 90
Physicists who created the nukes dropped on Japan founded the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1945. Their goal: mobilize the public to prevent further use of nukes. The iconic BAS Doomsday Clock first appeared on the June 1947 BAS cover: its minute hand was 13 minutes from midnight, i.e., Armageddon. The 2025 minute hand is only 89 seconds from Armageddon, closer than during the Cuban Missile Crisis. We examine why, focusing this semester on new cyber and biochemical technologies that now enter Doomsday estimates.
YCMS 606 A Sm枚rg氓sbord of Science and Technology
Moderator: Peggy Leech | leechpeggy [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 23
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
Science and technology play an integral role in our lives, and every day there are new discoveries and developments. However, details about the news items or their future implications often remain a mystery. Five informed presenters will each share their underlying knowledge of a specific topic. Before each presentation, you will receive reference material or links to relevant articles and videos. Join us for a season of stimulating presentations and discussions with your fellow members.
Rick Jones -- Clouds
Dave Schurman 鈥� Permafrost
Bruce Macleod 鈥� Simple Explanations: How Computers, Google Search and ChatGPT Work
John Felvinci 鈥� How Did Life Start? An Investigation
Bob Rabin 鈥� Effects of Climate Change on Plants and Animals: The Arctic and Great Lakes
YCMS 658 Recycling Waste in Greater Montreal
Moderator: John Pivnicki | jvnpiv [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every other week, starting April 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
Are you confused about recycling our ever-increasing waste? This study group is meant to demystify the recycling challenges we all have with paper, plastic, glass, metal...etc. and what should really go into our recycling and composting bins. The moderator will attempt to organize a visit to recycling facility for participants (a reasonable understanding of French would be a plus for this visit). La Soci茅t茅 VIA is a modern installation accepting the recyclable waste of residents of western Montreal. The study group will also discuss the , which was to begin in March 2025, making all plastic beverages container refundable. Participants will be asked to participate and/or prepare topics that are of interest to them.
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YCMS 624 Detective Mystery Master
Moderator: Howard King | Hrk2thyme [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 15
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group/Workshop
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
This study group involves solving cases within the 鈥渕urder mystery鈥� genre. We will try to solve 鈥淭he murder of the van Hout family鈥� for example, which is a problem-solving game. We need your critical thinking skills and to be team players solving these games from the Detective Mystery Masters.
YCMS 659 Healing Grief: A Journal of Renewal
Moderator: Georgia Remond | georgiaremond [at] hotmail.com
Time: Thursday,12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting April 17
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
Grief is not something you get over like the flu. Grief reflects a connection that has been lost such as a divorce, a passing of a loved one, a cultural loss, a job or support pet. This workshop is designed for individuals who are grieving to find ways to re-engage with life after loss. This is not a therapy session. It is a supportive space for people with shared experience to come together. Discussion and gentle body movement exercises combined with art activities. No artistic talent needed.
YCMS 079 Drama for Fun
Moderator: Freda Segal | fsegal10 [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 11
Drama for Fun is a workshop that promotes socialization, improves creativity, and induces laughter 鈥� a perfect remedy for our times. Come and witness the creativity that can be unleashed when thespians get together via Zoom to create online drama.
