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• FREE Fall 2020 Speaker Event Series (via Zoom)

  • Start
    September 14, 2020
  •  
    9:00 AM (EDT)
  • End
    November 09, 2020
  •  
    12:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meetings
  • Spaces left
    475

  
  

  Fall 2020 Speaker Event Series 
  
  

  All Fall 2020 speaker events will be conducted virtually using Zoom software

  
  

  September 14	Myriam Nafte Forensics in Crime Solving
  September 21	Brian Carwana To See, To Be, To Do: The Landscape of World Religions
  October 5	Olivier Courteau Hong Kong, China and the deep roots of the ongoing crisis
  October 19	Dr. John Bell New Approaches for Treating Cancer
  October 26	Debbie Pond Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight in Our Own Backyard!
  November 2	Dr. Michael Verbora Is canabis a cure all?
  November 9	Brian Carlile Evolution of the Orchestra

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

    

  
   
  

  
  

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• Forensics in Crime Solving

  • When
    September 14, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

      
  

  Myriam Nafte

  As a forensic anthropologist, Myriam Nafte is an active advisor and consultant for criminal casework across North America. She received a Specialized Honours BA in Medical Anthropology from York University, a BEd degree in Science from Brock University, and completed an MA and PhD in Physical Anthropology at McMaster University.

  Currently, Nafte is an instructor at McMaster University where she teaches upper level courses in health and illness. She continues to research the use of human remains as material culture, documenting their transition from cadaver to objects of power, identity and capital. Nafte is the author of numerous articles and books including Flesh and Bone: An Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, Crime and Measurement: Methods in Forensic Investigation, The Skin of Murder Victims: Fingerprints and Other Evidence [editor], and the forthcoming Trophies and Talismans: The Traffic of Human Remains.

  Forensics in Crime Solving

  Forensic investigation is a largely misunderstood field. The work of civilian scientists versus police is governed by areas of specialty that are quite distinct from one another. In this lecture, I define the evolving field of police forensics with an overview of the protocols governing crime scenes, warrants, security, and the processing of physical evidence. Much of my research and training has been in the identification of human remains in various forms of trauma and/or decomposition. Due to the nature of the physical evidence I process, it has been my experience to work alongside both police and forensic scientists as part of a team.

  Along with the important procedures, I will discuss some of the most challenging cases of my career.

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series. 

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• To See, To Be, To Do: The Landscape of the World's Religions

  • When
    September 21, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

  
  

           Brian Carwana

  Brian Carwana is the Director of the Encounter World Religions Centre, having left a business career to explore the endlessly fascinating topic of religion. Brian has a Master’s degree and is in the latter stages of acquiring his PhD from the University of Toronto.

  Brian has taught at university and brings thousands of people every year to houses of worship to encounter the people, places, practices and philosophies of the world’s religious traditions.  

  To See, To Be, To Do: The Landscape of the World's Religions

  Brian will offer a panoramic map of the religious topography and provides a framework for studying religions. Insight will be provided into the following religions: Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, Native Spirituality, Zoroastrianism,  Wicca, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Rasta, Sikhism.

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series.
  

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• Hong Kong, China and the deep roots of the ongoing crisis

  • When
    October 05, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

  
  

      
  

  Olivier Courteaux

  Olivier Courteaux holds a Doctorate in History from the University Paris IV-Sorbonne.  He specializes in the history of 20th century international relations, with a particular emphasis on conflicts.

  He has taught at various institutions in Ontario including York University/Glendon College, Ryerson University and the Royal Military College in Kingston. He is currently lecturing at the Life Institute (Ryerson University).

  ​Olivier is the author of The War on Terror: Canada’s Dilemma (2009), Canada between Vichy and de Gaulle, 1940-1945, (published in English in 2013 and in French in 2015) on Franco-Canadian relations during the Second World War, and Quatre Journées qui ébranlèrent le Québec on Charles de Gaulle’s famous 1967 “Vive le Québec Libre”, in 2017.

  Hong Kong, China and the deep roots of the ongoing crisis

  When the United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to China in July 1997, thus ending over 150 years of British rule, the hope in the West was that Beijing would abide by a "one country, two systems" policy. The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration signed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and China's premier Zhao Ziyang allowed Hong Kong to maintain a level of political and social autonomy. In 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China with its own "mini constitution", which included free speech and the freedom of assembly.

  Clearly, China has chosen to put an end to Hong Kong's special status. This lecture will explain the deep roots of the crisis by looking back at the history of Hong Kong since the cessation by China of the island to the British, in 1842, until the present. The consequences of China's most recent decisions when it comes to its relations with the West, and especially the United States, will also be discussed.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series. 

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• New Approaches for Treating Cancer

  • When
    October 19, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

      
  

  
  

  Dr. John Bell

  

  Dr. John Bell received his PhD from McMaster University in 1982. In the three years that followed, he trained as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa and then at the Medical Research Council in London, England. Dr. Bell began his independent research career at McGill University in 1986 and moved to the University of Ottawa, Department of Medicine, in 1989. He is a member of the Center for Cancer Therapeutics at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Center, a Senior Scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He is currently the Scientific Director of BioCanRx, a Network of Centres of Excellence that aims to bring novel immune stimulating therapies to cancer patients across Canada. Dr. Bell is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

  New Approaches for Treating Cancer

  The treatment of cancer to date has largely been dominated by the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While these two approaches have benefited a large number of people, there are many cancer patients whose cancers do not respond and thus they don’t achieve the long-term cures that they hope for. Another emerging therapeutic approach is to use “biologically based” strategies often aimed at stimulating the patient’s own immune system to recognize the cancer as a foreign entity and eliminate it. If successful, these therapies have the benefit of eliminating the tumor and providing “immunological memory” to keep the cancer from returning. In my presentation I will discuss some of these novel approaches and how the field of cancer therapy is evolving.

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series. 

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• Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight in Our Backyard!

  • When
    October 26, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

  
  

      
  

  Debbie Pond

  Debbie thrived with the challenge of forging a road less traveled in her 35-year career as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer (retired 2013). Debbie’s passion for people and advocating for change to support vulnerable and marginalized individuals has taken her to a variety of human services sector roles.

  Debbie is one of the founding members, and volunteers full time as Chair / Executive Director of U-R Home Awareness & Support Services. U-R Home is a York Region organization that brings education and awareness on human trafficking, supports survivors in having the life they desire and families whose children have been affected by sex trafficking.

  Debbie is on the Executive Leadership of York Region’s Community Partners Alliance to Stop Trafficking among other community collaboratives.

  Debbie’s love for people and travel has taken her on numerous extended volunteer trips to Africa where she works with young girls and women; empowering and providing opportunities through education to be the change in their communities.

  Human Trafficking:  Hidden in Plain Sight in Our Backyard!

  We think it only happens to people living “over there” but IT Can Happen to Anyone and is happening in “our backyard”. Survivors say they lived in our communities but were unSEEN!

  Debbie believes that we can end all forms of sexual exploitation but it is each person’s responsibility to challenge the harmful attitudes and stereotypical norms in our society!

  Debbie will discuss what human trafficking entails, the many forms of exploitation, what it looks like in “our backyard”, how to recognize signs of trafficking and recruitment tactics.  Does trafficking happen because people are poor or vulnerable? The role social media plays in human trafficking. How the mindset of a trafficked person impacts their ability to “just leave”.  Debbie will share her experience of walking with families, survivors and the realities of their lives after exiting The Game. She will challenge you to become an Advocate and Assist in ending human trafficking in “our backyard”.

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series. 

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• Is cannabis a cure all?

  • When
    November 02, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

  
  

      
  

  Dr. Michael Verbora

  Michael Verbora, MD, one of Canada’s foremost experts on cannabis,  earned an MBA from the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business in 2009 and an M.D. from Schulich School of Medicine at Western University in 2013, before entering a Family Practice residency at the University of Toronto.

  Michael has completed over 5,000 cannabinoid therapy consultations and given more than 100 presentations on the use of cannabis in community and hospital settings. He is also a member of the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids, Doctors for Responsible Access as well as a college student health advisor. He sits on the executive of the Ontario Medical Association Cannabis Interest Group.
  

  Is cannabis a cure all? 
  

  Dr. Verbora will review the history of cannabis, the medicinal ingredients and current medical evidence, while sharing both the benefits to health and wellness and specific risks with use. There are many myths about cannabis from all healing to all harmful. You will leave with the facts and an understanding of this complex botanical. 

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series. 

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• Mozart - The Musicians’ Musician and Everyman's Composer

  • When
    November 09, 2020
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    Zoom virtual meeting

  
  

  
  

      
  

  Brian Carlile

  Brian Carlile, born and brought up in the UK has a broad background in the world of professional music.

  As a player in major symphony and chamber orchestras and as a session musician, conductor, contractor and organiser, his working life has taken him across continents and through society. As a music writer and arranger he has experienced the creative process from the ground up.

  As a speaker he gets to explore and share his perspectives and insights with interested audiences.

  
  

  Mozart - The Musicians’ Musician and Everyman's Composer

  Our fascination with this creative genius has been the subject of myth, rumour and speculation for centuries despite an abundance of authoritative first hand documentary evidence of his life and thinking.

  Brian will provide his modern-day performer’s perspective to try and explain why Mozart continues to be revered and feared in equal measure by professional musicians worldwide. “Too easy for amateurs and too hard for professionals” is an oft quoted warning! Despite this, he is the composer who speaks to everyone in some way.  Put simply, his music is so perfect it seems inevitable that we will fail every attempt to play it perfectly.
  

  Examining the real facts around his life and work just amplifies the awe in which we all still hold him.
  

  
  

  
  

  This event is part of the Fall 2020 Speaker series. 

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