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On the Road (2025-2026)

MCLL On the Road (2025-2026)

Table of Contents

1. About

2. Lecture Program

2.1. Available Topics
2.2. Cost and Technical Requirements

3. How to Apply

4. FAQ

5. Past Lectures

5.1 Media

6. About MCLL

About

On the Road extended the mission of MCLL by providing free lectures directly in senior living settings across Montreal — seniors’ residences, retirement clubs, and independent-living apartment buildings. Driven by community outreach, this program allows seniors to gain meaningful educational experiences within the comfort of their communities, at no cost. MCLL offers a wide range of lecture topics, including health and wellness, history, fine arts and culture, literature, music and science, among others.

The program offered lectures between November 2025 and August 2026, with scheduling tailored to meet the needs and preferences of all participating communities.

The MCLL Council is currently evaluating the future of this program. The updates will be posted on this page.

Read the Final Report

Lecture Program

MCLL usually offers both online and on-campus lectures, wherein volunteer lecturers present their expertise on a variety of topics. The lectures provide an accessible environment for members to explore new ideas, while also facilitating discussions for peer-based learning. These sessions are typically more informative than instructional, offering a relaxed learning environment. However, depending on the topic, some lectures are more instructional and are held as workshops. Past topics for such workshops include self-defense, financial management, and personal goal setting.

Cost and Technical Requirements

The lectures offered by the On the Road 2025-2026 program were free, and MCLL delivered them at no charge. This program was made possible thanks to the generous support of our donors. 

How to Apply

We are currently not accepting applications for the program.

FAQ

How long is each lecture?

Each lecture lasts up to two hours, including Q & A. However, the length of the lecture can be altered according to the needs of your organisation.

Is it possible to host more than one lecture at a facility?

Absolutely! The number of lectures can be tailored to your needs.

Will residents receive information about MCLL?

Yes, a representative from MCLL will be present at the facility during the lecture to talk about the organization. The representative will also be able to help interested individuals sign up to become MCLL members.

Can the facility choose a lecture topic, or will a list of available topics be given to them to choose from?

Topics for lectures depend on the availability of a lecturer on the scheduled lecture date. However, when a lecture is scheduled, MCLL will provide you with a list of potential topics and lecturers who may be available

Past Lectures

These past lectures are provided to illustrate the breadth of topics previously offered through the On the Road program. If your organization would like to explore a similar topic, you are welcome to contact us to discuss possibilities.

Lecturer Lecture (-s) delivered
Brian Webber
  • Captain Bernier and Canadian Sovereignty
  • A Day on the Pomeroon River in Guyana,
  • Insights into Modern Turkey: from Istanbul to Göbekli Tepe and beyond
  • Belize: Culture, Economy and Ecology
Maxine Ruvinsky
  • How to Keep a Commonplace Book
  • The Art(s) of Nonfiction
Christopher Neal
(Retired Journalist, Communications Manager & Writer)
  • Literary Montrealers - Past & Present
  • Our Anarchic World Politics: Origins in History and Theory

Tony Wait
(Retired Businessman)
  • Benny Goodman's 1938 Jazz Concert at Carnegie Hall
Prithu Mukhopadhyay
(Scientist, PhD- Chemistry)
  • Retirement is Fun, Not a Funeral
  • Nutrition is What We Eat, and What We Digest
  • What Can We Do About Loneliness?
Harald von Cramon
  • The Etruscans
  • Sweden - History and Travel Log
  • Eternal Rome
  • The Painter Named Pieter Breughel
Max Beer and Deena Dlusy-Apel
(Filmmakers, Educators)

Lectures will showcase a screening of one of these documentaries, followed by discussion:

  • Nobody Was Interested, Nobody Asked - Jews Coming To Montreal in The Post-War Era
  • Will the Second Generation Please Rise: Children of Holocaust Survivors
  • Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors: Anything Can Happen Again
Tania Chomyk
(Life Transition Expert, Educator)
  • Practicing Self-Awareness: Tools for Living Well-Guided Reflection for Clarity, Well-Being, and Presence
  • Creating Your Next Chapter - Clarity, Reflection, and Vision for the Future
  • Bringing Light to Loss - Exploring Grief, Healing, and Inner Strength
Archie Fineberg
(Author, Photographer)
  • Street Art in Montreal: Its Origins and Evolution
  • Ceramic Tile Portraits in Montreal, A Unique Innovation
Jeff Sidel
  • 2024 Presidential Election: Post-Mortem
Michelle Gadoury
(Retired Neuropsychologist)
  • Cognitive Function in Aging
  • The Aging Brain: What You Need to Know
Lawrence Lincoln
(Retired Orthopedic Surgeon)
  • Aging Healthfully
  • Mindfulness & Meditation
Rick Jones
(Retired Meteorologist)
  • How Weather Forecasting Has Changed Over Years
  • Why Does the Wind Blow?
  • Clouds: The Sky’s Weather Makers
Dale Bonnycastle
(Retired Audiologist)
  • Hearing Loss: What You Need To Know
Barbara Karasek
(English Professor and Educator)
  • To Look, Understand, and Appreciate Art
  • Once Upon a Time.... Today
Frank Nicholson
(Retired Public Servant, PhD in History)
  • Le Corbusier: The Iconoclast
  • The World’s First Superstar: Sarah Bernhardt
  • The Pazzi Conspiracy: Murder in the Cathedral
Dan Babineau
(Film History, Music, and Production Teacher)
  • Music and The Cinema
  • How Movies are Made
  • Film History
Anthony Frayne
(Retired Economist, Commissionner at Régie de L'énergie)
  • The reconstruction and renaissance of Western Europe between 1945 ad 1960
  • Les enjeux financiers reliés à la retraite
  • A comparative analysis of the constitutions of the US, the UK, France, and Switzerland
Wolfgang Schneider
(Retired Clinical Chemist)
  • Chavín de Huántar. A mysterious ancient ceremonial site in the Peruvian Andes
  • Tiwanaku. A major pre-Inca civilization on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia

Media

Le Waldorf

Westmount One

The Teapot 50-Plus Centre

Le Club 60 de Montréal-Ouest

 

 

About MCLL

Since 1989, volunteers at the McGill Community for Lifelong Learning have delivered over a hundred study groups and as many lectures every year to older adults who like to learn and discuss. This unique initiative emphasizes peer-led, and discussion-based study through lectures and study groups. MCLL stands as a welcoming space for seniors who value education and social connections, with no added pressure of grades or exams. Lectures and study groups are led by our community volunteers in the in-person, online, and hybrid formats. The structure of MCLL encourages discussion and group participation. Members also have access to McGill student benefits, including full access to the McGill University library.

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