Study groups are courses designed for seniors by seniors, given both online and on campus.
Fall Study Group Program will be posted on July 15, 2025
Fall registration opens August 5, 2025 at 9 a.m.
↓ See the Spring Program below for examples of MCLL study groups ↓
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More about Study Groups
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
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
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—just bring your curiosity and a love for discovery! Presentations are welcome but not mandatory.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 626 - In person
YCMS 627 - Online
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
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.
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 “Fine Artist” status. Montreal, New York and Melbourne have walking tours of street art. Choose an artist, a mural or a city. If there’s 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:
YCMS 628 - In person
YCMS 629 - Online
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YCMS 249 Writers' Circle
Moderators: Liliane Aberman | liliane.aberman [at] gmail.com
Maureen Wilson | 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.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 630 "Literature adds to reality, it does not simply…
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” (C.S. Lewis). And there’s not much better than a good story! To deepen our understanding of and pleasure in stories, poems, and plays, we’ll 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’s For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. As Margaret Atwood has pointed out, “In the end, we’ll all become stories.”
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 290 The West and Quebec Through Their Literature
Moderators: Andrew Macdougall (MCLL) | andrewmac [at] videotron.ca
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 – 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 Hémon
- Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr
- May Our Joy Endure (Que notre joie demeure) by Kevin Lambert
Register for this online study group
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
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.
Register for this online study group
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
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'.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 632 Healing Through Writing – 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
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.
Register for this online study group
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
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 link for a sample reading.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 633 - In person
YCMS 634 - Online
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YCMS 437 An Ocean Voyage Around the World in 140 Days
Moderator: David Grogan | david [at] davidmgrogan.com
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.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 487 (in person)/YCMS 488 (online)
Parlons français
Hybrid Study Group - register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Jacques Lalanne | m.jacques.lalanne [at] gmail.com
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 français seulement
Conversation en français sur des sujets d'expériences vécues, proposés par le modérateur.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 487 - In person
YCMS 488 - Online
YCMS 406 For the Love of Travel
Moderator: Peter Liontos | liontospeter018 [at] gmail.com
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.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 635 Aperçu de la culture et de l'histoire de l'Espagne
Moderators: Silvia San Miguel | sanmiguel_19 [at] yahoo.com
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
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
En français avec participation dans les deux langues officielles. Presentations can be made in English.
Nous explorerons l’histoire et la culture de l'Espagne en mettant en lumière des périodes significatives et l'impact des événements historiques sur le développement de la nation. Les figures marquantes et les moments clés qui ont façonné l'identité et la culture espagnole seront évoqués. Nous aborderons les périodes allant de la préhistoire et l’Antiquité en passant par les Wisigoths, l’occupation maure, la Reconquista, le ‘’siglo de oro’’, la guerre civile, le franquisme pour en arriver à l’époque contemporaine. En lien avec la période, chaque participant fera une présentation de 15 minutes suivie d'une discussion. Exemples de sujets: la conversion de la mosquée de Cordoba, les gitans et les origines du flamenco, Toledo, Guernica de Picasso.
Register for this in-person study group
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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 | 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 462 - In person
YCMS 463 - Online
YCMS 327 The Immigration Experience
Moderator: Peter Berry | 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.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 636 Byzantium - The New Rome, Part III
Moderators: Roger Humphrey | rth201002 [at] yahoo.ca
Jim Wyant | wyantcoinc [at] gmail.com
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.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 637 Indigenous Clowns and Tricksters
Moderator: Randy Kritkausky | 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’ efforts to make colonists’ ethnographers understand that First Nations and Native Americans were not passive “research subjects” and instead often turned a critical lens back on Europeans. The moderator is an enrolled Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 638 The Adventure of Archeology in Greece and the Middle East
Moderator: Michel Lamarche | 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.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 586 Five Discoveries that Changed the World
Moderator: Beverley Ann Lee | 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.
Register for this in-person study group
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 | 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.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 639 - In person
YCMS 640 - Online
YCMS 641 Vietnam: A War of the 60s? – Section 2
Moderator: Jeff Sidel | 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.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 642 World History Explorer (Tours of Bygone Worlds)
Moderators: Peter Strobach | p_strobach [at] sympatico.ca
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 – yes, places, people, events, and development on a timeline, but with a global perspective. Taking four critical periods to human advancement, the tour explores 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.
Register for this online study group
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 | 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:
YCMS 389 - In person
YCMS 390 - Online
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YCMS 643 Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation
Moderator: Lawrence Lincoln | lawrence.lincoln [at] outlook.com
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.
Register for this in-person study group
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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 – 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’t!). 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.
Register for this in-person study group
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.
Register for this in-person study group
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—systemic prejudice, institutional barriers, and internalized biases—this 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.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 646 America’s Operetta: Broadway Musicals
Moderators: Philip Ehrensaft | metro845 [at] philipehrensaft.com
Rick Jones | 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’s transformation of musicals from his apprenticeship with Bernstein through his final work, Here We Are (2023).
Register for this online study group
YCMS 647 Théâtre à la carte: lecture à haute voix de scènes de théâtre
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 français seulement
Lecture à haute voix de scènes de théâtre ancien, classique et moderne, français, québécois et américain. Comme des acteurs lors des premières répétitions d’une pièce, les participant.e.s liront puis interpréteront des scènes du théâtre ancien (Œdipe roi etc.), du théâtre classique (Le médecin malgré lui, Le malade imaginaire, La mégère apprivoisée, Cyrano de Bergerac, Le cid, etc.), du théâtre moderne français (L’Échange, Petits crimes conjugaux, En attendant Godot, Art, Le diner de cons, etc.), québécois (Le vrai monde ?, Tu te souviendras de moi, 15 février 1839, etc.), américain (Qui a peur de Virginia Woolf, Vol au-dessus d’un nid de coucous, Des souris et des hommes, Le premier etc.) et scènes de films.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 498 What's All the Percussion About?
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.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 650 Bel Canto Opera II
Moderator: Clifford Parr | clifford.parr [at] sympatico.ca
Tony Wait | pawait [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Monday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
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).
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 649 The Plays of George Bernard Shaw
Moderator: Clifford Parr | clifford.parr [at] sympatico.ca
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.
Register for this in-person study group
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
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 “Suzanne” and “Marianne” were? Did you know that Judy Collins was instrumental in launching Cohen’s 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:
YCMS 501 - In person
YCMS 502 - Online
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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 651 - In person
YCMS 652 - Online
YCMS 300 (in person)/YCMS 344 (online)
L‘Actualité: perspectives des media Québécois
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 français 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 Québec, 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 300 - In-person
YCMS 344 - Online
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 ‘fair’? 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 653 - In person
YCMS 654 - Online
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 349 - In person
YCMS 350 - Online
YCMS 655 Defending Canada’s 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’s new defence policy: “Our North, Strong and Free.” 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!
Register for this in-person study group
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YCMS 656 How Can AI Chatbots Help Lifelong Learners?
Moderator: Romano De Santis | romano.desantis [at] polymtl.ca
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.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 606 A Smörgåsbord 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 — Permafrost
Bruce Macleod — Simple Explanations: How Computers, Google Search and ChatGPT Work
John Felvinci — How Did Life Start? An Investigation
Bob Rabin — Effects of Climate Change on Plants and Animals: The Arctic and Great Lakes
Register for this online study group
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: 15
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 La Société Via recycling facility for participants (a reasonable understanding of French would be a plus for this visit). La Société VIA is a modern installation accepting the recyclable waste of residents of western Montreal. The study group will also discuss the new government initiative, 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.
Register for this in-person study group
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YCMS 659 Healing Grief: A Journey 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.
Register for this in-person study group
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 — 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.
Register for this online study group
