Study groups are courses designed for seniors by seniors, given both online and on campus.
Fall Term Duration: September 8 - November 19, 2026
Fall Term registration will begin on August 4, 12:01 a.m.
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All on-campus study groups take place on the second floor of
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Study Group Topics
MCLL Fall 2026 Available Study Groups |
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ARCHITECTURE/VISUAL ARTSYCMS 750 The Northern Renaissance
Moderator: Wendela Stier | wen.la.stier [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
The Northern Renaissance is associated primarily with painting, yet this course will also examine its broader visual, material, and political culture. It will cover the period from the Council of Constance (1414–18), which marked the end of the Great Schism, to around 1566 and the iconoclastic riots in the Low Countries. For some robust class discussions, The Northern Renaissance by Susie Nash offers an excellent preparation.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 724 To Observe, To Understand, To Appreciate . . . Art
Moderator: Barbara Karasek | karasekb [at] vaniercollege.qc.ca
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting October 6
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 9
“The average person spends 17 seconds looking at a work of art” (Toledo Museum of Art, 2021). We will spend much, much longer carefully observing originals at the MMFA in order to learn how to examine, understand, and appreciate a work of art. After being introduced to the elements of art in the first class, the remaining four will be spent at the Museum (free for seniors; stools provided) with members choosing a work that appeals to them and guiding our examination. The emphasis will be on observation, analysis, and discussion. The goal: to enjoy art, without feeling intimidated by it!
Register for this in-person study group
CREATIVE WRITING / LITERATUREYCMS 662 Creative and Mundane Writing with AI Assistance
Moderators:
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
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
This study group will explore, through hands-on creative writing projects, including short stories, poems, sonnets, letters, and text for presentations, the potential of AI (Artificial Intelligence) chatbots to inspire, guide, and refine the writing process. The focus will be on developing authentic expression, emotional resonance, and literary quality, using AI chatbots as collaborative tools for brainstorming, editing, experimenting with style, and exploring creating writing structures. Curiosity, creativity, sharing, and a willingness to write are essential for full participation.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 402 Creative Writing I: Structure and Development
Moderators:
Michael Moore | michael [at] michaelxmoore.com
Elizabeth Moes | junecountrygrrl [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 11
An introductory journey into the art of creative writing, exploring ideas about the nature of creativity and the disciplines every writer needs. Beginner level of fiction — voice, narrative, character, plot, and the evoking of emotion — are examined through exercises designed to produce work that assists the beginning writer to “find their voice”. Michael holds an M.A. in Creative and Critical Writing and has published a short story and poetry collection.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 486 Creative Writing II: Flash Fiction, Short Story 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
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
Building on Creative Writing I, this group begins with microfiction — short, punchy storytelling — before moving into flash fiction and then short story development. In-class writing exercises are supplemented by homework assignments, each reviewed and commented on before the following session. Now in its fourth year, this group’s teaching approach has provided a stable foundation for the new Level III offering.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 751 Creative Writing III
Moderator: Michael Moore | michael [at] michaelxmoore.com
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every 2nd week, starting September 16
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 8
Designed for writers who have completed Level II (or equivalency), this advanced session focuses on growth — building on previously developed skills to complete writing projects of greater length and complexity. The biweekly format allows sufficient time between sessions for substantive work. All submissions receive thorough review and guidance. A continuation in a second 5-week session is planned for the Winter term. Previous in-depth creative writing experience is a prerequisite.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 752 A Passage to India
Moderators:
Maggie Benfield | mbenfield6 [at] gmail.com
Susan van Gelder| susanvg [at] mac.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
E. M. Forster’s controversial novel about the British in India was written 100 years ago, but is still controversial today: Is it anti-colonial? Orientalist? Post- feminist? A story of friendship for any era? Forster’s tribute to his mother? All of the above? There should be plenty of discussion material here. We will endeavour to stick to literary discussion, rather than political, as this is a literature study group! Short, relevant presentations are always welcome.
Register for this in person study group
YCMS 249 Writers Circle
Moderators:
Laura Malbogat | lauramalbogat [at] gmail.com
Doug Newin | doug.newin [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
Whether you are a novice or an experienced writer, refining your writing skills is a positive, enriching exercise, especially when combined with feedback and supportive coaching. Every second week, each participant will submit their fiction or non-fiction writing (up to 1,200 words) two days prior to the workshop. Participants will then read their drafts 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
CULTURAL STUDIES / TRAVELYCMS 406 For the Love of Travel
Moderator: Peter Liontos | liontospeter [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every 2nd week
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
All aboard for a fascinating journey. We meet every two weeks for five sessions to discuss, in depth, travel plans or imagined trips, the pros and cons of independent or group travel, and interesting sailing options. If you have any travel experience you wish to share, your participation would be welcome.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 753 (in person)/ YCMS 754 (online) 16th-Century Venice: Culture, Politics, Society
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Hilliard Goldfarb | htgoldfarb [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
Focussing on the 16th century, this participatory course will explore the many factors that determined Venice's unique civilization, including its Byzantine heritage and Greek possessions, its relation to Roman heritage, its economic and unique political structures, the Scuole and Ospedali, Venice as the musical centre of 16th century Europe, its uncensored printing industry, its relation to the papacy and other denominations, the Ottomans, its minority communities, including Jewish, social permissiveness and control, and its remarkable artistic and architectural legacy.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 753 - In person
YCMS 754 - Online
YCMS 755 Glorious Foods II: Sweet Delights and Desserts
Moderator: Diana Ooi | ooidiana22 [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
From traditional desserts to favourite snacks and sweet memories, this session celebrates the sweeter side of food cultures around the world. Participants are invited to share desserts, drinks, pastries, candies, or memorable food experiences connected to family traditions, celebrations, travel, or everyday life. As with Glorious Foods I, presentations are informal and relaxed — nothing fancy required. Photos, stories, recipes, or simply your enthusiasm for good food are more than enough. Come share, learn, and enjoy together.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 756 (in person)/ YCMS 757 (online) Humour: Who . . . and What Makes You Laugh? Part II
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderators:
Linda Sidel | lindasidel [at] me.com
Jeff Sidel | jeff [at] seniorsadvisory.ca
Time: Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
We continue our exploration -- from TV sitcoms, comedy variety shows, movies, and stand-up comedians who and which transcend borders and ethnicity -- anyone and anything that makes us laugh and, equally important, brings back fond memories which we can all share.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 756 - In person
YCMS 757 - Online
YCMS 666 Learning by Asking: Voilà la question!
Moderators:
Danielle Cinq-Mars | danielle.cinqmars [at] gmail.com
Claire Booth | clairebooth2016 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
En français seulement.
Do you want to practise French? Do you have some basic knowledge? You can learn a lot by asking about things. You can make remarkable progress with this question-based approach by improving your vocabulary and grammar. Voilà une façon agréable et stimulante d'apprendre ensemble!
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: 10 weeks, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Discussion group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 12 in person, 6 online
Moderator Location: In person
En français seulement.
Échanges en groupe autour d’expériences vécues, dans un cadre convivial et participatif. Les thèmes sont proposés par l’animateur, qui guide la discussion et offre commentaires et corrections linguistiques au besoin. Chaque séance encourage la prise de parole, l’écoute active et l’enrichissement mutuel, afin de progresser en français en partageant des situations réelles du quotidien.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 487 - In person
YCMS 488 - Online
HISTORYYCMS 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, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
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 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
YCMS 758 Big History: Cosmos to Civilization
Moderators:
Larry Lincoln | larry.mcll [at] outlook.com
Suzanne Alleyn| suzannealleyn_1 [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 8 weeks, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
What connects the Big Bang, the emergence of life, the cognitive revolution, and the world we live in today? This 8-week study group follows David Christian’s Big History framework alongside Yuval Harari’s Sapiens to trace the full arc of cosmic and human development. Beginning with the universe’s origins through the rise of Homo sapiens, the agricultural revolution, and the modern era. Each session pairs presentation with active discussion. Participant contributions are encouraged but not mandatory.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 759 (in person)/ YCMS 760 (online) History and Literature of World War I
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderators:
Colin Hudson | colin.hudson [at] sympatico.ca
Russell Chapman | russell.chapman [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting September 15
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation group
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
We will first discuss the causes, issues, and politics that led up to the war. We will then study the war, not the battlefields, as seen primarily through the novels, poetry, and memoirs of Erich Maria Remarque, Ernest Hemingway, Pat Barker, Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Robert Graves and Vera Brittain. Finally, we will discuss the Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles, and briefly look at the immediate post-war history.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 759 - In person
YCMS 760 - Online
YCMS 761 (in person)/ YCMS 762 (online) Rebellions to Confederation: Canada 1837-1867
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderators:
Christopher Neal | clneal16 [at] gmail.com
Paul Doucet | pdoucetindsay [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
Participants are welcome to make presentations to this study group in English or French.
Two rebellions, the burning of a Parliament, an inflexible “mother” country, and a new English‑French reform coalition shaped Canada’s political culture in the mid‑19th century. We will explore the 1837–38 rebellions in Lower and Upper Canada, the Durham Report, the Union of the Canadas, and the movement to responsible government led by LaFontaine and Baldwin but strained by the Rebellion Losses controversy and the 1849 burning of Montreal’s Parliament. We will then review growth in Canada East and Canada West, railways, canals, banks, trade, ties to the US, and the factors behind Confederation.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 761 - In person
YCMS 762 - Online
YCMS 763 The Age of Discovery
Moderator:
Roger Humphrey | rth201002 [at] yahoo.ca
Jim Wyant | wyantcoinc [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
The Age of Discovery, spanning the 15th to17th centuries, was a period of European maritime exploration that reshaped global history. Driven by advances in navigation, shipbuilding, and cartography, explorers like Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Magellan ventured into uncharted waters. Their voyages connected continents, launched the Columbian Exchange of goods and diseases, and established European colonial empires. Accelerating global trade and cultural exchange, this era also brought devastating consequences for Indigenous populations through conquest, exploitation, and disease.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 764 (in person)/ YCMS 765 (online) The Evolution of the English Stately House
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Belinda Beaton | belinda.beaton2 [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
The stately house has become an emblematic representation of Britain's past. These “power houses” were cultural achievements of great wealth and political influence. They served as cultural centres that reflected innovations in architecture and furnishings, to say nothing of changes in diets and manners. Sadly, their survival was not assured and many were destroyed in the last century. With lavish illustrations and recommended documentaries, this course explores their evolution and the changing roles of women, servants, and inhabitants who interacted in them. More substance than Bridgerton!
Please register for one section:
YCMS 764 - In person
YCMS 765 - Online
YCMS 766 Two South American Countries
Moderator: Peter Berry | peterberry [at] myyahoo.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
Peru and Argentina are two countries with proud indigenous pasts. They developed multiracial and multicultural societies during three centuries under Spanish colonial rule and then evolved quite differently as independent countries. We will use handouts, maps, videos and discussions to learn about the Inca Empire, Spanish conquerors, courageous missionaries, Indian rebels, revolutionary generals, British capitalists, Italian, Japanese and Jewish immigrants, Evita Peron, and the mothers of the disappeared.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 767 Quebec’s Quiet Revolution
Moderators:
Anthony Frayne |anthonyfrayne26 [at] gmail.com
Frank Nicholson | fnicholson [at] rogers.com
Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion group
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
The years 1959-1966 in Quebec witnessed one of the most rapid and profound non-violent turnarounds of a Western society in history. The dramatic changes included the decline of the influence of the Catholic Church, the introduction of a welfare state, changes in the education system and the expanded role of Hydro-Québec. The group will discuss not only what happened in the transformation, but also what the province was like beforehand and the repercussions in the years that followed. Each session will be based on videos (some in French) stimulating round-the table discussion by participants.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 768 (in person)/ YCMS 769 (online) The Adventure of Archeology from Pompei to China
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Michel Lamarche | michel152 [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting October 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online
Moderator Location: In person
This is a repeat of the fall 2025 study group, with updates from recent discoveries. The five main areas under examination will be Pompei, Pre-Roman Sicily and Mediterranean shipwrecks, Neolithic Europe, The Americas, and Ancient China. Videos are used whenever possible and participants are strongly encouraged to make short presentations on sites or museums they may have visited.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 768 - In person
YCMS 769 - Online
MEDICINE / HEALTH / WELLNESSYCMS 317 Always look on the Bright Side of Life
Moderators:
Marjorie Northrup | marjorienorthrup [at] gmail.com
Claire Booth | clairebooth2016 [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 12:00 -2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
(With apologies to Monty Python). We live in challenging times where negativity seems to dominate. We will look together at the multitudinous positive aspects of our world. The focus will be on people, organizations, and events which contribute to making the world a better place. Some examples are Marie Curie, Doctors without Borders, etc. By focusing on the invention of life saving medicines, nonprofit organizations, and amazing people who devote their lives to bettering society, we seek to find reassurance and hope.
Register for this in-person study group
MUSIC / THEATRE / FILM STUDIESYCMS 709 More Grand Opera
Moderators:
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: 17
In this session, we will be watching together and discussing a selection of operas in the Grand Opera Tradition. The productions include: Pagliacci (Leoncavallo), Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni), Falstaff (Verdi), Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky), and Les Troyens (Berlioz).
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 770 Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival
Moderator: Clifford Parr | clifford.parr [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting on September 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 Shakespeare's plays from the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. The productions include: Timon of Athens, King John, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Anthony and Cleopatra, and Love's Labour's Lost.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 771 Théâtre à la carte; Lecture de théâtre en français
Moderator: Jacques Lalanne | m.jacques.lalanne [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting on September 14
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 8
En français seulement.
Lecture à haute voix de scènes du théâtre québécoise. Comme des acteurs lors de premières répétitions, les participant.e.s liront puis interpréteront des scènes de théâtre et des extraits de films de différentes époques et traditions culturelles.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 772 Journalism on Film
Moderator: Lewis Cattarini | lewis.cattarini [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting September 30
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
The moderator will introduce and screen a number of films about the media, including The Insider (1999). The various objectives or aspects of journalism within these movies will be examined and discussed. Note: Due to film lengths there will be no midway break time.
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 498 What's All the Percussion About?
Moderator: Lanny Levine | lannylevines [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 9
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 773 Revisiting the Fundamentals of Music
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
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 90
Over the last five years, we looked at the history, genres, and great composers of classical music, jazz, and the neuroscience and mathematics of music. Our study group on the fundamentals of music was the point of departure. Now we’ll revisit the fundamentals with a deeper understanding, reinforced by mining rich music resources at YouTube and McGill’s library.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 592 Music in the Cinema
Moderator: Dan Babineau | danbabineau2023 [at] outlook.com
Time: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
We will examine the rich interchange between music and the cinema. Our review will embrace 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, our in-depth assessment will provide a detailed look at the work of film composers. We will learn of some of the specifics of the craft, 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 774 World 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
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
This study group will survey the filmmaking of 10 different countries. Each week at 5 pm at MCLL, we will screen a film from a specific country, then in the study group session the following day, we will have the time to discuss the film and situate it within its national filmmaking traditions. There are 195 countries in the world – so the choice may be difficult. But imagine the possibilities!
Register for this in-person study group
POLITICS / ECONOMICS / CURRENT EVENTSYCMS 775 (in person) / YCMS 776 (online) America 250: Democracy or Trumpism?
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderator: Jeff Sidel | jeff [at] seniorsadvisory.ca
Time: Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person, 14 online Moderator Location: In person
On July 4th, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of its declaration of independence from tyranny. The American people are once again faced with a choice this November as Trump continues to try to steal the midterm elections. We continue to explore in-depth whether democracy or Trumpism prevails.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 775 - In person
YCMS 776 - Online
YCMS 777 America 250: Democracy or Trumpism?
Moderator: Jeff Sidel | jeff [at] seniorsadvisory.ca
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 26
On July 4th, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of its declaration of independence from tyranny. The American people are once again faced with a choice this November as Trump continues to try to steal the midterm elections. We continue to explore in-depth whether democracy or Trumpism prevails.
Register for this online study group
YCMS 043 Current Events: Global Crises
Moderator: Mireille Coulourides | coulourides123 [at] hotmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every 2nd week
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
In this study group, we will examine how global crises shape our lives: Canada’s role in the world, the shifting international order, and how the global community responds to emerging instability. Together, we will explore the forces driving these changes and consider what they may mean for the future. Current global crises, world conflicts and how they impact us, will be examined. Each week, the session will open with a moderator presentation followed by discussion.
Register for this in-person study group
SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGYYCMS 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 2nd week, starting September 16
Study Group Style: Moderator presentation
Attendance: Online
Maximum Number of Participants: 65
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.
Martin Bush -- Climate Change and Electrification
John Felvinci -- Dark Matter
Victoria Kaspi -- The Cosmic Gift of Neutron Stars
Edward Kilgour -- Spyglasses to Roman: The past, present and future of telescopy
Philip Ehrensaft and Jean-Denis Gingras-- Space War
Register for this online study group
YCMS 778 (in person)/YCMS 779 (online) Energy Use and Production in Canada and Globally
Hybrid Study Group – register for in-person or online attendance
Moderators:
Elizabeth Robinson | elr56789 [at] gmail.com
Jean-Denis Gingras | jeandenis.gingras [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, every 2nd week, starting September 15
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant presentation
Attendance: Hybrid
Maximum Number of Participants: 13 in person; 14 online Moderator Location: In person
Fossil fuels provide 80% of the world's energy, and disruptions to oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz have prompted some governments to curb economic activity to reduce energy use. This study group will explore how energy is produced, distributed, and consumed in Canada and globally. Specific topics will depend to a certain extent on participants’ interests but will include changes over time in energy production and use, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, bitumen vs conventional oil production, and Hydro-Quebec’s Action Plan 2035.
Please register for one section:
YCMS 778 - In person
YCMS 779 - Online
YCMS 780 In the Face of AI: Doing Nothing
Moderator: Marlene Chan | marlenechan02 [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting September 14
Study Group Style: Discussion group
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 12
This five-week, self-reflective Study Group will examine “the power of attention” and the notion that digital tools such as AI are designed to colonize and commodify our attention. Together we will begin by exploring computer scientist Yoshua Bengio’s statement on the question of power in the face of accelerated technological developments surrounding AI: “What matters? What can I do?” In preparation, participants are asked to view on YouTube “Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Disrupter” (recorded at a public event sponsored by Charles Bronfman, CBC Ideas and McGill University).
Register for this in-person study group
YCMS 781 Creative Thinking for Everyday Life
Moderator: Sylvie Lachize |syl.logique [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Workshop
Attendance: In person
Maximum Number of Participants: 17
This discussion group explores the science of creativity through engaging conversations, thought-provoking experiments, and playful exercises designed to strengthen divergent thinking and cognitive flexibility. Drawing on design, psychology, neuroscience, and creativity research, participants will discover practical tools to think more imaginatively, solve problems in new ways, and bring greater curiosity and originality into everyday life. No artistic background is required — only an open mind, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to explore ideas with others.
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, starting on September 14
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.
