Winter Registration Opens Online Only December 2, 2020 at 9 a.m.
Duration: January 11 – March 26, 2021
How to register for a study group
MCLL Online
The covid-19 pandemic has presented MCLL with the challenge of transferring all its study groups and lectures to a Zoom online platform. Volunteers have worked hard to ensure that members have the technical support they need to be able to join remote Zoom sessions.
Because all study groups and lectures are currently delivered entirely online, some of you who don’t feel comfortable working with computers might be concerned about your ability to join online Zoom sessions. If you’re experiencing Zoom anxiety, please be reassured that MCLL volunteers will do everything they can to help you learn how to join a Zoom study group or a Zoom lecture. If you would like someone to phone you and help you join a practice Zoom session, please send an email request to Martin Coles, chair of the IT Committee. His email address is martincol [at] aol.com.
Refund Policy
In recognition of the fact that some members might try an online study group and find the experience unsatisfactory, MCLL has made it easier for you to ask for your money back. If, after you’ve tried the first two sessions of a study group, you would like your money back, you can receive a full refund. The deadline for requesting a full refund is the start of the third week of study groups, January 25, 2020.
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ART AND ARCHITECTURE |
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YCMS 083 Variety of Visual Creative Activities
Moderator: Romano M. De Santis | Romano.desantis [at] polymtl.ca, Giovanna DeSantis | giodesantis [at] videotron.ca
Time: Monday, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 15
For those who are passionate about visual creative activities and who love to share their passion with others. A show and tell experience for both new participants and multiple repeaters, for beginners as well as mature artists. Activities: drawing, painting, photography, sculpting, architecture, ceramics, jewelry, wood working, textile art and similar. Elements to be shared: characterization of the activity, objectives, techniques, personal evolution, social context, successes and failures. Display of personal artwork strongly encouraged.
YCMS 270 19th Century French Visual Arts II
Moderator: Wendela Stier | wen.la.stier [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 2:30- 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting February 17
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 22-24
We will be looking at some thematic aspects of the 19th century's French visual arts set in history as total art. Among the themes there will be artistic antecedents, photography, colour and colour theories, and Japonisme. Much artwork being discussed is familiar, and dear to us. The requirements, however, of the visual arts from the spectator, as well as the spectator's requirements from these arts, have changed radically over the years, and by taking the above approach we will gain new insights and appreciation.
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BEHAVIOURAL STUDIES |
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YCMS 226 Stories of Life
Moderators: Ibtissam El Assaad | ibtissamassaad [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
We are all storytellers. Our narratives shape us and connect us as humans. Our experiences enrich our lives, give us meaningful lessons and touch others. Let us share our stories and discuss the characters and actions that animate them. What if things had been different? How would we have acted? Themes of love, loyalty, confidence, and forgiveness come to life through the power of our words.
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CREATIVE WRITING |
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YCMS 249 Creative Writing Workshop
Moderators: Roz Paris| rozparis [at] hotmail.com, Debbie Mercier| debbie.mercier [at] mcgill.ca
Time: Monday, 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group (Workshop)
Maximum number of Participants: 8
As a novice or experienced writer, you want to refine your work through feedback and coaching in a small group of eight writers. Every second week, you will submit your fiction or non-fiction writing (up to 1,500 words), via e-mail at least 2 days prior to the workshop. You will read your draft aloud, followed by a group discussion with a goal of enhancing your writing. All participants must demonstrate a positive, supportive attitude and deliver and receive thoughtful, diplomatic feedback with other MCLL writers.
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COMPUTER STUDIES |
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YCMS 271 Digital Literacy for Lifelong Learners
Moderator: Tim Skene | tim [at] skene.org ( )tim [at] skene.org
Time: Wednesday, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 13 with option to extend if requested
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 35
Digital literacy is an essential skill in today’s online world. Every day we’re confronted with fake and biased news, misinformation, paid reviews and pseudoscience. Equally important are online privacy and the risks that come from the widespread harvesting of our personal data. This study group will reveal the many versions of truth that are out there and how to tell the good sense from the nonsense. We’ll look at what privacy means these days, and how to avoid scams and digital fraud. If there is sufficient demand, we can continue beyond the initial five weeks.
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CULTURAL STUDIES |
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YCMS 086 Harmony of Civilizations
Moderators: Nadine Salam | salamnadine [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 22
It is time to shift our attention from the clash of civilizations that we are witnessing around the world, to consider the harmonious mosaic of cultures that make up our Canadian population. Why not step into an exploration of diverse cultures, with everyone describing the land of their ancestors, with all the richness it adds to personal experience and values? In parallel, short readings and interviews from authors who approached the issue of identity and civilizations from different perspectives, such as Samuel Huntington, Edward Said, Amin Maalouf, and others, will enrich our reflections.
YCMS 272 A Virtual Vacation
Moderator: Clare McFarlane | clare.mc [at] sympatico.ca, Liz Parish | liz.parish [at] videotron.ca
Time: Thursday 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participation Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
Under COVID restrictions, we are stuck at home so let’s experience a virtual vacation. We will become armchair travellers. Tell us about a place you would love to visit or are planning to visit. Maybe you have been there and would like to return. Let us all vicariously enjoy your trip, be it to Mars or to the Maldives, Madagascar or Mongolia, or a place with special meaning for you. All participants are expected to make presentations of 20 to 30 minutes and take part in discussions.
YCMS 273 The Winds: Science, Culture and Myth
Moderator: Mary Ann Mongeau | ma41mongeau [at] yahoo.ca, Audrey Speck | a.speck [at] videotron.ca
Time: Thursday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 14 with option to extend if requested
Study Group Style: Participation Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
Wind is an elemental force in the world, with predictable patterns and irregular events from breezes to cyclones. How have winds influenced human settlement, agriculture, and trade or inspired travelers, writers and poets? Why do we give them names such as Mistral, Sirocco, Chinook? Presentations by participants could look at the science of wind generation and patterns or at the direct or cultural effects of a particular wind and the myths that relate to it. Or maybe you have a favorite book to talk about where wind plays a prominent part.
YCMS 079 Drama for Fun
Moderator: Freda Segal | fsegal10 [at] gmail.com
Time: Monday 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Workshop
Maximum number of Participants: 10
Drama for Fun is a workshop that promotes socialization, improves creativity, and induces laughter — a perfect remedy for our times.
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CURRENT EVENTS |
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YCMS 251 Alberta and Quebec – Similarities and Differences
Moderators: Ron Foyer (Calgary) | Ron-foyer [at] shaw.ca, Brian Webber | saican [at] icloud.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 19, every 2 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Maximum number of Participants: 16 (8 from MCLL and 8 from CALL)
Alberta and Quebec seem to have many political differences. What are the reasons for this and how can they be better understood? This study group will bring together up to eight participants each from the Calgary Association for Lifelong Learning (CALL) and MCLL to compare their societies and look for compromise approaches to issues. Group members will be expected to find written and other materials for discussion and provide overviews of the materials. The topic for the first session will be the impact of COVID-19 in Quebec and Alberta - what have we learned?
YCMS 043 Global Crises
Moderator: Mireille Coulourides | coulourides123 [at] hotmail.com
Time: Monday 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
Crises, flash points, hidden agendas and special interests of the global powers - this study group will deal with current events. Participants are expected to follow international news from mainstream media such as BBC, TV5 and PBS.
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ECONOMICS AND SOCIETY |
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YCMS 274 How to Build a Fairer, Greener, More Equal Society
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
Maximum number of Participants: 24
Structural inequalities affect all of us. Recent research by Thomas Piketty shows that less equal societies almost always have more violence, more disease, more mental health problems, higher infant mortality rates, reduced life expectancies, as well as less democracy. Corporate taxes are down from 56% to 15% and yet are still not paid. Canadian corporations are stashing more than $1.6 trillion dollars in offshore tax-havens, thereby depriving government coffers of $25 billion a year that could be used for public services. We will be exploring the book, The Trouble with Billionaires, by Linda McQuaig and Neil Brooks for some answers.
YCMS 275 Demystifying Project Analysis: The interface of Technology, Politics and Economics
Moderator: Paul Aubé | aube.paul [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday, 9:30 -11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator / Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
Project analysis is central to our day-to-day choices both personal and public. A project may be financially viable but be called into question due to its estimated cost or when a host of economic, environmental and societal factors are taken into account. How are such projects assessed? How may they be improved? This study group will address the nuts and bolts of this exercise within an historic perspective. It will highlight the difference in the approach depending on whether the exercise implies a private or a public project.
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HEALTH |
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YCMS 276 Aging Women and Health
Moderator: Leora Birnbaum | leorabirnbaum [at] hotmail.com
Time: Thursday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 14
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
This study group will review health issues that relate to aging in women including osteoporosis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer screening. The importance of regular exercise, healthy nutrition, and socialization will be emphasized.
YCMS 277 Memory Changes with Aging
Moderator: Leora Birnbaum | leorabirnbaum [at] hotmail.com ( )
Time: Thursday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting February 18
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
This study group will review normal versus abnormal changes in memory that come with aging, including dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Strategies to protect memory as one ages will be reviewed.
YCMS 278 More Than Forty Winks
Moderator: Peter Roberts | proberts [at] aei.ca
Time: Thursday, 12:00 -2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting February 18
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
Sleep is a vital third of our personal lives, so how do we understand it, get it and make the best use of it? This study group does not attempt to replace a qualified medical opinion, but members will have an opportunity to research and present information from a list of suggested topics, with the goals of sharing and questioning resources and experiences.
YCMS 293 End of Life Planning - Practical Aspects
Moderator: Elizabeth Robinson | elr56789 [at] gmail.com, Bruce Brown | brucebrown00 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 9:30- 11:30 a.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 19, with possible extension to 6 weeks if requested
Study Group Style: Workshop
Maximum number of Participants: 16
According to a New York Times article on July 19, 2020, the pandemic has led to “a boom time for death planning”. Have you considered making burial and funeral plans? What are your wishes regarding disposal of your body after death? Burial (standard or “natural”) or cremation? And what about possessions – household items, real estate, and savings? What do you want to leave to your spouse, children, other family members and charities? In this study group, we will share experiences and learn from each other about practical end-of-life matters. Participants will be encouraged to research a topic and present their findings to the group.
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HISTORY |
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YCMS 279 Flags - The Origins, Use and Significance
Moderator: Ginette Bazergui | ginettebazergui [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday 2:30- 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 14
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
How did flags originate? What are flags used for? What is Vexillology? How did flags become an emblem of war in Europe? What is the difference between flags and banners? How many sorts of flags are there?
YCMS 280 Prelude to Downton Abbey: A History of the English Stately House
Moderator: Belinda Beaton | belinda.beaton2 [at] gmail.com
Time: Wednesday 12:00-2:00p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
Downton Abbey’s reflection of the glittering life in a stately home with its social divide actually shows the twilight of a way of life. The history of the evolution of the great house over several centuries, from fortified castles and manors to classically proportioned palaces where women assumed more prominent roles is a colourful chapter of Western civilization.
YCMS 281 The First World War
Moderator: Dennis Creamer | creamerd [at] videotron.ca
Time: Tuesday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Moderator / Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
The full story of WWI, this study group will cover the role of Canada, as well as the personal – the moderator’s visits to the classic cemeteries in France and Belgium and his relative who was a soldier and died in the war. The presentations by the moderator will include videos. This is a repeat of a popular study group given twice before; but new material will be covered and participants will be encouraged to present their reflections on and links to the war.
YCMS 282 Edwardian Interlude
Moderator: John Felvinci | jfelvinci [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Tuesday 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participation Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 25
This is the first of six study groups examining the politics and culture in major countries in the pre-First War period. The countries covered will be the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia and the United States. The Edwardian Age, which followed the Victorian Age, lasted from 1901 to the First World War. We will look at the external and domestic politics of this time, as well as the vibrant culture literature, music, arts, theatre, architecture, and science.
YCMS 283 Europe in the 18th Century
Moderator: Richard Flanagan | rflanagan [at] videotron.ca
Time: Wednesday, 12.00-2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 25
By 1700 the post-Roman world was a distant memory and Europe was caught up in new ideas, inventions, and discoveries. Progress was the norm and every day brought new things. Out of 17th century Humanism there emerged a philosophical movement led by Voltaire, Newton, Diderot, Hume and Smith, which we now call the Enlightenment, and which still dominates our way of thinking. Waterpower changed manufacturing and industrial output surged in an age of textile mills and iron bridges. It was the age of Bach, Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. Alas, it was also the age of revolution and global conflict.
YCMS 284 Society, Arts and Culture of Mid-19th Century Europe (1848-1871)
Moderator: Colin Hudson | colin.hudson [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Tuesday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participation Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
Following our study of the political, economic and social history in the “Transformation of Europe” in the period 1848-1871, we will examine the arts and culture in this same short period. We will discuss writers, painters, composers, architects and notable persons who were influential or produced major works relevant to that time. There is a surprisingly large list of people creating a wide choice for presentation. As noted in previous study groups, everyone who registers commits to make a presentation.
YCMS 285 Assassination in History
Moderator: Frank Nicholson | fnicholson [at] rogers.com, Tony Wait | pawait [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Wednesday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
On learning of the death of Abraham Lincoln, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli asserted, “Assassination has never changed the history of the world.” Was Disraeli right? In this group, we will learn about the role that assassinations have played as an instrument of political change from ancient times to today. Each participant will research, prepare and make a 20 to 25-minute presentation, which will be followed by Q&A and discussion. Presentations will cover the context, target, perpetrator, motive, method and consequences of the assassination.
YCMS 286 Understanding Modern Iran
Moderator: Soheila Raesinezhad | sraesinezhad [at] yahoo.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Maximum number of Participants: 22
Iran is one of the oldest countries in Middle East. Since the early decades in the 20th century, this country has been experiencing the stresses and strains of modernization. Using handouts and films, we will discuss the impact of these changes on politics, the family, women and religion.
YCMS 287 Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy
Moderator: Ruth Rigby | ruthrigby14A [at] videotron.ca
Time: Thursday 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 14
Study Group Style: Moderator/Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 25
The year 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage to America. This study group will examine the history of the four nations, (the Wampanoag Nation, the United Kingdom, Holland, and the United States) from multiple angles, explore the experiences of those impacted and tell of the brutal consequences of colonization. We will review stories of persecution, loss and oppression as well as exploring the themes of migration, humanity and freedom that underpin its place in history.
YCMS 239 Ancient Worlds: Key Turning Points
Moderator: Robert Winters | robertwinters [at] videotron.ca, Roger Humphrey | rth201002 [at] yahoo.ca, Hosrt Richter | horst.richter [at] mcgill.ca
Time: Monday, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Moderator / Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
What draws us to learn about ancient civilizations and how their peoples lived? What can we learn from recent research into how they thought and what they believed? Discussion will be stimulated by presentations, videos and other material that help us explore key turning points that changed the course of history in the ancient world. These pivotal events include: Rome’s colourful first emperors; Greece’s arts explosion; the Persian Empire, superpower of the ancient world; and the decline of the Roman Empire. Participants are encouraged to do presentations although these are not obligatory.
YCMS 288 Plagues and other Pandemics: How They Can Change the World
Moderator: John Wolforth | j.wolforth [at] mcgill.ca
Time: Thursday, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Participation Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 24
Our present global COVID-19 crisis is not new. Plagues and other pandemics have occurred throughout history, often with far reaching consequences. We will look at some of these events with several questions in mind. What caused them? What were their immediate effects? What actions (if any) were taken by the affected populations to mitigate or escape these effects? What were their longer term consequences? Are there lessons to be learned for our present situation? Towards the end of the session, we shall consider what the long term consequences might be of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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LITERATURE |
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YCMS 289 The Decameron Part II
Moderator: Richard Lock | richardlock [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Thursday 9:30-11:30a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 22
The text to be used can be bought online and also via Kindle. We will continue to read ALOUD. The Decameron seems an appropriate text for these difficult times … a group of ten young people escape the city and the Black Death – and spend the time telling stories, eating and drinking and enjoying each other's company. The introduction includes a discussion of the problems of translation of the text into modern English while preserving as much as possible of the 14th century Italian flavour and style.
YCMS 290 The Prairies and Quebec Through Their Literature
Moderator: John Oster | osterjo [at] gmail.com, Sandra Ens | sandraens22 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 12, every 2 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Maximum number of Participants: 10 each from MCLL and CALL
A collaborative effort between the Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners (CALL) and MCLL, this discussion group will provide participants with an opportunity to increase, through literature, their appreciation of two distinctive places—the Canadian Prairies and Quebec. The four books selected will offer insight into similarities and differences in history and culture between the two regions. Soon after registration confirmation, participants will be sent the list of four novels to read.
YCMS 291 Famous Scenes from Shakespeare
Moderator: Clifford Parr | clifford.parr [at] sympatico.ca
Time: Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
Even if someone has never seen the play in its entirety, over the years certain scenes from Shakespeare’s plays have become so well known that they have taken on an almost iconic status. The balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and the crowd scene after Julius Caesar’s assassination are just two examples. In this study group we will be watching together and comparing several such scenes from different productions of Shakespeare’s plays.
YCMS 294 Michael Ondaatje: Two Works
Moderator: Maggie Benfield | mbenfield6 [at] gmail.com
Time: Thursday, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 14
Study Group Style: Discussion Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
We will study two works by the great Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje: The English Patient (a prize-winning novel) and Running in the Family (a memoir of his family in Sri Lanka). Presentations will be welcome but not essential, whereas willingness to enter discussion will be!
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MUSIC |
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YCMS 292 Understanding Great Music Through the Ages - Part I
Moderator: Richard (Rick) Jones | rickjones205 [at] yahoo.com, Philip Ehrensaft | metro845 [at] philipehrensaft.com
Time: Wednesday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Moderator Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 45
Professor Robert Greenberg’s lectures on the evolution of Western music will be presented and discussed. His lectures start with ancient Greek music, followed by music of the early Church, and then medieval music. Next in line is Early Modern Music: madrigals and music of the Renaissance; then Baroque music (operas, fugues, cantatas, concertos, and others). Next is Classical music of the Enlightenment, from Haydn’s mid-18th century innovations through early Beethoven, in all its forms (minuets, trios, sonatas, the invention of the string quartet, concertos and symphonies). Part II of the Greenberg lectures will continue in the Spring session.
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SCIENCE AND SOCIETY |
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YCMS 188 Textiles
Moderator: Muriel Herrington | murielh [at] bell.net
Time: Wednesday, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 10 weeks, starting January 11th
Study Group Style: Moderator / Participant Presentation Group
Maximum number of Participants: 20
Textiles are all around us - the clothes we wear, our household linens and soft furnishings, the interiors of cars and artworks. How are synthetic and natural fibres made and how do they compare? What dyes are used to colour fibres? How are findings such as buttons and zippers made? What labour practices are common in the textile industries? What are the supply chains? What kinds of pollution result from the manufacture and use of textiles? Participants are encouraged to give presentations. The moderator will provide a long list of topics.
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WORKSHOPS |
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YCMS 265 Travel in the Post Pandemic Age
Moderator: Peter Liontos | liontospeter018 [at] gmail.com
Time: Tuesday, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 weeks, starting January 12, every 2 weeks
Study Group Style: Workshop
Maximum number of Participants: 18
The moderator Peter Liontos, who has visited over forty countries, invites fellow travelers and would-be travelers to meet every two weeks to share their experiences, plans, apprehensions, and overall queries on travel post-pandemic. Topics shall include group versus independent travel, how and when to book airfare, Covid safety, and handling of different currencies. We will also cover travel insurance, booking accommodation, car rental, packing tips, solo travel, and suggestions to stretch your travel dollar.
