Programme 2011-2012
Once again this year we will be offering this special introductory offer to a limited number of applicants, on a first come-first served basis.
Usually, non-members are required to pay ten dollars for each event attended. It is now possible to attend three events while paying for only two, that is twenty dollars instead of thirty dollars.
This offer will permit those who would like to sample some of the activities without committing to a full membership, to participate.
If the activity chosen necessitates an additional payment, i.e. Café d'art vocal or Centaur Theatre, you would be expected to pay that amount as well.
In addition, your name would be placed on our mailing list which would guarantee that any new developments or programme changes would be sent to you.
For events that require reservations in advance, please indicate your intention to attend on the membership form. Otherwise, it is not necessary to specify which three sessions you have chosen.
For maps of activity locations, see the Where We Meet section.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7:30 PM Faculty Club
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Presenter: Cora Mussely Tsouflidou
In 1987, Cora Mussely Tsouflidou, a single mother of three, bought a small abandoned snack bar in a Montreal suburb. There she focused her attention on creating beautifully-crafted breakfasts and making sure that her customers left with a smile. From these meagre beginnings, she went on to found the chain of restaurants destined to become the country's destination of choice for the first meal of the day. Today, the Cora network boasts more than 115 franchises across Canada with annual sales in excess of 100 million dollars! At least a dozen new locations are slated to open over the next year.
Mme Cora was born in the Gaspé; as a teenager she enrolled in Classical Studies at the Cardinal Leger Institute. Later, she abandoned this route, choosing instead to raise a family. However, ten years later, her husband left their home and she found herself without any means of support. That is when she decided to open her first restaurant. The rest is a fascinating story of one woman's struggle to perfect a brand that would attract a faithful clientele on a regular basis.
Through her determination and perseverance Cora franchises have opened across Canada and Mme Cora finds herself the recipient of numerous accolades: the Governor General's Award, the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Pinnacle Award, the Hall of Fame award from the Canadian Franchise Association and the RBC Canadian Women Award.
Of the countless activities in which she participates, the most gratifying one is the ongoing mentoring of a group of protégés.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7:30 PM Faculty Club
The Beginning of History
Presenter: Payam Akhavan
Iran's Green Revolution and the Arab Spring have transformed the face of the Middle East. Whereas Francis Fukayama said that the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in the 1980s was the "End of History", the changes sweeping the Middle East are the beginning of a new historical epoch in which the romance of freedom will give way to the difficult and complex process of building democratic cultures and institutions.
Payam Akhavan is Professor of International Law at McGill University. He received his PhD from Harvard University and was previously Senior Fellow at Yale Law School. His article "Beyond Impunity" in the American Journal of International Law has been selected as one of "the most significant published journal essays in contemporary legal studies."
Dr. Akhavan served as the first Legal Advisor to the UN Chief Prosecutor at The Hague and served with the UN in former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Guatemala, East Timor and Cambodia. He has appeared as counsel before the International Court of Justice and other tribunals in leading cases.
In 2005, he was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.
He is co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre and is a leading figure in the Iranian human rights movement.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 7:30 PM Faculty Club
Poverty, Violence, Mental Health and Corrections
Presenter: Kim Pate
Kim Pate is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) and part-time professor in the Faculty of Law at Ottawa University. CAEFS is a federation of autonomous societies which work with and on behalf of marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized women and girls throughout Canada. She will discuss the current trends in the increased criminalization of women, especially the poor and indigenous ones who have mental health issues. She will elucidate some of the underlying reasons contributing to the over-classification and the limited programming and treatment options which accounts for the fact that women are the fastest growing prison population around the world.
Ms. Pate is currently completing post graduate work in the area of forensic mental health. In November of 2009 she received the Touchstone Award of the Canadian Bar Association in recognition of her legal work.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:30 PM Mahjongg Restaurant
Which Cheeses Go With White Wines And Which Ones Go With Red Wines?
Presenter: Malcolm Anderson
Which cheeses go with white wines and which ones go with red wines? You will be served some prize-winning cheeses from Quebec to test the questions.
BRING YOUR FRIENDS
$25.00 per person
RESERVATIONS ESSENTIAL
514-484-0146
Some of us will be staying at the restaurant at the conclusion of the session in order to have some Chinese food. Plan to join us!
Malcolm Anderson is the former wine critic at The Gazette and is still very active in providing people like us with valuable information on the subject. His keen sense of humour makes the proceedings extremely interesting.
We are proud to claim him a member of our Society.
Mahjongg Restaurant
7655 Décarie blvd.
Hotel Ruby Foo's Complex
FREE PARKING
Métro Namur
Just North of Jean Talon
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 7:30 PM Faculty Club
The MUHC Leadership role in Shaping 21st Century Medecine
Presenter: Hon. Arthur Porter M.D.
With a 2,5 billion dollar envelope and a compelling vision that resulted in landmark funding, no one can question that the MUHC's Redevelopement Project is one of the world's most significant infrastructure initiatives. In carrying out its vision, the MUHC is also assuming another leadership role: that of exploring health policies so that Canadians continue to enjoy the benefits of the Canada Health Act.
During his talk, the Hon. Arthur Porter M.D., Director General and CEO of the MUHC, will provide an overview of the project. He will also share some of his ideas about the delivery and financing of health care.
Originally from Sierra Leone, Dr. Porter is a graduate of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine (England). He is the author of more than 300 research articles and credited with the introduction of several original concepts in radiation therapy. Beginning in 1992 and for eight years in succession, he was named one of the Best Doctors in America. It has been due to his foresight and leadership that the colossal venture into the creation of the mega-hospital at the Glen site has progressed so rapidly.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 7:30 PM
Faculty ClubNew Discoveries and Rediscoveries on the Path to Reinstalling European Paintings in the MMFA
Presenter: Dr. Hilliard Goldfarb
Over the last 150 years, the MMFA, through acquisitions and donations, has assembled one of Canada's most distinguished collections of European paintings. In honour of this important anniversary, the collection has been completely and dramatically re-installed. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts will have completed this mammoth project at the end of September and this winter they will be celebrating the re-installation of the galleries and the publication of their first catalogue scientifique of major works in the collection. To prepare us for the guided tour scheduled for the following week, Dr. Goldfarb will present slides depicting images from works he wishes to discuss.
Dr. Hilliard Goldfarb is Associate Chief Curator at the MMFA. As such, he was called upon to make a major contribution to the new catalogue in his area of expertise. Previously, he served as Chief Curator of Collections at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
Dr. Goldfarb holds a PhD in Italian Renaissance and Baroque Art from Harvard University and was recently appointed Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University.
Among the many honours and awards he has received are grants from the Florence Gould Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:30 AM MMFA
Guided Tour, a Follow-Up to
Dr. Goldfarb's Lecture
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) has recently undergone a massive renovation programme which has affected the section that we will be visiting as well. You will be favourably impressed by the improvements that have been made to this gallery.
The guided tour, conducted by a trained volunteer of the Museum, is designed to dove-tail with the presentation of Dr. Goldfarb. It should last 50 to 60 minutes.
After that, some of us will be going to the Museum restaurant for lunch. Please plan to join us.
$ Free for members, $10.00 for others
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is situated at 1379 Sherbrooke Street West. Group entrance is at 2200 Crescent Street, just below Sherbrooke.
Parking is available on the street.
Peel Metro
A word of caution: Plan to leave home earlier than usual, parking in the area tends to be difficult.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 7:30 PM Faculty Club
The Art, the Science and the Fad in Hypnosis
Presenter: Dr. Amir Raz
Ever since Franz Mesmer introduced the idea that one individual could be induced to sleep by another person, the public has entertained a certain fascination for this topic. Recent research has shown that the subject in a hypnotic state is not actually asleep! This talk will explore some of the myths and scientific findings that shroud hypnosis. We will embark on a historical journey that is entrenched in social, political, and scientific revolutions, ending up in modern-day medicine.
Dr. Amir Raz is Professor in the departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Psychology. He holds the Canada Research Chair in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention at McGill University and the Jewish General Hospital. Working with children as well as adults, his experiments elucidate how attention regulates internal processes involving cognition, emotion, thought and action. A former magician, he studies the psychology of misdirection and the power of suggestion in influencing psychological and physiological outcomes.
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 11:00 AM Centaur Theatre
The Game of Love and Chance
Presenter: Roy Surette
At 11:00 am we will assemble in the lobby of the theatre where Mr. Surette will give us a brief history of the building and discuss the play we will be seeing later that day.
At noon, we will walk to Stash Restaurant for a real treat: a Polish lunch! (depending on what you order, figure about $25.00 with tax and tip).
We will arrive back at Centaur in time for the 2:00 PM performance of The Game of Love and Chance.
At its conclusion, some of the actors will join us for questions and autographs.
Reservations are essential : 514-288-1229
Costs of tickets, payable in advance to the theatre
A native of Vancouver, Roy Surette has been the Artistic Director and the Executive Director of Centaur Theatre since 2007.
He has directed The Mystery of Maddy Heisler, Skydive, Shirley Valentine, In Piazza San Domenico, The Madonna Painter and co-directed With Bated Breath.
Centaur Theatre is situated at 453 St. Francis-Xavier. Parking is available across the street (exterior) or at 500 Place D'Armes (interior, less than 200 feet away).
It has been said that reason is not what defines love. With wit and clever farce we are invited into a timeless world of romance.
The story involves a young and strong-willed woman who warily prepares for meeting her betrothed by disguising herself so that she might observe him more closely. Unbeknownst to her, he sets out to employ the same deception.
When guises are revealed will love triumph or perish... an irresistible romantic comedy!
A word of caution Last year we enjoyed the same format as the one described here. Quite a few of our members were not able to attend because by the time they called for tickets, the performance was sold out. Please call the box office at 514-288-1229, ask for Sue or Diane. If you purchase tickets before October 30 and mention the group name, you will receive a discount.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 7:30 PM Faculty Club
Urinary Problems in Men and Women: Prevention and Treatment
Presenter: Ms. Cleland
Overactive bladder, prostate hypertrophy, incontinence, cystitis and cancer are among the topics to be discussed. Facts and myths will be explored and tips and suggestions offered. Information on when to contact a health care professional will be provided.
Ms. Cleland is a Nurse Clinician in Urology at the Montreal General Hospital. She has a Bachelor of Nursing from McGill University and was the first nurse in Quebec to become a Nurse Continence Advisor. She works mostly with patients with urologic cancers: bladder, prostate and kidney. A large part of her practice includes patient education as well as the evaluation and treatment of incontinence.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 7:30 PM Faculty Club
Genetics
Presenter: Dr. Paul Lasko
Genetics as a discipline is in the midst of a revolution thanks to the astounding advances in DNA sequencing technology: costs have been reduced by a factor of 100,000 since the year 2000. Dr. Lasko's illustrated talk will discuss how these technological and conceptual advances are bringing the field to an entirely new level that promises to profoundly impact diagnostic procedures, preventive medicine and clinical intervention.
Dr. Paul Lasko received his PhD degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and joined McGill University in 1990 after a postdoctoral session at the University of Cambridge. He was granted the Award of Excellence from the Canadian Society of Genetics in 2004. He served as Chairman of the Department of Biology at McGill University over a ten year period and assumed his position as Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR ) last May. As Scientific Director, Dr. Lasko oversees the Institute's strategic research funding initiatives, many of which involve fostering international partnerships.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 Noon Café d'art vocal
Ten Legendary Artists Sing the Music of Verdi
Presenter: Richard Turp
Guiseppe Verdi is not only the most important, but also the most popular Italian composer in history. His works form the foundation of today's operatic repertoire. Verdi's vocal style and works have been challenging performers since they were originally composed and these challenges are very much still in evidence today, even though vocal techniques have evolved over the years. Come and discover what constitutes great Verdi singing and what distinguishes the chosen ten singers. Buffet lunch will be served at noon The presentation, accompanied by vocal excerpts, will follow.
Reservations are essential : 514-484-0146
$25.00 per person, payable on site
Richard Turp is the co-founder of the André Turp Musical Society which was formed to pay tribute to his late father, a world-class tenor. Richard is a frequent guest commentator on both CBC networks as well as for Saturday performances from the Met. He lectures at McGill University and the Université de Montréal.
Café d'art vocal is situated at 1223, rue Amherst.
Parking is available on the street.
Metro Beaudry
Giuseppi Verdi was born in a small village in Italy called Le Roncole. The boy's early education was taken on by the parish priest and at the age of ten in 1823 he was sent to a music school in the town of Busseto, where a wealthy merchant, Antonio Barezzi, became aware of Verdi's potential and offered the young musician room and board. It was here that the youngster received his first lessons in composition. Later it was decided that Verdi should complete his musical studies in Milan and in 1836 he married Barezzi's daughter Margherita.
In 1842 his opera Nabucco was performed to wildly appreciative audiences. The young composer, who had hitherto enjoyed little more than a modest reputation, was swept to national celebrity.
In 1851 his masterpiece Rigoletto premiered in Venice and a while later Il Trovatore was staged in Rome and La traviata in Venice. Six years later Otello appeared on the scene and it was followed by his last opera, Falstaff, which achieved international recognition.
Saturday, April 14, 2012 10:00 AM Mahjongg Restaurant
Authors, Anecdotes and Ambrosia
A delicious breakfast will be served to start the morning's activities. Then Mr. Roussopoulos will discuss his book Participatory Democracy and point out how it relates to the existing Charter of Rights and Responsibilities adopted by the City of Montreal in 2006. This charter is purported to serve as a form of social contract between Montreal and its citizens and it recognizes their role in municipal affairs. The Charter is an important, original document that has served as a model for cities around the world. Mr. Roussopoulos will discuss its origin and its implications in politics, locally and abroad. Pierre Gauthier is the author of Montreal at the Crossroads: Super Highways, the Turcot and the Environment. The reconstruction of the Turcot interchange poses a problem in two distinct areas: social and environmental rights. Mr. Gauthier will look at the current status of this project and then discuss the broader issues raised by this proposal from the Ministère de Transport de Québec such as an increased car-dependency and a lack of connectivity with surrounding neighbourhoods.
At the end of the session, the speakers will respond to questions and copies of their books will be available for purchase.
Reservations are essential: 514-484-0146
$10.00 per person, payable on site
Mr. Rossopoulos is a Montreal based political activist, prolific author and founder of the Black Rose Books publishing group.
Mr. Gauthier is a Professor in the department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University. His research focuses on urban design and urban form, more specifically on the central neighbourhoods of Montreal and Quebec..
Mahjongg Restaurant is situated at 7655 boul. Décarie, in the Hotel Ruby Foo's Complex slightly north of Métro Namur. Parking is free.
Saturday, April 17, 2012 7:30PM Faculty Club
You Be the Judge
Presenter: Me Guy Nephtali
This activity presents an opportunity for our members to interact with each other in a positive and enjoyable fashion. Me Nephtali will recount one of the interesting cases in which he has participated. He will provide us with the pertinent information as well as the necessary jurisprudence that surrounds the dossier. Members will be divided into groups of eight or ten; each jury will appoint a foreman and then deliberations will get underway. When the different juries have all reached a verdict each one will present its decision to the large group. Finally, Me Nephtali will tell us what the verdict was in the original case. A question period will ensue. We are delighted to offer this activity once again!
Guy Nephtali recently obtained a Master degree in Common Law and Transnational Law. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 2009.
Prior to that he was a shareholder in many businesses in the computer field, as well as being involved in the service and hospitality industry for over 30 years. He has worked for many major corporations in a managerial capacity.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 7:30 PMFaculty Club
Has Roman Catholicism in Quebec Become Merely a Cultural Artifact?
Presenter: Dr. Boisvert
The Catholic Church in Quebec has gone through some radical changes in the last half-century. From being dominant at one time, it now occupies an almost invisible profile in Quebec society. We presently have the lowest level of church attendance in any province in Canada. Some have argued that we can now speak of a distinctively cultural type of Catholicism. How accurate is that portrayal?
Dr. Boisvert is Associate Professor at Concordia University's Department of Religion. He is the author of several books and scholarly articles. His areas of expertise include the following: Religion in Canada and Quebec, Roman Catholic devotional culture; religion, gender and sexuality; and the history of Christianity. Professor Boisvert is also a postulant for ordination in the Diocese of Montreal of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:00 AMRuby Foo's Hotel
Film and Discussion
Presenter: Father Barbeau
Join us for coffee and tea that will be served from 9:30 A.M.
At 10:00 A.M., the film Of Gods and Men will be shown.
At the conclusion of the screening, we will have lunch at dLux restaurant in the same building. A special table d'hôte will be prepared for about $10.00, not including tip and tax.
After lunch, Father Barbeau will lead a discussion.
Bring a friend.
A native Montrealer, Father Barbeau entered Notre-Dame de Mistassini Monastery in 1976 where he made his solemn vows in 1982. The same year, he joined Notre-Dame du Lac Monastery, in Oka. From 1996 to 2006, he was Abbot at Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle, the Trappist monastery situated in Provence, France from which was founded Notre-Dame de Tibhirine, in Algeria. He was there when the events depicted in the movie took place. He has been back in Quebec since 2006.
Hotel Ruby Foo's is situated at 7655 boul. Décarie slightly north of Métro Namur. Parking is free.
This film is a 2010 drama directed by Xavier Beauvois. It centers on the monastery of Tibhirine, where nine Trappist monks lived in peace and harmony with the largely Muslim population of Algeria, until seven of them were kidnapped in 1996 during the Algerian Civil War. Largely a tale of the cooperation between Christians and Muslims, the screenplay focuses on the monks' confrontation with both the terrorists and the government authorities. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it won the prestigious Grand Prix. It went on to become a critical and commercial success winning both the Lumière Award and the César Award for Best Film.
Sunday, May 20, 2012 2:00 PMAtwater Club
One-on-One With a Legend
Presenter: Mme Antonine Maillet
Mme Antonine Maillet will be interviewed by Roy Surette, Artistic Director and the Executive Director of Centaur Theatre.
The interview with Mme Maillet will begin at 2:00 P.M. and will be followed by the serving of party sandwiches, tea or coffee and sweets.
Bring your friends to what promises to be a memorable occasion.
Reservations are essential : 514-484-0146
$30 per person, payable in advance
Antonine Maillet was born in the Acadian community of Bouctouche, New Brunswick and now lives in Montreal. She received her PhD in Literature from the Université de Laval where she subsequently taught literature and folklore. In 1971 her play La Sagouine, a series of dramatic monologues by an old Acadian washerwoman, appeared and was immediately acclaimed by critics everywhere as a true masterpiece. It was performed in English and in French throughout North America and Europe. This play, as well as being a literary success, gives voice to the Acadians, "The people to whom she belongs". In that voice is found wisdom and lucidity, verve and reserve, humour and anger. In recognition of the body of work she compiled over the years she was appointed to the Privy Council by the Governor General and became a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1981. Mme Maillet was awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Pierce Medal and was made an Officier des Arts et des Lettres de France in 2005.
The Atwater Club is situated at 3505 Atwater. Parking is available on the street. Metro Atwater.