LifeLong Learning

Winter 2010 Seminar Series

Wednesday, January 27, 2010,  2:00 pm

Peter Eaton: “Environmental Issues in Our Own Backyard”. Peter will discuss issues common to Nova Scotia, and lead the group in exploring possible actions and lifestyle changes to help mitigate these environmental problems.  Dr. Eaton is a retired biologist who has a Ph.D.  in Marine Environmental Science and Physiology from Dalhousie University. 

Wednesday, February 10, 2010,  2:00 pm

Rosalie Osmond: “The Pastoral in Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’” Where do our ideas of town and country come from? Rosalie will discuss our ideas about the pastoral, and show how Shakespeare plays with them in “As You Like It”.  Dr Osmond has a Ph.D. from Cambridge, has published three books on the history of ideas, and has taught literature courses in universities in Canada and the UK.

Wednesday, February 24,  2:00 pm

Polly Greene and Laurie Swim: “Quilting A to Z”. Two recognized quilting experts will share their expertise and diverse talents. Polly will begin with a discussion of development of patterns and textiles in early quilting.  Laurie’s art quilts will illustrate unique treatments for creating imagery in textiles with fabric and thread.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010,  2:00 pm - Postponed to a later date

We will inform you in due course when we have been able to reschedule this presentation.

Zoe Lucas: “Sable Island”.  Zoe will present the story of Sable Island – its history, flora, and fauna. She has been involved  for over 30 years in research and environmental monitoring programs and a long-term study of the island’s ponies, and manages the Sable Island web site (GreenHorseSociety.com).  She is a research associate with the Nova Scotia Museum.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010,  2:00 pm

Sabine Walker: “Innovation and Entertainment –Wright of Derby, Painter of Sciences and Industrial Revolution”.

18th century painting in Britain was not just pastoral landscapes and portraiture, but also about fascinating insights into sciences and their impact on British society.  Art historian Dr. Sabine Walker will give an illustrated introduction to the iconography of scientific experiments in the visual arts, using the example of Joseph Wright of Derby, painter with close contacts to contemporary scientists (Joseph Priestley) and inventors (James Watt).

Seminars will run 1-2 hours.  Cost is $5 per lecture.

Please let us know which seminars you wish to attend so that we can plan accordingly (especially important in case of inclement weather) or if you have any questions about the program: seniorsproject@eastlink.ca or 553-0640 (Seniors Project) or Ted Hobson tedhobson@yahoo.com or 624-0914.

August 2009
On Tuesday, August 25, more than 60 people attended a meeting hosted by the Seniors Project at which representatives from Acadia Lifelong Learning (ALL) made a presentation on the ALL program and suggested ways in which the Seniors Project could tap into their program. The turnout and expression of interest was encouraging. The purpose of this message is to report on the meeting, and indicate initial steps we plan to take in the weeks ahead, both to bring the benefits of ALL to our community, and to develop our own lifelong learning activities in the Mahone Bay area.