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Speaker Series Archive

2020-2021 Program

Date
Speaker
Topic
Bio
September 16
​Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Bridget Gall
Entrepreneur (The Occurrence), Actress, Comedian, Producer
Puzzled!
 Brigitte Gall is a multi-award-winning Performer, Writer, and Producer.
 
Gall completed 52 episodes of the Gemini nominated design and renovation television series Me, My House and I, and 52 episodes of the travel/lifestyle show, The World’s Greatest Spas, covering 3 countries in 4 years (aired on W Network, Discovery Channel USA/Latin America, and in 85 other countries).  
 
Brigitte is the proud owner of a Gemini award for her one woman show Joan of Montreal, a Gemini nod for her dramatic turn as a serial killer for the series Blue Murder, a Genie (Moving Day), a Golden Sheaf (Twisted Sheets), and Gold at the Houston Film and Television festival (Joan of Montreal).
 
She has been the Keynote Speaker and Guest Speaker for numerous fundraising galas and events (Casey House, Habitat For Humanity, Upper Canada College, Becel Heart and Stroke Foundation etc.) - sharing her experiences of growing up in the small farming community of Creelman, Saskatchewan, living in Toronto and New York, and working as a female comic writer & producer.
 
Currently, she is the co-owner of Canada’s only 100% jigsaw puzzle manufacturing company The Occurrence where she and her husband Michael make high quality jigsaw puzzles that appeal to art geeks and science nerds.
 
When she’s not working or writing, she can be found burning hotdogs over the fire with her husband Michael and their two daughters.
October 21
​Virtual Meeting
​7:00-9:00
Michelle Scanlon  
Constable, OPP
Crime & Safety in Haliburton  
Michelle has been a police officer for seven years. She originally started her career in 2011 with a Greater Toronto Area police service working in administrative roles. During that time she gained experience in records management and court services. In 2013 Michelle made the change to working in a uniformed capacity and has been a front line police officer for the majority of that time. In 2020 Michelle and her husband relocated to Haliburton County where Michelle currently works as a Provincial Constable with the Ontario Provincial Police. She is the Community Service Officer for the Haliburton Highlands Detachment and also works as a coach to new recruits.     
November 18
​Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Mitch Potter  
  
Mitch worked as a Canadian journalist from 1980 to 2020, retiring just before the pandemic took hold. His last 20 years on the job involved foreign postings to Jerusalem, London, and finally, Washington DC, including extensive coverage from what in hindsight feels like at least one too many hostile environments, including the wars in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and eastern Ukraine. Mitch's work in Afghanistan received the National Newspaper Award.

Mitch is currently  working with other journalists  to help Aghan's who worked with journalists in Afghanistan make their way to safety in Canada with their families. Mitch will give a first hand account of two of the families he has been working to support and their journey out of Afghanistan.
December
Christmas Luncheon
Cancelled due to COIVD  
  
  
January 20
​Virtual Meeting
​7:00 - 9:00
Nycole Duncan
Haliburton Emergency Residential SafeSpace
  
February 17, 2022
Virtual Meeting
​7:00 - 9:00
Julie Goodwin
Executive Director
Haliburton Pregnancy Care & Family Support Centre

Support for  struggling families and those who are affected by an unexpected pregnancy.
  

2020-2021 Program

Date
Speaker
Topic
Biography/Details
September 17
​Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00

Jenn Watt
Managing Editor – Haliburton Echo, Minden Times & Haliburton County Life Newspaper
Community Journalism – No Small Story
Jenn Watt is the managing editor of several area publications including the Minden Times, Haliburton Echo and Haliburton County Life newspapers. She has been a journalist for the last 15 years and is currently a board member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association. Following a few years living in more urban settings, Jenn's love of small towns and rural life led her to the Haliburton Highlands to work in community journalism. She has been the editor of the Echo and Times since 2009.
October 15
​Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Judy Paul
Adult Leadership Educator working in literacy, recreational therapy, & community development.
Basic Income - Part of a Post-COVID Recovery Plan


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November 19
​Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Rebecca Osborne
​PhD Candidate
Six Most Important Local Environmental Concerns​
Rebecca Osborne is a candidate for her PHD on Environmental Toxicology and has a BSC  Environmental Science & Ecology from the University of Waterloo.
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December
Christmas Luncheon
Cancelled
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January 21
​Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Kim McBrien Evans
Owner of Indigo Dragonfly, Fashion Designer & Author (
Custom Shawls for the Curious Creative Knitter)
From Kitchen Sink to the World Stage

A life in Handmade Clothing & Master Evil Genius of all things Indigodragonfly
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February 18
Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Jody Curry & Faye Martin
Places for People Haliburton Highlands Inc.
Accomplishments to date and new plan for affordable housing in Haliburton County
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March 18
Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Susan Hay
President of EH!
Yes you can compost in Bear Country: Backyard Composting in Haliburton and a Pictorial Overview of her road trip to Gravenhurst Composting Facility
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April 15
Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Nancy Brownsberger
Owner of Growing Optimism, Life Coach, Social Service Worker ​​
Navigating Life Through Uncertain Times

Bouncing Back, being ok with not being ok during uncertain times.  
Nancy will focus on reminding ourselves & getting curious about our already developed coping strategies for Navigating Difficult times.
*Open to Public*
Nancy Brownsberger is owner of Grow Optimism, a registered Social Service Worker, Counsellor, Life Coach and a certified mindfulness and cognitive behavioural strategies practitioner. She is a graduate from Guelph University with a double major in Women’s Studies and Sociology as well as an honours graduate from Seneca College where she received her diploma as a Social Service Worker.
Nancy delivers corporate training sessions to Provincial and Regional organizations, along with keynote addresses. Most recently, in the Spring of 2020, Nancy delivered a four week online training to over 50 Early Educators on coping during uncertain times.

An optimist at heart, an advocate for others, and a core value of being of service has led Nancy’s professional trajectory over the past thirty years, where she has supported, educated and worked in youth justice, child protection, vocational rehabilitation, Poverty alleviation, developmental services and the healthcare sectors. Previously on the Board of Directors for Community Living Trent Highlands and HASP, Nancy remains dedicated to bringing light, love and education through her authentic and honest communications and her dedication to making the world a better place .
​Sharing Series

​May 20
Virtual Meeting 7:00-9:00
Christine Tworo
National Finance Committee Board Member
Past Regional Director Ontario North
A Day in the Life of CFUW Fees - a highlight of national programs and outcomes
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2019-2020 Program

Date
Speaker
Topic
Biography
Thursday September 19, 2019
Roline Maconachie
​Regional Director - Ontario North
CFUW: 100 Years of Making a Difference

During 2019, CFUW is celebrating its 100 year Anniversary! Exploring where we came from, our presence in Canada and in the world today, and thinking of future initiatives has been a fascinating journey for me. By sharing my journey with you, I hope to foster the same pride and excitement that I feel as a member of this wonderful organization, CFUW, an organization that has and will continue to make a huge difference in the welfare of women everywhere.
Roline was born and raised in Northwestern Ontario.  After graduation from High School in 1966, she attended St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota and earned a Bachelor of Education Degree in English/French Education. She taught for one year in Waukegan, Illinois before moving back to Winnipeg, Manitoba where she taught at the Secondary, Junior High, and Middle School levels for many years.  Throughout her career, she served on school and school division committees to help form language curriculum and has always advocated for women’s issues and promoted equality in education.  After moving to Orillia, she worked with her husband’s sales company.  Roline has belonged to CFUW Orillia for several years.  She served on the Fall Gathering Committee in 2015, has been on the Executive for several years, and for 3 years has coordinated the CFUW Homes Tour, the major fundraiser for scholarships.  In May of 2019, Roline accepted the position of Regional Director for Ontario North.
Thursday October 17, 2019
Terry Moore
Environmental Stewardship After Death: Green Burial in the Highlands

Information on green burial and how it compares ecologically to the more conventional end-of-life options available today, will be presented.  A visual image of what green burial sections of cemeteries actually look like will be provided. In addition, examples of exclusively “natural” or “conservation” cemeteries will be presented.
 
Turning to the situation in Haliburton County, barriers to year-round green burial will be identified and potential solutions outlined.
 
Finally, the goals and objectives of the about-to-be-formed “Haliburton Highlands Green Burial Society” will be described and people will be invited to become involved with helping to bring greener burial options to the Highlands.


Terry is a retired former environmental and natural resources researcher with the Ontario Legislative Assembly and a former union negotiator with the Ontario Public Service Employee’s Union (OPSEU)
  • Along with his wife, Shirley Henderson, he lives on Halls Lake, which the Henderson family has owned since 1951.
  • Their seasonal shoreline cottage has been so important to the family that when the County blew a rock face down on it in 1971 and fire levelled it in 1982, rebuilding began before the dust and the smoke had settled.
  • ​Terry spent 8 years on the Board of the Halls and Hawk Lakes Property Owners’ Association (HHLPOA) and 5 years on the Board of the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations (CHA), serving as its Director of Research.
  • During his time as the CHA’s Research Director, Terry was deeply involved in bringing the Love Your Lake Healthy Shorelines Project to the County as well as pressing the four Haliburton County Townships to create mandatory septic system re-inspection programs.
  • Terry is currently on the Board of Environment Haliburton! (EH!), its former Vice- President and the Chair of its Green Burial Working Group.Terry, along with Greg Roe, co-hosts “Planet Haliburton” a twice-monthly, hour-long environmental radio program on CanoeFM, 100.9FM. Planet Haliburton programs can be live-streamed off the CanoeFM website at https://canoefm.com/programs/ recorded-programs/planet-haliburton/ and are available as podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podtail and Player FM.
Thursday November 21,
​2019
Kate Butler
Amy Brohm
​Michael Clipperton
Come Play With Us: Community Theatre in Haliburton County

Have you ever been curious about community theatre, but just not known how to get involved? Amy Brohm, Kate Butler and Michael Clipperton are excited to share a behind the scenes look at two of our local community theatre groups, Highlands Little Theatre and Rural Rogues Productions. Highlands Little Theatre has been producing a range of shows in the County for over forty years, while Rural Rogues was established in 2016, with a mandate to produce original work rooted in the history, culture and landscape of Haliburton County. Find out what’s involved in performing onstage (from audition to opening night and beyond) as well as all of the amazing roles available behind the scenes – writing, props, costumes, stage management and so much more! The Rural Rogues team will be fresh off their trip to the Eastern Ontario Drama League’s One-Act Festival in Perth where they will be presenting a play written by CFUW member, Sue Vorvis and they’re looking forward to sharing highlights of their festival experience, as well as answering your questions about all things theatre!


Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum, but she re-entered the world of community theatre in 2015 after several years away and she hasn’t looked back! Though she loves being onstage, she has also recently written two short plays based on Haliburton County history and has begun to dabble in (theatrical!) directing.
 
Amy Brohm has been involved in community theatre in Haliburton for several years. She began working behind the scenes and is known for her amazing and creative costumes, as well as great stage management skills, but more recently, she has taken on performance roles onstage as well.
 
Michael Clipperton’s  varied theatre career has seen him hold roles as director, playwright, actor, singer, designer, producer, teacher, workshop leader, adjudicator, administrator and university lecturer. For 26 years, Michael was a Drama and English teacher for the Simcoe County District School Board. Since 2014, he has been an instructor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University (Orillia Campus). He moved to Haliburton in 2015 and quickly found himself being drawn into the local theatre scene.
Thursday,
​January 16
1:30 - 3:30
Kate Butler
Ladies Night at the Museum
​

The motto of the Haliburton Highlands Museum is “Telling the Story of All of Us”, but what is our community’s story? Join Museum Director, Kate Butler, for a fun journey through our community’s history, guided by ten of her favourite artifacts from the collection. You’ll also have the chance to learn about the development of the Haliburton Highlands Museum from its creation as a Canadian Centennial Project in 1967, right up to the varied programs it offers today. Explore the rest of the museum’s vast collection at your leisure and feel free to bring along your local history questions!
 


 
Kate Butler has been Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum since 2013. Prior to that, she worked for City of Toronto Museums, the National Museum of Ireland and the Heritage Division of Ireland’s Office of Public Works. A folklorist by training, she has taught at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Cape Breton University and has completed fieldwork across Europe, North America, the Caribbean and North Africa.
Thursday February 20
​1:30 - 3:30
Donna Gagnon

SIRCH: Social Enterprise, Family Roots and Other Innovative Solutions for Haliburton County
In 1989, SIRCH (Supportive Initiative for Residents in the County of Haliburton) was formed. Over the past 30 years, SIRCH has developed dozens of innovative programs to serve the needs of our community. SIRCH also sponsors programs or social enterprises in North Hastings County, City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County. SIRCH is passionate about helping to create resilience, reduce poverty and encourage connection. Come and hear Donna talk about Thrift Warehouse, CAPC/CPNP programs for moms & children, Lunch is On Us, Cook It Up, Repair Cafe and other SIRCH initiatives developed to address community needs.
Donna Gagnon has been with SIRCH since 2014 as an administrative coordinator and, most recently, as coordinator of the Family Roots program. In addition to her work with SIRCH, she is a genealogist who helps research individual family histories through her business, WeGoBack.
Thursday 
May 16
​7:00-8:00 pm
Belinda Gallagher
Globalization and the Gardener​

Speaker Series Cancelled due to
​COVID-19 restrictions and technical limitations

Thursday 
May 21
​7:00-8:00 pm
Rob Davis
Septic Systems and Alternative Toilet Systems: Mitigating Nutrient Impact on Lake EnvironmentsUnderstanding septic systems, care, pitfalls and solutions.  Rob’s discussion will focus on how septic systems really work, what causes them to fail and protecting the natural environment from nutrient pollution.  Also covered will be a discussion alternative toilets from low flow to waterless.
Speaker Series Cancelled due to
​COVID-19 restrictions and technical limitations

Rob Davis is a lifetime Haliburton cottager and specialist in the efficient & responsible operation of septic systems, how they work, and what causes them to fail.  Rob is a co-owner of EcoEthic Inc., a company that develops and sources technologies to lessen the environmental impact of both commercial and residential sewage treatment systems. 
For the past 25 years Rob has worked with sewage industry professionals, government agencies, children’s camps and cottagers to solve wastewater challenges on site.

Rob is also the star of a DVD called "Poop Talk, It’s All About The Water”, produced for the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners' Associations (CHA), for their Lake Protector Series.

2018-2019 Program

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Wednesday September 19, 2018
Movie Night - A Better Man
Northern Lights Pavilian
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday September 20, 2018
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
Head Lake Park
5:00 pm


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Thursday October 18, 2018
​Melanie Aldom    
Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton County – Then and Now
Haliburton School of Art + Design
​7:00 pm

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Thursday November 15, 2018
David O’Brien
Reinventing Local Government – The Doug Ford Way
Haliburton School of Art + Design
7:00 pm

PUBLIC MEETING

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Thursday December 6, 2018
Christmas Lunch Social
Heather Lodge
​12:00 pm

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​Thursday January 17, 2019
Wayne Hooks
Ethel Curry – The Artist and the Gallery
Dysart Library, Haliburton
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1:30 pm

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​Thursday February 21, 2019
Heather Reid
What’s New at Abbey Gardens
Abbey Gardens Retreat Centre
​1:30 pm

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​Thursday April 18, 2019
Julia Sutton
Natural Shorelines & Landscape Restoration
Abbey Gardens Retreat Centre
7:00 pm
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​Thursday May 16, 2019
Susan Keith
Therapeutic Touch®   
Haliburton School of Art + Design
7:00 pm

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​Thursday June 6, 2019
CFUW ​100th Anniversary of CFUW & CFUW-HH 15th Anniversary 
                        Scholarship Distribution

Haliburton School of Art + Design
7:00 pm

(location to be confirmed)

2018-2019 PROGRAM DETAILS & SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

2017-2018 Program

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September 15, 2017
Taoist Tai chi - Moving Meditation
Wilma Thomson

Haliburton School of Art + Design
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm


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October 19, 2017
Ontario North Fall Gathering
Empowerment in our Northern Communities

Bonny View Inn
8:00 am - 4:00 pm


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November 17, 2017
Laughter - The Natural Medication
Sue Gergely
Minden General Hospital
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm


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December 6, 2018
Christmas Luncheon​
Heather Lodge
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm


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January 18, 2018
A Taste of Korean Cuisine
Andy Oh
Haliburton United Church
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm


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February 15, 2018
Haliburton Refugee Experience
Chris Lynd
​Haliburton School of Art + Design
​1:30 pm - 3:30 pm


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April 19, 2018
Therapeutic Riding
​Haliburton School of Art + Design
​Jennifer Semach
​7:00 pm - 9:00 pm


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May 17, 2018
Our New Website Made Easy
​Haliburton School of Art + Design
​​7:00 pm - 9:00 pm



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June 7, 2018
Marg Cox
​Point in Time

​Haliburton School of Art + Design
​​7:00 pm - 9:00 pm


15 YEARS OF LEARNING - SPEAKER SERIES
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