Newsletters

May 2026

Our May Speaker is Dr. Christopher DiCarlo

Dr. Christopher DiCarlo is a philosopher, educator, and author. He is the Principal and Founder of Critical Thinking Solutions, a consulting business for individuals, corporations, and not-for-profits in both the private and public sectors. He currently holds the position of Senior Researcher and Ethicist at Convergence Analysis – an international organization focusing on AI Risk and Governance.

Dr. DiCarlo is also the Ethics Chair for the Canadian Mental Health Association (Waterloo/Wellington) and is also a lifetime member of Humanist Canada and an Expert Advisor for the Centre for Inquiry Canada. He often teaches at The Life Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University and is a past Visiting Research Scholar at Harvard University in the Department of Anthropology and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Dr. DiCarlo has won several awards including TV Ontario’s Big Ideas Best Lecturer in Ontario Award and Canada’s Humanist of the Year.

Dr. DiCarlo is the author of several books and his best-seller - How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass: A Critical Thinker’s Guide to Asking the Right Questions - was released by Prometheus Books as a 2nd Edition to mark its 10th-year anniversary. So You Think You Can Think: Tools for Intelligent Conversations and Getting Along was released in 2020. And his current book is Building a God: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the Race to Control It.

Dr. DiCarlo also hosts a podcast called: All Things Considered in which he engages in free and open discussion about current, important issues with world thought leaders, politicians, and entertainers through the lens of Critical Thinking and Ethical Reasoning.

Our April Speaker was Gem Munro from It Starts With Mothers

Every month, 6 million children turn 10 without knowing how to read
Half the world's children are falling through the cracks
How do we solve this global education crisis?

Start with mothers - A mother attends an Amarok School each day. Then, after class, she teaches 5 children everything she's learned. In other words, we teach her how to conduct her own micro-school at home, for 5 neighbourhood children. The boys and girls she teaches then advance to higher levels of education, moving from destitution to university graduation. This simple yet remarkably effective concept provides a revolutionary solution to the global education crisis.

Each of our schools teaches 25 mothers. Each of those mothers teaches at least 5 children. Once education is truly accessible, it spreads. The children are so excited by what they're learning that they informally teach it to their friends, almost doubling the total number of children we reach.

Our Schools - If you stood outside an Amarok Society school, you'd think you were looking at just another shack in a sprawling city slum. But, inside, 25 mothers are transforming their lives. With so many mothers and so little space, we don't have desks. We don't even have chairs. The tin walls are plastered with art, they ring with women's voices singing, they represent a haven, a sisterhood, a realm where possibility is born. An Amarok Society school is where women find their true strength, and destitute mothers become community leaders.

The Result: Micro-Schools - After her lesson in our school, a mother goes home. Later in the day, at a time that accommodates her students' needs, she starts her micro-school. Five children will sit around her: on the bed, on the footpath, wherever there's room. Some of them will be her own children, some will be her neighbours. Using teaching methods she learned in her class, and games and materials she herself developed, she teaches her students what she's learning at school.

What do mothers learn? Mothers learn everything they teach, as well as how to teach. We also provide additional workshops for topics they've expressed interest in, including:

Health and nutrition;
Childcare;
Tailoring and sewing;
Women's rights;
Financial literacy and small business management;
Conflict resolution;
COVID-19 safety.

The mothers we teach don't keep their ideas to themselves. They talk to neighbours and friends about the things they're learning.

To learn more or donate (they are a registered Canadian charity), here is their website

Probus Snack Recipe

From our Hospitality Chair Robin Hill: Please add the following Probus Snack Recipe links (from our April meeting) to the newsletter as I’ve had a few requests for them. Thank you.

Lemon Curd

<https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/how-to-make-lemon-curd

Pavlova

<https://natashaskitchen.com/pavlova-recipe>

A Message from Your President

As I’ve become more involved in our Probus Club, I’ve been struck by the wide range of backgrounds and perspectives among our members. This year’s member survey brought back a wealth of helpful feedback—much of it very positive—along with a few areas where we can improve. One theme we heard from a small number of members is that it can be difficult to make connections in the club, and that can be a barrier to attending events and activities.

My own experience has been that the club is open and welcoming, but the survey tells us we can do more to help some members feel connected. Traditionally, this support is partly provided through the sponsor who introduces a new member to the club. However, that approach has limitations. Some new members are new to our community and join without a sponsor (for example, members transferring from another Probus club). In other cases, the sponsor may already be someone the new member knows well, which doesn’t always lead to meeting others. A useful parallel is onboarding in the workplace, where one proven way to help people integrate is a formal mentorship program.

To launch a Mentorship Program, we will be looking for two groups of volunteers: members who are willing to serve as mentors, and members who would like a mentor (mentees). We’ll refine the details over time, but the goal is simple: to help mentors and mentees build a friendly relationship that makes it easier to get involved. To start, mentors would be asked to:

Meet with their mentee outside regular meetings/activities (in a casual social setting) to talk about how to get the most out of the club
Attend a general meeting with their mentee and help make introductions to other members
Join a couple of short orientation/feedback sessions (potentially online) with other mentors to help roll out—and improve—the program

Our plan is to match each new member with a mentor unless they choose to opt out. We’ll also welcome any current members who would like additional support as mentees.

Interested in participating? We’ll have a sign-up table for mentors and mentees at the next General Meeting. You can also contact Terry Koehler, Tina Shier or drop an email to pres@hapc.ca.

News

Nominating Committee Update

The Nominating Committee would like to bring forward the following list of candidates for the Management Committee of the 2026-27 year.

Any further nominations (with prior consent to stand) must be conveyed to the Nominating Committee at least 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting, as mentioned in the bylaws. The Nominating Committee consists of Janice Koehler, Tina Shier, Craig Brown and Georgia Kreager

Position	Nominee
President	Tina Shier
Vice President	Dianne Mather
Secretary	Susan Geisel
Treasurer	Helen Peppler
Program Chair	*Terry Koehler
Technical Chair	Janice Koehler
Activity Co-Chairs	*Terry Koehler
	*Frances Agnew
Membership Chair	Alison Greenaway-Coates
Communications Chair	*Loretta Dunn
Hospitality Chair	Robin Hill
Greeter Co-Chairs	Wanita Halliday
	*Margaret Elliot-Niesen
Members At Large	Nina McTeer
	Dale Traversy
Past President	Terry Koehler

* - non-voting member

Membership Renewals for 2026-27

We will begin accepting Membership Renewals for the 2026-27 year (September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027) at the May meeting. Please download the renewal form from the website (hapc.ca) and fill it out before the meeting. There will be a limited number of renewal forms at the meeting.

Both the form and the $30 annual renewal fee must be submitted for your renewal to be complete. Please refer to the Renewal form for instructions on how to get the form to the Membership Chair and the fees to either the Membership Chair or the Treasurer. If you cannot attend the May meeting, renewals will also be accepted at the June meeting. New Member Applications will be accepted after the June AGM, depending on space.

If you are not going to be attending either the May or June meeting and wish to renew before September, you can follow the instructions on the form (available at hapc.ca) or on the website for completing your renewal over the summer. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact the Membership Chair at mmbshp@hapc.ca

Join us for Lunch after the AGM!

Based on the positive response to the 10^th Anniversary bagged lunch following the 2025 Annual General meeting, we will be having a post-AGM luncheon this year. It will be a hot lunch catered by the Legion Ladies who did our Christmas Luncheon, so we are expecting a great meal at the Legion. In addition, there will be musical entertainment provided by local country artist and storyteller Jim Metzger. Lunch tickets, which will be $15 per person, will be sold by our Hospitality Committee volunteers starting in March. You can either reserve your tickets via e-transfer to tres@hapc.ca or visit the sign-up table which will be open during upcoming general meetings.

Ways to Stay Up to Date with Probus Canada

Podcast - Go to the Probus Canada website, scroll down to the footer, and click on the green Spotify icon.

Facebook - News from Probus clubs in Canada.

YouTube - two new videos that were developed this year.

Newsletter - latest issues of the PROBUS Canada Connections.

Probus Global is a network of Probians from all over the world who meet quarterly on ZOOM. If interested, you can visit the Probus Global website and follow the route to become a member at NO cost as long as you are a Probus member.

May Probus Activity Updates

Annual Joint Meeting and Luncheon

The club Activity Coordinators, Activity Committee Members and Management Committee Members will gather together immediately following the May 13^th Probus Monthly meeting at the Hanover Legion. Various items will be discussed including plans for Activity Showcase in September. Robin Hill will be preparing a light lunch for everyone.

Eat for Health

Members met on Tuesday April 21^st for a luncheon at Chicory Common Natural Foods a small locally owned Health food store in Durham. We love to support small businesses and they offer a wide range of organic, healthy foods and items we all want easy access to. We started with herbal teas choosing from a large selection. It was tough to choose, they all looked so good that we shared ‘whiffs’ of each other’s teas. We were then treated to fresh, organic samosas and a tasty Thai curry dish. Gluten free rice wraps and desserts were also available. We left feeling refreshed after sharing great conversations and enjoying such a delicious lunch.

Click here to see all the pictures from their events.

Coordinators: Kathy Greensides and Robin Hill

Kayaking

Hello Kayakers!

The Probus Kayaking group will likely begin in mid-June, weather permitting. This summer we'll explore more local lakes and rivers. This year we will try for Tuesdays at 1:00 pm. The club is intended to provide an opportunity to enjoy a weekly outing, and to allow networking to create smaller groups/pairs to coordinate for independent outings.

In the meantime, enjoy a round of golf or a hike, if so inclined, until the water warms.

Suggestions for destinations are always welcome.

Coordinator: Paul Scott

Strolling/Pole Walking

On March 21, 2026 an e-mail was sent to all Probus members regarding a strolling activity. Twenty-two members indicated they were interested in participating in this activity. Unfortunately no one volunteered to coordinate the activity. Therefore at this time a strolling activity is not available for members to enjoy. However members are welcome to join the Pole Walking Group. Walking Poles are not required and members can walk at their own pace. Members are welcome to join the group as a guest to experience this activity prior to signing up. Contact Joan Ferguson, Pole Walking Coordinator for more information.

Dianne Mather - Activity Group Chair

Theatre

Hanover Community Players is very pleased to be hosting for the “first time” the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Travelling Festival 2026, a celebration of live theatre. Three of Ontario’s finest community drama groups will come to Hanover to compete by showcasing their performances at the Hanover Civic Theatre. Each show will be followed by a public adjudication which is open to the public. Cash bar includes non-alcoholic choices. This is open seating-first come first choice of seats. Show Tickets $30.00 per show or purchase a Festival Pass at $75.00 for all three shows. Purchase them on-line at www.hanovercommunityplayers.ca

Thursday May 14^th at 7:00pm

Kincardine Theatre Guild presents “Taking Care of the Brown’s”

A hilarious and heart-warming romantic comedy about family, friends, and dead house guests (how much trouble could a couple of urns be) and a reminder that some old-fashioned things are worth keeping.

Friday May 15^th at 7:00pm

Theatre Woodstock presents “Little Women”

Little Women for the modern stage, the production still explores the themes of the original novel, including ambition, identity, sacrifice and love amid the tumult of the American Civil War. The intertwined stories of the four March sisters reflect their struggles, victories and humour as they become adults during a time of turmoil.

Saturday May 16^th at 7:00pm

Goderich Little Theatre presents “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks”

This extremely popular two-character comedy/drama has enjoyed tremendous success both nationally and internationally. A touching and human comedy about a formidable retired woman who hires an acerbic dance instructor to give her private dance lessons in her condo. While dancing the Swing, Tango, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, and Contemporary Dance they start sharing barbs and intimacies along with the dance steps.

Upcoming are 8 theatre shows planned May thru October:

(Click on these dates below on Probus Website Calendar at www.hapc.ca for further details)

May 2nd-“Unnecessary Farce” -Hanover Civic Theatre

June 2nd- “And Then There Were None”- St. Jacobs Country Playhouse

June 24th- “Dry Streak”- Blyth Memorial Hall

July 16th- “Sisters of ‘78-Blyth Memorial Hall

August 4th“Curveball: The Fast Pitch Ladies from the Factory Floor” Blyth Harvest Stage

August 19th “Sorry…I’m Not Sorry”- Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre St. Jacobs

September 10th-“The Last Mayor of Rusty River-Blyth Memorial Hall

October 20th- “Something Rotten-Festival Theatre Stratford

Theatre Committee: Peter Dalton, Jill Dalton, Tracey Neuman, Susan Keir and Andy Keir

Travel

2027 Trips Options:

1^ST choice-“Spectacular Scandinavia”-May 13-18 (15 DAYS) with Iceland 3 day extension https://www.gocollette.com/en-ca/tours/europe/norway/spectacular-scandinavia?partnerPageId=AARP

2^ND choice-“Explore Greece & Its Islands-May 13-29 (16 days).

https://www.gocollette.com/en/tours/europe/greece/greece--islands?partnerPageId=AARP

At the next travel group meeting on Wednesday May 6^th a Collette travel representative will present full trip details and answer any questions. The meeting will be at Red House Eatery in Hanover starting at 11:00am with lunch at 12 noon. Any Probus member and/or their family member or friend interested in these trips are welcome to attend the meeting. Please advise Joan Roseborough if you have not already e-mailed Peter Dalton that you plan to attend.

Committee Co-Chairs: Joan Roseborough and Margaret Elliot Niesen, Peter Dalton and Dianne Mather

Here is the link to view all of the pictures from the Travel group

Wine Tasting

Nothing says summer like a good barbecue, a cool cocktail and some great wines. Helen has picked some amazing food to pair with the cocktail and the wine. The next will be “Summer Barbecue 2026” on Monday June 15^th at 1:00pm at Frances and Ed Agnew’s House in Walkerton. Cost is $15.00 per person. Payments by e-transfer, cheque or cash at an upcoming monthly meeting. Please RSVP to Frances Agnew prior before making payment. On April 6^th full event details were e-mailed to wine tasting activity members.

Click here to see pictures from all Wine Tasting events

Wine Committee: Frances Agnew, Dan Hobler, Helen Hastie, Bill Roseborough

Local and Area Events

Council on Aging Grey Bruce has a new website

It is your resource and advocate for an age-friendly Grey Bruce

We are a forum of community leaders and older adults who promote age-friendly communities, positive aging, and inclusion. We focus on empowering and engaging older adults through shared resources, research, and information workshops.

Visit their website for full details and schedules.

Visit their website for full details or contact your local branch.

Visit their website for all upcoming Library programs and events.

Town of Hanover Parks, Recreation & Culture Community Guide (Fall 2025/Winter 2026):

Of special note, see page 22 and 23 for the Senior Active Living Centre (SALC) Programs, funded by the Ontario Government through a Senior Active Living Centre Grant.

Hanover Recreation and Culture events and programs webpage