Guest Speakers for 2025-26
Presenter: Gem Munro
Topic: It Starts with Mothers
Gem Munro has spent his life standing up for human rights and human potential.
He's a best-selling author, with books that reflect his background of extreme and varied experiences.
His novels portray the danger and beauty of life in remote Arctic Indigenous communities, the precarious absurdity of life in South Asian mega-slums, and the hidden underbelly of Canada's urban racism.
He and Tanyss have worked as a team throughout her career in education, transforming educational opportunities for Indigenous youth across Canada and overseas.
In recognition of his work, Gem was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Gem's career has exposed him to the extremities of human circumstance, and imbued him with a deep love for humanity and an insight into human nature. These traits are the hallmarks of his writing.
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Presenter: Dr. Christopher DiCarlo
Topic: Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
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 Thinks 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.
Presenter: Julie Mackenzie
Topic: All about The Bridge Learning Center
Julie Mackenzie is owner of the Bridge Learning Center.
Before embarking on my business venture at The Bridge, she taught in public, separate, and public schools for over 20 years.
However, through my teaching experiences, I realized that our current school model doesn't allow for all children to achieve all the expectations placed on them in the time frame we give. Unfortunately, many of these gaps in our students learning include basic-necessities for living– like reading and mathematics.
In February of 2020, she decided to combine her passion for teaching, with her desire to serve others in our community, and to grow her own learning in the process.
Ready to teach. Ready to serve. And ready to celebrate incredible accomplishments with some of our local, struggling kids.
Presenter: Barrie Shepley
Topic: The Olympic experience from the coach and commentator perspective
Barrie was Canada’s National Triathlon Team coach in 1991, and for several years following. His company Personal Best was formed in 1991 and since then, Barrie has coached hundreds of people to national championship titles, Pan American Games medals, World Championship medals as well as the successful completion of the Hawaii Ironman and the Boston Marathon. Barrie was selected to go to the 2000 Sydney Olympics where Triathlon made its debut as a full medal sport. Canada won the gold medal in the men's event, a performance no one will ever forget.
Furthermore, Barrie has been the voice of the International Triathlon Union, and announced races all over the world, including multiple Olympic games. As a Board member for Triathlon, co-founder of Ontario Triathlon, and former chair for the Coaches Association of Ontario, there are few people in our nation that have contributed as much to the sport as Barrie. Barrie was also the founder of the Kids of Steel triathlon program, a program that gave many of our nation's top triathletes a start in the sport, including Olympic gold medal winner Simon Whitfield.
Barrie will speak to us about the Olympic experience from the coach and commentator perspective and about how this impacted his world view.
Presenter: Graham Ghent from BigDoor
Topic: All About BigDoor in Walkerton
“Caring for people where they’re at, in a space where they can move forward.”
The team at BigDoor hopes this building can be a source of care, hope, support and community for anyone who enters our “big door”. Graham Ghent will be talking about some of the many services they offer, including "Comfort Meals" (which happen on Tuesday for those in need of a warm lunch) and the "326cafe" (which is an after school drop in for high school students).
Presenter: Jean Rowcliffe
Topic: Nanny to the Royals
Ms Jean Rowcliffe (who lives in St Marys) is a retired nanny, formerly employed by the Royal family. She began working for them as a 17 year old servant at Buckingham Palace in 1974.
After 18 months she briefly returned to Canada, before heading back to England to attend the prestigious Norland College (the training ground which still produces nannies for the Royal Family including the Prince and Princess of Wales).
After she graduated in 1979, her previous experience at Buckingham Palace helped her land a job as a nanny, helping the Prince and Princess of Kent raise a young Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Gabriella Kingston.
She spent four and a half years at Kensington Palace before continuing her career in other fascinating locations around the world.
What was it like working for the Royals? You'll have to attend the November Probus meeting to find out!
Presenter: Lynn Weimer
Topic: Planning for your Health Care Future
She will be speaking on Advance Care Planning 101
Imagine, If you were in the hospital, too ill or hurt to speak for yourself, who would make health care decisions for you?
Join us as we look at health care decision making in Ontario and how Advance Care Planning conversations can help you and your loved ones. This session is all about how the law in Ontario sets up Substitute Decision Making, and what you need to know about choosing your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM). This is essential information you need to know about Advance Care Planning in Ontario.
Advance Care Planning – the gift you give each other!