Speaker Schedule

Lianne Harris

B.F.A(Ed), B.A(Ed), T.E.S.L.

"The Roaring 20's"

The Roaring 20's

It was a time of the Jitter-Bug and Juke Boxes, the Bee’s Knees and the Cat’s Pajamas.  Its era had no precedent and its place in history marks it as the most revolutionary decade of the 20th Century.

Shaking off the horrors of the recent world war, and reaping the windfall of economic growth, this time was fueled by the rise of women’s power, prohibition, movies and jazz.  It was an era bigger than life, louder than convention – it was the Roaring 20’s! 

Lianne was a former Social Studies / History Specialist with the Toronto District School Board, guest instructor and workshop leader for many other school boards in Southern Ontario, and curriculum advisor for Upper Canada College, having taught over 100,000 teachers and students (usually in authentic period clothing). She has been involved in various initiatives such as the Freedman Bank Records for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington and with entrepreneurial artists and business start-ups in developing countries. In 2003, she was selected by W.O.M.A.D. as one of Toronto’s Women of Influence and in 2009 was invited to be a contributing author of the Canadian best-seller business/self-help book, ‘The Power of Women United’. She is the author of two medieval novels. Appearing on TV and being interviewed on the radio many times, she has been the keynote presenter at many professional, academic and organization events.

Senior Park Naturalist, Sibbald Point Provincial Park

"Sibbald Point at a Glance"

Explore the stories that shaped Sibbald Point Provincial Park during this talk on the Sibbald family and history of the property. The Sibbalds owned the estate (1835-1951) that would become Sibbald Point Provincial Park; and left behind artifacts, stories, and legacies that remain today. Join us as we look at the personalities, social values, and events that influenced the history this corner of Lake Simcoe.

Laura McClintock is the Senior Park Naturalist at Sibbald Point Provincial Park. She has worked for Ontario Parks for twelve years and started in her role at Sibbald Point in 2021. Laura has a background in interpretation and environmental education, having worked for organizations such as the YMCA, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), and the Humber Arboretum.

Laura oversees the Discovery department at Sibbald Point, which is composed of a team of naturalists that provide visitors with interpretive programming from May-October, and school programs throughout the year. She manages Eildon Hall Museum and the park’s Discovery Centre. Outside of interpretation, she assists with resource management projects at both Sibbald Point and Holland Landing Prairie Provincial Park. As an interpreter, Laura is passionate about connecting people to places through the history and natural features of the land we live and play on. Laura spends her free time visiting historic sites, hiking, travelling, and enjoying a good book or knitting project.

"A Century of famous movies"

An entertaining, multimedia, audience participation presentation showcasing the greatest movies of the past century. 

Rob Smythe was a secondary school teacher of science, mathematics, computer science, and music, with a special fondness for physics. He has written several textbooks, including the astronomy unit for Ontario Grade 9 science, and six novels that, he says, few people have read. He has performed in such musical stage productions as Damn Yankees, West Side Story, and The Marriage of Figaro. He has directed close to a dozen high school musicals, and conducted bands and choirs. He is an enthusiastic movie lover, enjoying thrillers, musicals, mysteries, historical epics, and science fiction.

Rob has hosted multimedia presentations to audiences in venues ranging from homes, to auditoriums, to cruise ships, and during COVID, on Zoom. He invites you to join him with a nostalgic, entertaining look at the most influential movies of the past century.