Speaker Schedule

"Cameras for Girls"

Amina Mohamed is the Founder and Executive Director of Cameras For Girls, a Canadian charity and Ugandan nonprofit that supports young women across Africa to build careers in photography, storytelling, and media. Since 2018, Cameras For Girls has trained over 200 women and distributed more than 200 cameras, helping graduates move into paid work in male dominated media spaces.

Amina began her career in film and television and has spent over 15 years working as a producer and production manager. Born in the UK, she arrived in Canada with her family as refugees from Uganda, in 1972. Her work today sits at the intersection of ethical storytelling, gender equality, and servant leadership. She is a sought-after speaker on ethical storytelling, global development, and the power of long-term community driven change.

"The Dawn of Writing"

Dr. Barron was our speaker at our very first meeting back in October, 2024 -everyone loved her!  She's back! This time with another insightful presentation on the Dawn of Writing - how did it come to be, with her wonderful sense of humour!

Dr. Amy Barron received her PhD at the University of Toronto in the field of Mesopotamian history and archaeology, specializing on the military history of Iron Age Assyria. She has excavated predominantly in the Middle East but has travelled widely studying the archaeology of various remote parts of the world from Peru to China. Amy has taught archaeology, ancient history and classics at the universities of Toronto and Guelph and presently teaches museum studies in Fleming College’s post-graduate program. She has worked in the museum world for over 30 years and loves sharing her passion for the past.

"The Future is Now:  AI"

Google, Alexi, and Siri are mere infants compared to today’s AIs. Discover the ways AI is being used by seniors every day. You’ll see how AI works, the features of the most popular AIs, and how to get started. Amazement guaranteed!

We enjoyed Rob's presentation on a nostalgic look at the movies, last year.  He joins us again with his presentation on the world of AI:

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.