Lunchtime Series – January to June 2016

Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Jean Pothier and Jean Marier give an illustrated presentation on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, touching on the religious, spiritual, historical, and physical aspects of the pilgrimage route in northern Spain.

Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Sociologist Brian Webb gives a talk on “The Life and Times of Nancy Cunard: Reluctant Heiress.”

Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Janet Torge, founder of Radical Resthomes, gives a talk on “Radical Resthomes: Rewriting Our Last Chapter,” outlining housing options for Montreal seniors with the financial implications.

Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Montreal Gazette columnist Bill Brownstein discusses movies – sensations of the past and contenders for 2016 awards.

Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 12:30 pm
One Cellist, Two Cellos: Brian Manker, Principal Cello with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, plays J.S. Bach’s Suite no. 3 in C Major on a magnificent cello by Pietro Guarneri of Venice, made in 1729 around the time Bach composed the suites, and then Zoltan Kodaly’s Sonata for Solo Cello, opus 8, on an equally magnificent cello by Samuel Zygmuntowicz, made in Brooklyn, NY in 2005. Brian Manker will discuss the two instruments and the general development of the cello during the time between Bach (1685-1750) and Kodaly (1882-1967).

Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Montreal author Sam Allison gives an illustrated presentation on his book Driv’n by Fortune: The Scots’ March to Modernity in America, 1745–1812.

Friday, February 19, 2016 at 12:30 pm
To celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH, the IMANI Gospel Singers, directed by Marcia Bailey, perform a program of spiritual music and discuss the evolution of Black gospel music.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 12:30 pm
David Trotter, McGill University Political Science graduate student and American citizen, explains the system for electing the President of the United States and comments on the current nomination contests: “A Primer for Canadians on the Primaries and Caucuses.”

Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Historians Lorraine O’Donnell and Patrick Donovan give an illustrated talk on “Housewife Heroines: Anglophone Women at Home in Montreal during World War II.” This is a project being conducted by the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN).

Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Author Keith Henderson discusses his historical novel The Roof Walkers, set at the end of the American Civil War and in the lead-up to Canadian Confederation, when militant Irish Fenians threatened the unifying efforts of Thomas D’Arcy McGee. And Irish harpist Susan Palmer plays music of the period.

Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 12:30 pm
For ST. PATRICK’S DAY, Canadian-Irish author Jack Hannan reads from his new novel The Poet is a Radio, set in a dreamlike Montreal. With Irish music by the band Dragún Bán, featuring Danielle LeBlond (mandolin), Claude Bertrand (acoustic guitar and Irish bousouki) and Donna-Marie Sullivan (bodhrán and vocals).

Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Alan Shepard, President of Concordia University, presents “Some Books I Still Love and the Future of the Liberal Arts,” an idiosyncratic discussion of reading and writing in the Digital Age.

Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Exploring End-of-Life Care Options in Quebec: Ethicists Véronique Fraser and Lori Seller from the Centre for Applied Ethics at the McGill University Health Centre discuss ethical issues at the end of life, with a focus on the new law in Quebec governing palliative care and medical aid in dying. They will respond to audience questions about this important topic.

Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Author Michael Mirolla reads from and discusses his new novel Torp and Craig Morrison sings folk songs of 1970 when the book is set.

Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Amanda Kellock, actor, director, teacher and Artistic Director of Repercussion Theatre, gives a talk on “Playing Shakespeare in the Park” to celebrate the Bard’s birthday.

Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Sandra Joyce, author and co-founder of British Home Child Group International, gives an illustrated talk on the organized emigration of over 100,000 impoverished children from the British Isles to Canada from 1869 to the late 1930s to work as indentured farm workers and domestics. Over ten percent of the current Canadian population are descendants of these children. She will discuss her own journey of discovery of her father’s British Home Child past, her books based on the true story of his life and the reunification of her family  – with ties to the Tower of London.

Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 12:30 pm
“Ghosting Patricia”: Gerry L’Orange talks about editing, ghostwriting, and designing his mother’s memoirs. Pat is a survivor of the London Blitz, a war bride, and a world traveller.

Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Musician and author Craig Morrison makes a presentation on his books Go Cat Go! Rockabilly Music and Its Makers and American Popular Music: Rock & Roll. He will discuss researching the music and musicians who created it, and play some songs. Dr. Morrison is an ethnomusicologist and Concordia University professor.

Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 12:30 pm
A discussion of the relationship between art forms: poet Henry Beissel reads from his new collection Sightlines and artist Arlette Francière exhibits her paintings.

Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Le Groupe MusiArt, the choir of the MUHC Department of Psychiatry directed by Dr. Marie-France Boudreault, performs a variety of choral music in English and French, including songs written by members of the group.

Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Anna Fuerstenberg performs her one-woman show SAIDYE the 150-year-old Laidye from the planet Cassandra, which addresses the state of the earth today and tackles dieting, sex, world politics and global warming. With accompaniment by award-winning clarinet player Chester Howard. Funding for the playwright from the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Jacques Archambault, Executive Director of The Canadian Heritage of Quebec, gives an illustrated presentation on the organization’s buildings and sites, many of which are available for public visits or are for rent during the summer. These historic properties include Sir John A. Macdonald’s summer home in Rivière-du-Loup and Hurtubise House in Westmount.

TUESDAY, June 14, 2016 at 12:30 pm
FESTIVAL BLOOMSDAY MONTRÉAL, celebrating the great James Joyce, presents Storytelling and Songs. Emceed by vocalist Kathleen McAuliffe, the program features seasoned storytellers Margaret Nicolai and Jan Gregory, and Natalia Davydova on piano.

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