By Marlene Robertson
Those autumn leaves are starting their annual migration from the tree to the ground, and although winter inevitably comes next, I really do love fall – especially this fall.
We’ve had a wonderful September, and I am optimistically anticipating an equally salubrious October. As the weather cools off a bit, I start thinking of doing some ‘nesting’ which includes sorting out the books I’ve been collecting, getting ready for the courses I’ve signed up for, and anticipating some enjoyable new learning experiences.
ElderCollege is continually working to make learning an interesting and fun experience, and is offering Saturday One-Stop Talks over the next two months. There are some interesting speakers booked and the cost is just $5 at the door.
Saturday’s Oct. 20 One-Stop Talk tackles Climate Change and Ocean Acidification presented by Brian Kingzett, manager of the Deep Bay Marine Station, who has 25 years experience in the environmental and aquaculture field.
Kingzett covers how climate change poses a threat to B.C.’s fishing industry and the Pacific marine ecosystem because of ocean acidification, sea-level rise, oxygen-deprived waters and other stressors.
He also discusses how the threat posed to the marine food chain by a more acidic ocean has fast-forwarded into our lifetimes, redoubling calls for decisive cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.
This talk is a ‘must attend’ whether you agree with the various theories of climate change or not.
You also won’t want to miss A Dark History: Finding the Hidden Story of Italian Immigration to British Columbia on Nov. 24.
To track down the poorly documented story of Italian Immigration to British Columbia, author Lynne Bowen had to rely on sympathetic historians, expatriate Italians, and travel throughout British Columbia and Italy.
She has written six books including Boss Whistle; The Coal Miners of Vancouver Island Remember, Those Lake People; Stories of Cowichan Lake, and Whoever Gives Us Bread; The Story of Italians in British Columbia.
Bowen has won the Hubert Evans non-fiction prize and the Lieutenant-Governor’s Prize for Writing British Columbia History.
I love history, especially relating to Vancouver Island, so I’m really looking forward to this presentation and hope to see you there.
Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar and take in the Saturday One-Stop Talks.
They run from 10 a.m. to noon and are the best deal in town at just $5 per person per session. All talks take place at the Parksville Civic Centre on Jensen Avenue in the main floor Forum Room.
If you haven’t signed up for a fall course yet, do it now. Check the fall calendar for courses starting in October, November and running through until December.
And if you would like to become an ElderCollege volunteer or have any suggestions for future courses, send an e-mail or give us a call. We’re looking forward to hearing from you this fall.
To find out more, please call 1-866-734-6252 or e-mail pqcampus@viu.ca.