The Vancouver Island University ElderCollege Speakers’ Bureau is a listing of our volunteer instructors who are willing to give talks to community groups looking for a speaker. They all have expertise in the subjects that they offer to speak on. Most are willing to be contacted directly by email while some would prefer to be contacted through the eldercollege@viu.ca.
ElderCollege offers this opportunity as a community service and to make the knowledge of our instructors more widely available.
Below is the list of speakers, topics and email addresses:
VIU ElderCollege
Topics:
Introduction to VIU ElderCollege courses, teaching and volunteering
Contact:
eldercollege@viu.ca or 1-866-734-6252
Mitch Allen
Topics:
- Archaeology of Afghanistan
- Archaeology of the Silk Road
- Excavating and Surveying Afghanistan
- Mesopotamia, the Oldest Complex Society
- Origins of the First Complex Societies: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, Turan
- The First Empire: Ancient Assyria
- How Archaeologists Know What They Know
- Why We'll Never Find Atlantis
- Archaeologists and Aliens: The Fallacy of Pseudoarchaeology
- The Bible and Archaeology
- The Historical Jesus
- Life in Ancient Israel
- The Foundation of Ancient Israel
- Looting and Frauds in Archaeology
- Who Were the First Americans
- Who Discovered America before Columbus
Contact:
Mali Bain
Topics:
- Capturing Family Stories
- Questions to Spark Reminiscence
- Write and Publish a Family History Book
Contact:
John Black
Topics:
- Alexandro Malaspina, His life and Works
- 18th-century Images of Local Indigenous Peoples
- Mediaeval/Renaissance Art, Architecture, Literature, Political Thought
- Topical Ethical/Moral Issues - moderated discussion format
- Adventures in Mind – Travel in Europe
Contact:
Terri Bowen
Topic:
- The Importance and Benefit of Art and Graphology
Contact:
Lynne Bowen
Topics:
- Vancouver Island Coal Mining
- Robert Dunsmuir, Laird of the Mines
- Italian Immigration to British Columbia
- Stories of Cowichan Lake
- The Remarkable Story of the Barr Colonists
Contact:
Terese Bowors
Topics:
- Introduction to Medicinal Cannabis
- How to Obtain a Medical Cannabis Prescription
Contact:
Jule Briese
Topic:
- Our Alzheimer’s Odyssey - Coming Full Circle - Moving Towards Healing
Contact:
tranquilshorescreative@gmail.com
Ron Dimos
Topics:
- Factors Affecting Current Financial Markets
- Asset Classes that can be Used to Diversify a Portfolio
- Minimize Your Risk in the Markets
- How to Evaluate the Success of Your Portfolio
Contact:
John Edwards
Topics:
- Shakespeare
- Mediaeval and Elizabethan Literature
- The Art and Craft of Composing Poetry
- Poetry Readings
Contact:
Robin Fisher
Topics:
- History of First Nations Land
- Early Exploration of the Northwest Coast by Cook and Vancouver
- Wilson Duff and British Columbia Anthropology
- Newcomer and Indigenous Relations in Canada and New Zealand Compared
- Duff Pattullo British Columbia’s Depression Era Premier
- Barkerville and the Gold Rush
Contact:
Ralph Frank
Topics:
- Mindful Mediation
- Talking to Children about Safe and Unsafe Touch
Contact:
David Hobson
Topics:
- History of the English Language
- The Crazy English Language
- The History of Vancouver Island
- The American War of Independence – the Canadian Version
Contact:
Roger Keeping
Topics:
- Unique Australian 'Outback ' fauna.
- Superb Serpents. A discussion of snakes and their ecological importance.
- Awesome Arachnids. The beneficial role Spiders play in the environment.
- Bats. Dispelling the misconceptions around Bat behavior and infection.
- Delightful Dendrobatid's. The critical importance of Frogs as an indicator species for the health of the Earth.
- Physics. Electro/magnatism used by animals.
- Chemistry. Evolutionary development of 'Toxins' for defense and attack
Contact:
Dave Klinger
Topics:
- Music and Politics: A Lecture Demonstration (at the Piano)
Contact:
Patricia Lane
Topics:
- What Canadians Think About Climate Change
- How to Talk to Anyone About Climate Change
Contact:
Steve Lane
Topics:
- Ernest Hemingway in Paris in the 1920s
- Hiking the Coast-to-Coast path in England
- Greece’s Ionian Islands
- “Can Johnny Still Write? Reflections on 25 Years Teaching First-year Comp”
- Radical Romantics: Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Shelley
Contact:
Lisa Leger
Topics:
- A Sensible Look at Natural Medicine
- Building a Bridge Between Natural and Conventional Medicine
- Nutrition, Supplementation and Botanical Medicines
- Reproductive Health at all the Life Stages
- Women's Health and Wellness
- Fertility
- Infertility
- Natural Methods of Birth Control
- Natural Menopause
- Natural Aging
- Natural Approaches to Digestive Disorder like IBS, IBD, Crohn's and Colitis
- Natural Approaches to Cardiovascular Risk Factors like Blood Pressure and Cholesterol.
- Natural Approaches to Aging, Arthritis, Vision Loss, Liver Disease, Skin Conditions
- Natural Approaches to Fibroids and Endometriosis
- Natural Approaches to PMS and Period Problems
- How to Get Off The Pill and Avoid Pregnancy Naturally
- How to Manage Yeast and Bladder Infections with Natural Remedies
- A Gorilla Girl's Guide to Do It Yourself Gynecology
Contact:
Dan Lordahl
Topics:
- Experimental Psychology and Statistics
Russell McNeil
Topics:
- The Effectiveness of Modern Stoicism in Personal and Political Life During Challenging Times.
- The Global Scientific Response to UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) Since 2017.
Contact:
Wayne Pealo
Topics:
- Canadian Sport Tourism.
- Tenkara Fly Fishing.
- Travelling the World Chasing Piscator With Feathers
- Divas on the Fly. Breast Cancer Survivors Go Fishing For Recovery
Contact:
Ross Peterson
Topic:
- Personal Emergency Preparedness
Contact:
Mike Provencher
Topic:
- Energy Healing (Healing emotional, behavioural and physical issues with various energy techniques.)
Contact:
Harold Rosen
Topics:
- Spiritual, Religious and Secular?
- Near-Death Experience and Views of the Afterlife
- Science, Religion and Spirituality?
- Women Mystics through the Ages
- The Rise, Fall and Renewal of Civilization
- A Pan-Indigenous Worldview?
- Why Be Wise?
- The Future of Humanity?
- Our World Today: The Best of Times and the Worst of Times...
- Centuries of Darkness and Light?
- The Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism on North America...
- Teilhard de Chardin, Aurobindo and Ken Wilber
- Does Humanity Need a Divine Educator Today?
- Prophecies of Promised Ones and Promised Days
- Life Review and Lifespan Development Theories
- What Are Levels of Reality and How Many Should We Believe In?
Contact:
Ted Trueman
Topics:
- Earthquakes and Tsunamis
- Nuclear Power
- Geology of Vancouver Island
Contact:
Dianne Volrich and Roland Semjanovs (work together)
Topics:
- Public Art Around the World
- Ceremonies from the Beautiful to the Bizarre
- Ghost Ships and Ship Wrecks
- Franklin and the NW Passage
- Diamonds are Forever
Contact:
Heike Walker
Topics:
- Relieve Stress with Bach Flower Remedies
- Bach Flower Remedies for Women
- Thriving at Older Age with Bach Flower Remedies
- Natural Support of your Immune System
- Strategies to Improve your Sleep
- Body Cleanse for Better Health
- Relief for Chronic Back Pain
- Improve your Posture
- Find more Ease in Movement
Contact:
Alpha Woodward
Topic:
- Self-Improvement, Skill Building in New or Old areas of Interest
- Music and Your Brain
- Music and Your Health
- Igniting the Inner Creative Child -
- The Art of Leadership
- The Art of Team Building
- Finding Your Client in Their (sound) Environment - For Healthcare facilities. (can be offered as a series of 20 minute inservices)
- Listening or Hearing?
- Personal development and transformation
Contact: