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News From CALL June 2026
| June Events | Programs | Blog |
Sketch by Brenda Pfleger of the Sketch Club Interest Group
CALL Board of Directors Message
President’s Message: Elections 2026
- Judy Hoad
One of the important roles for any organization is to ensure that its leadership is maintained. We are very fortunate in CALL to have a dedicated group of people on the Board of Directors. As we come closer to our Annual General Meeting in October, we know there are several positions that will be available for election. These positions and a brief description of each are:
President
CALL is in a somewhat unusual position this year, as no one stepped forward to be elected as Vice President last year. As such, our President position will be open for nomination and election this year. The President presides at the meetings of the Association, Executive Committee and Board of Directors and acts as the chief spokesperson for the Association. The President also reports to the members on the activities of the Board of Directors through a monthly report in the CALL newsletter and at each General Meeting. The President also continues as Past President in the following year.
Vice President
The Vice President role is for the person who will become President in the following year, and then Past President. This person learns about the role through attendance at meetings of the Association, Executive Committee and Board of Directors. There are no specific duties, but the Vice President can undertake roles assigned by the Board, serve on ad hoc committees, or provide a link between the Board and CALL committees.
Chair, Volunteer Committee
As CALL members know, the association is run by members who provide their time on a volunteer basis. The Chair of the Volunteer Committee has important roles such as maintaining lists and specifications for volunteer opportunities, with input from CALL Committees. The Chair may also recruit volunteers for specific positions in collaboration with Coordinators/Facilitators and the Communications team and generally encourages a culture of respect and appreciation for all volunteers.
Secretary
At this point in time, candidates for President and Vice President have stepped forward, which may create a vacancy for the Secretary position. The Secretary is another key position on the Board, as that person prepares meeting agendas and minutes, retains critical archival materials and also deals with other communications. So, while nominations remain open, we are particularly interested in candidates for Volunteer Committee Chair and Secretary.
New Positions
In addition to the above positions, the Board is considering the addition of two other positions.
The current bylaws enable the election of up to 14 Board members. The value of such new positions would be to share the workload, and to provide more people a chance to take part in the Board activities and learn the various functions of the association. There will be more about these possible positions when the formal call for nominations is made in September.
More details about all of these roles can be found in the “Members Only” part of the CALL website.
If you are interested in any of these roles, the current person in that role, or Keith Dobson, Governance Chair, would be happy to talk with you. They can be reached by emailing info@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. Our nomination and election processes are also on the website, and more will be shared about this system as we move closer to the October 15 Annual General Meeting. As you will all appreciate, CALL survives as an association because of the volunteers who take part. If you have the passion, please do consider one of the above roles.
CALL Partners with Alberta Ballet
Facilitator Required
Following the large and enthusiastic response to the discount offered by Alberta Ballet for their Notre Dame de Paris Ballet, the Board of CALL has entered into an exciting new partnership with Alberta Ballet. Four performances will be available for CALL members to attend.
Prior to each performance, information will be in the CALL Newsletter with a description of the performance and a link for CALL members to purchase tickets. Using that link will give a 20% discount. Further information will be on the CALL Alberta Ballet webpage.
CALL groups are successful because members step up and volunteer. For this new program to run, we need a facilitator! Please help us get this exciting new group up and running.
The facilitator will be the one point of contact for Alberta Ballet for CALL members and will coordinate distribution of information to members.
For more information, please contact the Coordinator of Special Programs by sending an email to: info@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
June Events
Science and Environment
Exploring Martian Geology to Understand How Planets Sustain Life
Tuesday, June 2, 7:30–9:00pm
Online, via Zoom
Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Tutolo
Our neighboring planet, Mars, offers a stark contrast to Earth. While Earth has remained habitable and indeed inhabited for nearly all of its 4.5 billion year history, Mars apparently transitioned to a desert planet early in its history. In this presentation, Dr. Tutolo will discuss how our recent, surprising discovery of sedimentary carbonate minerals in Gale Crater has revised our understanding of the fate of Martian habitability, and what this means for the planet’s potential for having originated life.
Dr. Benjamin Tutolo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary and a Canadian leader in the field of geochemistry.
You must be a CALL member to register. For more information and to register go to the Science and Environment page.
Special Program
Weapons of Influence: How Foreign Actors Target Democracies
(Rescheduled as an in person event)
Wednesday, June 10, 7:30–9:00pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Speaker: Jean-Christophe Boucher
From social media trolls to state-backed media, foreign actors are working to influence what we think and how we vote. This talk explains the strategic logic behind foreign interference, how to recognize it, and what's at stake for democracies like Canada.
Jean-Christophe Boucher is an Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary. His current work focuses on applying machine learning to understand how the digital world shapes society, particularly regarding foreign information manipulation and interference. He is a Fulbright Scholar and manages projects funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Department of National Defence. In 2025, he served as Deputy Director - Data Science within the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) at Global Affairs Canada. He specializes in international relations, with a focus on foreign policy, global security, and data analytics.
Members of the Public and Guests are welcome to attend at a cost of $5.00. CALL members are asked to register guests for planning purposes at the Special Programs page. Members of the public need not register.
CALL Café
Campbell and Corner
Monday, June 15, 1:00–3:00pm with coffee to follow after the presentation
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Presenters: George Campbell and Wayne Corner
George Campbell and Wayne Corner have been playing together for years now. We play old string music that has great stories and deep grooves. Our concerts are a gumbo of songs about love, natural disasters, the occasional hanging, hope and despair. Just like life, but with more foot tapping.
For this concert we will play our “Things Have Changed” set. Some of the songs are way older than us, but they all fit this time when so many people feel like they have been swallowed by a whale. The songs may lead to you pondering or chuckling; and this, plus singing on the choruses, may lead to more optimism. We will certainly give you things to talk about in the social time afterwards.
George lives in Calgary (originally from Nova Scotia); Wayne lives in High River (originally from Montreal). We most like playing concerts where people listen, laugh and sing.
CALL Café is open to members of the public at no charge. Members are asked to register for planning purposes -add up to 4 guests when you register at the CALL Café page.
Treks and Travels
Alaska to Argentina: Overland by Nissan pickup truck
Wednesday, June 17, 7:30–9:00pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Presenters: Janet Wilson and Tom Feuchwanger
Janet Wilson and Tom Feuchtwanger, a couple driven by an adventurous passion for overland travel, set their sights on driving the length of the Americas — from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost town in the world.
Here’s your chance to relive their experience with them as they ventured through remote landscapes, vibrant cities, and unforgettable encounters. They will share stories of the journey, stunning photos, videos, and honest accounts of both the highs and lows of life on the road.
No registration required. Members of the public are welcome to attend (at a cost of $5)
Special Program
Indigenous Joy
Sunday, June 21, 1:00–4:30pm
Central Library, 800 3 Street SE
Patricia Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library
(CALL discussion: 3:30–4:30. Room 3-10B, Central Library)
June is National Indigenous History month in Canada. Join us to learn from a panel of community artists about what “Indigenous Joy” means to them and how it relates to resilience.
After the panel, there will be an informal opportunity for CALL members to discuss their observations and learnings from the event.
To clarify the two aspects of this event, the panelist discussion will be held in the Patricia Whelan Performance Hall from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. The CALL discussion will take place in Room 3-10B from 3:30 to 4:30. To get to Room 3-10B, take the elevator to the third floor, head straight, and the room should be on your right (or ask someone in a blue vest!)
Please register for the panel discussion through the Calgary Public Library site. Register for the CALL discussion at the Special Programs page. This will be limited to 16, for CALL members only. There is no cost.
For accessibility:
The Central Library is easily accessible by C-Train. There are several parkades close to the library including the City Hall Parkade and The Platform Parkade on 9th Ave. There is also street parking to the east in East Village.
The outside east elevator is staffed by intercom and available 24 hours a day, allowing for easy passage through the archway, connecting people between East Village and City Hall. On the west side, there is an intercom at the doors near the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall. Visitors with mobility challenges can use this intercom to contact security in order to use these doors. Or, continue up the sloped walkway to reach the main entrance.
Health and Wellness
Acting Our Age
Monday, June 22, 1:30–3:30pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Acting Our Age, an amateur senior drama group consisting of fun-loving retired people from Calgary, is back by popular demand!
Laughter is always good for your health, and this will be a fun start for summer!
Members of the public are welcome to attend (at a cost of $5 at the door). Registration is not required.
Programs
Jazz Nebula presents The Great Saxophonists
Saturday, June 6, 2:00–4:30pm
Scarboro United Church, 134 Scarboro Avenue SW (entrance on Scarboro Avenue)
This show will be a tribute to the music of Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Wayne Shorter, and more. The Jazz Nebula Quintet features Andre Wickenheiser, trumpet and flugelhorn; John Reid, saxophone, flute, and clarinet; Jon Day, piano; Stefano Valdo, bass and Ed Batley, drums.
Repertoire includes: John Coltrane, Equinox; Mongo Santamaria, Afro Blue (John Coltrane version); Sonny Rollins, St. Thomas; Oliver Nelson, Stolen Moments; Bob Berg, Friday Night at the Cadillac Club; Charlie Parker, Confirmation; Jimmy Forrest, Night Train; Dexter Gordon, Fried Bananas; Wayne Shorter, Footprints; Stanley Turrentine, Sugar; Charles Lloyd, Third Floor Richard; John Reid, Coral; and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Serenade to a Cuckoo.
Tickets: $40/general; $35 forJazz Nebula, Jazz YYC, and CALL members and $10 for students available at Eventbrite.ca.
For more information, go to the Jazz Nebula page.
You do not need to register for this Jazz interest group, as ticket purchase is up to the individual. You simply have to show up for the fun.
Tuesday Walks in the City of Calgary
Occasional Tuesday Evening Walks in Spring and Summer
Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00pm, dates tba
Locations to be announced
Tuesday morning walks are a year-round CALL program. However, in the spring and summer we often have lovely long evenings that permit a pleasant Tuesday evening walk. The colours and sounds of the evening can be quite different from those of the morning. The evenings may also work better for those with daytime commitments.
It may still be warm, but the intense heat of the day will be gone, and the UV index will be low. We will usually walk in natural parks where we are likely to see birds and perhaps other wildlife. Probable locations include Nose Hill, Bowness Park, West Nose Creek Park, Waterfall Valley, and Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Walks will last for about two hours and cover 5 to 7 km.
Just as for the morning walks, you must bring emergency contact information. Drinking water and sturdy footwear are recommended. Insect repellent, walking poles and a hat may be helpful. Poor air quality or an impending thunderstorm may cause a walk to be cancelled, so watch for an update earlier in the day.
If you are a CALL member who is not currently a member of the Tuesday Walkers (not on our weekly mail out), please register with the Tuesday City Walks Facilitator to receive the details on the evening walks which will be issued at the same time as the ongoing morning walks.
Enjoy the spring and summer!
New Program: Arts and Culture
Great Directors
We are excited to offer a new version of the course “Great Directors” for this upcoming fall. This year the focus will be on notable women directors from different times and places, including Agnes Varda, Vagabond (1985); Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation (2003); Clare Denis, White Material (2009); Susanne Bier, In a Better World (2010); Kelly Reichardt, Certain Women (2016); and Chloe Zhao, Nomadland (2020).
CALL Blog
Curious about ‘Plogging’?
A recent talk, “Trash Talk: What Plogging Teaches Us About Age and Activism” provided interesting insights into several important topics. This blog post outlines some of those insights about ageism, eco-activism, physical activity, and what, exactly, is plogging. Read on to learn more.
The CALL Blog is public so please share with your family and friends. It is easy to do. Just copy the URL https://calgarylifelonglearners.ca/Blog and paste into an email or text message.
If you are on Facebook, please follow us. https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryLifelongLearners/
Any questions or feedback, please contact me: info@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. If you have a topic that you would like to write with me, I would welcome your interest.
The CALL Newsletter
- Newsletter Team
Did you know that we appreciate receiving articles from our members? We are happy to publish articles that celebrate CALL. Your personal experience about how you have benefited would be a valuable contribution to this newsletter. Please send your ideas and suggestions for future issues to info@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. We reserve the right to edit submissions and to determine when submissions will be published.
CALL Newsletter postings 2026
- June 26
- Aug 21
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.