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News From CALL Mid‑January 2022
Weaving from Barbara Schneider: left "Connections", right "Two Villages".
Artist statement: “Weaving inspired by Southwest weaving designs and techniques.
Wool weft on cotton warp. This kind of weaving is called weft faced. The weft is compressed so that you do not see the warp. (Unlike a scarf or tea towel or napkin, where you see both warp and weft.) I started weaving about 25 years ago. Then I got a job and stopped weaving altogether. My loom sat unused in my living room for 20 years but when I saw retirement looming (no pun intended) a few years ago, I started again.“
Update on CALL activities
By Carrol Jaques, Chair, Operations Committee
January 2022 began without the much-anticipated joy of seeing other CALL members in-person in the New Year. How unfair!
All CALL groups reacted to the Omicron threat by deciding to remain on Zoom for the foreseeable future. At least we have Zoom. And we have some exciting new events to add to the familiar, comfortable activities that have sustained us for almost two years.
We can look forward to a future filled with socializing at CALL Meetings. But not yet.
I was reminded of how tenuous everything is when I received an e-mail Thursday afternoon from cSpace Management telling us that, despite all the precautions being taken, someone who was in the building on Monday, January 10 has tested positive for COVID. This does not affect us because there are no CALL meetings taking place, but it was a reminder of the reality that we face.
Despite all the protocols – staying home if you are unwell, being triple vaxxed, showing QR Codes, masking, distancing, and sanitizing, Covid still happens. We will still be required to keep track of everyone who attends CALL meetings so they can be notified quickly in similar circumstances. And it works the other way. If a CALL participant becomes ill – which can happen to triple-vaccinated people as we are sadly discovering – CALL will be expected to notify cSpace.
When the sun rises in all this darkness, CALL will be ready with a plan for a smooth reopening. If you have questions at any time, please contact operations@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
Coming Events
Check the CALL website for details of the following events. Registration is required for all these events. You must be a member to register. Join or renew your membership now and watch for email announcements for programs and events.
For Zoom events, please register at least a couple of hours before an event to ensure the registration confirmation email with the event link arrives in your inbox in time.
January Events
CALL Café Online
What Do We Mean When We Say That Aging Is a Women's Issue?
Monday, January 17, 2:00–3:30pm Online Via Zoom
Open to members and guests
Speaker: Pat Armstrong
Why is aging still a women’s issue, what are the issues for women and which women are we talking about?
On January 17 at 2pm, Pat Armstrong, Distinguished Research Professor in Sociology at York University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, will return to CALL to answer these questions and more in What Do We Mean When We Say That Aging Is a Women's Issue?
You must be a member of CALL to register for this event but the registration process allows you to invite up to four non-members as guests.
For more details and to register, go to CALL Café Online.
Treks and Travel
Transatlantic Crossing: Go South 'til the Butter Melts
Wednesday, January 19, 7:30pm via Zoom
Presenter: John Cobb.
Sailors have been crossing the Atlantic for hundreds of years, sailing south along the coast of Africa before reaching the trade winds and turning west towards the Americas. In his presentation, “Go South ‘til the Butter Melts”, John Cobb combines photos and video to tell the story of his 21-day 2019 journey as part of a crew on a sailboat from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia.
For more details and to register go to the Treks and Travel page.
NOTE: Treks and Travels has a full contingent of presentations coming your way for 2022 and are now booking presentations for 2023.
Finding Joy and Peace Within
Thursdays, January 20–March 10 7:00–9:00pm on Zoom
Many ancient traditions teach there is a source of peace and joy within, that is independent of circumstances, e.g. COVID. The easiest way to connect to this inner source is through meditation and its sister practice, mindfulness. Over 50 years of scientific research have clearly demonstrated there are significant social and health benefits to these practices.
In this newest eight-week session we will explore the ideas behind these ancient practices, and the modern understandings about how and why they work on both your inner and outer world. Each session will include periods of meditation (sitting comfortably in chairs) to allow participants the opportunity to experience the benefits for themselves, and the opportunity to share experiences and insights with others.
The objective of this program is not understanding or belief, but rather direct experience. The experience will be a familiar one – rediscovering what you did not know you had lost. These benefits are especially applicable in these COVID times.
For more details and to register go to the Finding Joy and Peace Within page.
CALL to the Theatre Online – Accepting New Members
Saturday, January 22, 4:00pm on Zoom
Prior to the discussion, group members will view the National Theatre (UK) stage production of War Horse.
Join us for a follow-up discussion Saturday, January 22 at 4pm on Zoom.
See the CALL to the Theatre webpage for details and a registration link.
Not So Common Law
Not So Common Law resumes on Monday, January 24, 1:00-3:00pm by Zoom
Our topic is: The Right to Raise Extreme Intoxication as a Defence
Canadian law recognizes a defence of “automatism” – a state of impaired consciousness in which an individual, though capable of action, has no voluntary control over that action. It is a fundamental principle of criminal law that a person who does not act voluntarily cannot be held responsible for his or her actions and must be found not guilty.
Can intoxication, so extreme that it amounts to automatism, be a defence to violent crime? What if the intoxication is voluntary, the accused having chosen to become intoxicated?
In 1994 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that alcohol-induced automatism can be a defence to violent criminal acts. Parliament promptly responded to this decision by passing a law barring the defence of self-induced intoxication in crimes of violence.
The issue has again come before the Supreme Court arising from Ontario and Alberta cases where young men who became high on magic mushrooms violently attacked victims. In these cases each accused argued that he had a Charter right to use the defence of extreme intoxication. The legislation barring extreme intoxication as a defence is contrary to the Charter and therefore unconstitutional.
These cases focus our attention on the role of morality, responsibility and blameworthiness in our criminal law.
“Not So Common Law” is available in a virtual format using Zoom for all CALL members to enjoy. This program is facilitated and presented by Jim Conway, CALL member and lawyer.
If you are new to Not So Common Law, please register with the Facilitator, in order to get the Zoom link. If you have already registered for an earlier session you do not need to re-register for this or future sessions. The Zoom link will be sent out via email before the session.
Speaker Event: Birth of a Family: A Conversation with Tasha Hubbard
Wednesday, January 26, 7:00pm on Zoom
Registration is now open for Birth of a Family: A Conversation with Tasha Hubbard.On January 26 at 7pm, Tasha Hubbard, the director of Birth of a Family, will speak about her award-winning documentary about a 60s Scoop family coming together for the first time during a holiday in Banff.
We recommend that you view the film in advance. It can be viewed for free on the National Film Board website.
For more information and to register, go to CALL Speaker Events.
New Interest Group: The Munk Debates/Dialogues: Rationality
Fridays beginning January 28 10:00-11:30am, on Zoom
Subsequent dates to be determined by the group.
The Munk Debates/dialogues are a project of the Aurea Foundation, a Canadian charity established by Peter Munk (1927-2018) and Melanie Munk. The mission is to help the world rediscover the art of civil and substantive public debate.
For 2022 there will be six Munk dialogues, held January through April on the topic of Rationality Participants will view each Dialogue prior to attending a group session, prepared to engage in further discussion. For more information and to register, go to the The Munk Dialogues 2022: Rationality page.
Looking for a New Interest Group for 2022?
Check out the Written Word groups!
- Book Clubs that read a bit of everything have spaces – So Many Books, So Little Time and Variety Book Club.
- Interested in mystery books? We Love A Good Mystery has spots.
- Indigenous Literature members read a wide variety of Indigenous authors.
- Interested in learning more about poetry or you are writing poetry yourself? Both of CALL's Poetry groups are welcoming new members...ModernPoetry: Discussion Group and CALL-ing All Poets.
Look for more information and how to register on the linked pages.
Coming in February
Science and Environment
The New Trails Act
Tuesday, February 1, 7:30pm on Zoom
Speaker: Jason Unger
From user conflicts to environmental impacts, management of trails on public land in Alberta has been a long-standing challenge in the province. The recently passed Trails Act provides the Minister with a variety of powers to delegate authority over public trails. Our speaker, Jason Unger, will provide a review of the recently passed Trails Act and how trails management and trails legislation could be reformed to create accountability in siting, construction and management of trails. The new act has been decried by environmental groups and legal commentators as damaging to the environment and risks allowing private control of public land.
Jason Unger is the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Environmental Law Centre (ELC), an Alberta based charity focused on legal education and environmental and natural resources law reform. Jason’s practice has focused on issues of water law, legal tools for conservation on private lands, environmental assessment law, species at risk and pollution prevention.
For more details and to register go to the Science and Environment page.
Readers Theatre invites you to Un‑Valentine’s Day
Friday, February 11, 10:30am by Zoom.
"The course of true love never did run smooth…”
– Lysander (William Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, Scene I)
Seldom is any romantic relationship as straightforward as the fairy tale ending – “and they lived happily ever after”. CALL’s Readers Theatre explores the twists and turns as love is sought, found, lost, and, possibly, rediscovered. Join us on Zoom for this (mostly) comedic adventure into the human heart.
Registration information coming soon on the the Readers Theatre page.
NOTE: The Readers Theatre Interest Group is accepting new members. For details and to contact the facilitator go to the Readers Theatre page.
CALL Café Online
Emily Carr: 150 Years
Wednesday, February 23, 7:00pm on Zoom
Do you miss visiting art galleries and museums? On February 23& at 7pm, CALL Café Online will bring the art to you. To mark 150 years since the birth of Emily Carr, Ryan Green, President of Masters Gallery, will discuss the life, art, and lasting legacy of this extraordinary Canadian artist.
You must be a CALL member to register for Emily Carr: 150 Years, but the registration process allows you to bring 1 to 4 guests. To register and for more information, go to CALL Café Online.
Your CALL Newsletter
The CALL Newsletter is our way to communicate what is going on in our community. It's a way to highlight events of interest, ‘peek behind the curtain of CALL’ and to give some general information about CALL groups and members.
You are invited to send your ideas and suggestions for future issues to newsletter@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. We reserve the right to edit submissions and to determine when submissions will be published.
CALL Newsletter dates for posting:
- January 28
- February 11, 25
- March 11, 25
- April 14, 24 – NOTE: April 14 is a Thursday
- May 13, 27
- June 10, 24
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.