Report on April Speaker: Dr. Joanna Hesketh, “Artificial Intelligence today: What it is, what it isn’t and how it is changing our world”

“To Be? Or Not To Be?”A presentation on Artificial Intelligence by Dr. Joanna Hesketh Once upon a time, not long ago in what we now call the pre-digital era, new discoveries or current events fed conversations and rumours. Newspapers, local radio stations even townhall meetings informed what was quaintly called the ‘talk of the town’.…

Report on March Speaker: Rob Wager, “Engineered Foods”

On March 6, 2026, Rob Wager spoke to us about Genetically Modified Foods. Rob has been a Member of the Biology Department at VIU since 1995. His specialty has been in biochemistry and molecular biology. He is now an independent consultant involved with Genetically Modified Foods, with an emphasis on public education. Rob certainly gave us an…

Report on February Speakers: Lissa Alexander and Sarah Costen, “SOS: Strengthening Our Community Together”

Our two February 6 speakers were Lissa Alexander (below left), SOS Communications Manager, and Sarah Costen (below right), Volunteer Relations Coordinator. Our speakers in February brought us information on an important and historical non-profit in our community, that is, the SOS (Society of Organized Services). It was started in 1968 by three local women who…