Upcoming Meetings

  • Monthly Meeting with Luigi Calabrese

    • May 28, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EDT)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Tech Trends, Innovations, Threats, and Dirty Little Secrets: Empowering Older Adults in the Digital Age

    Luigi Calabrese, President of Frontier Networks Inc., is a seasoned leader in the tech industry.

    With a focus on advocating for older adults, Luigi collaborates closely with law enforcement agencies in Canada and the USA, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the RCMP, and the Department of Homeland Security, to combat fraud and vendor abuse targeting seniors.

    As a sought-after speaker, Luigi is renowned for his ability to demystify technology and engage audiences with humour and relevant examples. Luigi is a passionate advocate for older adults, tirelessly working to promote pricing fairness and advocate for reforms to protect older adults from exploitation and abuse.

    In an era where technology is meant to simplify our lives but often complicates them, Luigi Calabrese discusses the latest trends in mobile devices, sensors, and wearables, focusing on enabling seniors to age comfortably at home.

    He also addresses the pressing issues of data privacy threats, hacking, and navigating the complexities of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) schemes to ensure seniors stay safe and empowered digitally.

    Get ready for a fun, adventured filled talk full of examples. You don't need to be technical (or tech savvy at all) to enjoy this discussion.

    PERSONAL VIGNETTE: Also in this meeting, Don Bark will be delivering his personal vignette.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Professor Stuart Phillips

    • June 25, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EDT)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Kinesiology and Aging

    Professor Stuart Phillips is a Distinguished University Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health.

    His research focuses on the interactions of nutrition and exercise for optimal muscle function and quality of life in aging populations.

    He is a full Professor in Kinesiology and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine at McMaster University. He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

    His research is focused on the impact of nutrition and exercise on human skeletal muscle protein turnover. He is also keenly interested in diet- and exercise-induced changes in body composition.

    His research is funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the National Science and Engineering Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the US NIH, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the USDA.

    He currently has more than 33,000 career citations and 400 original scientific research and review papers.

    PERSONAL VIGNETTE: Also in this meeting, Jim Ott will be delivering his personal vignette.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Mayor Jan Liggett & Doug Craig

    • July 30, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EDT)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Doug Craig, one of our club members and Regional Councillor will be interviewing Mayor Jan Liggett.

    Jan Liggett was elected to her first term on Cambridge City Council to represent Ward 4 in 2014, sitting on the Economic Development Advisory, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Core Areas Revitalization Advisory Committees as well as part of the Water Billing Appeals Committee and the Post Office Steering Committee.

    After 8 years as the Ward 4 Councillor, Jan Liggett was elected as Mayor for the 2022-2026 term.

    PERSONAL VIGNETTE: Also in this meeting, Myles MacInnis will be delivering his personal vignette.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Grant Linney

    • August 27, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EDT)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Climate Change

    Grant Linney was an outdoor educator at Upper Canada College and will speak to us about climate change.

    He is a trained and very experienced presenter with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. Since 2010, he has delivered more than 1,000 presentations to a wide variety of audiences. He has attended eight Al Gore trainings, seven of them as mentor for new trainees.

    He will also speak about the importance of science and the “greenhouse effect” which is created by (among other things) man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This leads to global warming and the many problems associated with it.

    Some countries, like Germany and Denmark, are reducing their reliance on fossil fuels by, for example, increasing wind power generation. China is leading the world in solar power.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Hailey Patry

    • September 24, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EDT)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Hailey Patry, will speak to us about: The Best is Yet to Come - Make the REST of your years, the BEST of your years.

    Hailey, known as "The World's Happiest Woman" and "The Woman of Resilience," is a True Happiness Coach dedicated to helping others create more joy, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life. After overcoming over 30 years of trauma, she has made it her mission to empower individuals, families, and organizations to thrive, no matter their challenges.

    An internationally recognized speaker and facilitator, Hailey has impacted over two million people across 136 countries. She is a Master Coach in happiness, resilience, love, and success, earning an Honorary Doctorate for her transformative work. As an award-winning author of six international bestsellers, her books, including HAPPY LOVE and Life Lessons – 52 Tips for Living Your Best Life, provide actionable insights for personal growth.

    Beyond her professional achievements, Hailey is a devoted wife and mother to three neuro-diverse sons. She deeply understands the struggles of balancing life’s demands and prioritizing well-being. When she’s not coaching, speaking, or writing, she enjoys time in nature with her family and practicing the self-care principles she teaches. Hailey’s mission is to help others make the rest of their years the best of their years.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Ted Barris

    • October 29, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EDT)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour

    Ted Barris will tell us about the gripping and heroic story of fighter pilots defending the skies over Britain from unprecedented Nazi attack.

    For 113 terrifying days in 1940, Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe, threw everything it had at Great Britain in hopes of early victory in World War II.

    The task of defending southern England from airborne attack fell to pilots in the Royal Air Force, supplemented in their darkest hour by more than 100 flyers from Canada.

    These Canadians, some from famous families, some straight off the farm, served in forty-seven different Battle of Britain squadrons.

    On Dec. 29, 2022, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 99 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including Ted Barris, C.M., “For advancing our understanding of Canadian military history as an acclaimed historical author, journalist and broadcaster.”

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Jeff Willmer

    • November 26, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EST)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Jeff Willmer will speak to us about A Better Tent City.

    A former Kitchener city planner, Jeff played a critical role in A Better Tent City's development. Recognizing the limitations of traditional shelters, he helped co-found the initiative alongside the late Ron Doyle. Jeff's expertise in urban planning and municipal governance was instrumental in securing land, navigating zoning and regulatory challenges, and advocating for A Better Tent City as a viable model to address homelessness.

    A Better Tent City (ABTC) in Kitchener, Ontario, is an innovative housing initiative aimed at providing a safe and stable community for individuals experiencing homelessness. Established in 2019, ABTC consists of small cabins that offer privacy and security while fostering a sense of belonging. It provides essential amenities such as washrooms, a communal kitchen, and social support services.

    As chair of ABTC’s inaugural board, Willmer continues to provide leadership and strategic direction. He works closely with local governments, social service agencies, and community partners to ensure the project's long-term sustainability. His advocacy has helped ABTC gain recognition as an alternative approach to housing solutions, emphasizing community-driven support over institutional responses. Under his leadership, ABTC remains a model for other municipalities exploring similar solutions to address homelessness with dignity, stability, and community care.

    Here's a podcast with Jeff discussing A Better Tent City.

    PERSONAL VIGNETTE: Also in this meeting, Dan Costello will be delivering his personal vignette.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Tom Woodcock

    • January 28, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EST)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    Local Conservation in Waterloo-Wellington

    The rare Charitable Research Reserve was founded in 2001 to protect 900 acres of natural habitat near the Village of Blair that was threatened by development.

    In the years following the charity developed its programs of Conservation, Research, and Education to serve the community and to confront threats to the natural systems that we depend on for food, water, and air.

    This presentation will discuss the early days of rare in the historic village of Blair, and how we have expanded our efforts with the goal of protecting habitat across the Region of Waterloo and Wellington County.

    We will briefly discuss the significance of some of the ecological services that protected lands provide, how they support human society and economy, and how everyone can do their part on their own properties to protect and enhance our environment.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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  • Monthly Meeting with Lisa Hood

    • February 25, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (EST)
    • Portuguese Club, 870 Townline Rd, Cambridge, ON

    The Y is so much more that a "gym and swim".

    For more than 150 years, the YMCAs of Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo, the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph, and the YMCA of Stratford-Perth have served our communities. In 2020, we officially unified and became the YMCA of Three Rivers, allowing us to continue showing up for our communities where and how they’ve needed us most.

    The Three Rivers name was inspired by the history and legacy that rivers played in each of our communities, including the Avon, Grand, and Speed Rivers. Much like the Y, rivers are places of connection. They bring people together. They unite. They foster growth and well-being. Across our communities, this is what the Y has worked to do. And, in unifying, it is our goal to continue doing this — to show up where and how our communities need us most, and work to meet current and emerging needs — well into the future.

    ​Like the rivers that inspired us, we’re never the same place twice. Each time you come to the Y, you’ll see familiar faces and meet new ones. You’ll engage in programming you know, and perhaps learn about something new. Through it all — the ebbs and flows of your life — in all three regions, like a river, it’s our goal for the Y will be a constant point of reference for you.

    LUNCH BUNCH: After the meeting, all members are invited to have lunch (at their own cost) at a local restaurant. A great way to get to know your fellow members.

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