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Your passport to the world. No luggage required.
All Programs Below are Free for Members
Registration Begins on January 5
The Splendour of France
Paris, Versailles and the Loire Chateâux
Delve into the rich artistic and architectural heritage of Paris, Versailles, and the Loire River Valley. We will highlight the royal splendour of Louis XIV’s Versailles and explore the evolving styles of the French Renaissance through fairytale châteaux such as Chambord and Chenonçeau. Each session places these stunning sites in their historical and cultural contexts, offering a richly illustrated look at some of Europe's most captivating monuments.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE:
Part I: Four Mondays, January 19 to February 9 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Part II: Four Mondays, March 2 to 23 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Susan Moffatt holds degrees from The University of Winnipeg and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. An art historian with extensive teaching experience, she has lectured on a wide range of topics from Impressionism to Canadian Art. Her expertise extends to heritage buildings, and she has a long-standing association with Winnipeg's Dalnavert Museum, where she has been a member of the Board since its inception.
Swinging Voices
The Men who Mastered Scat Singing
Discover the playful energy and inventiveness of scat singing in this two-week exploration of the genre’s male pioneers. From classic legends to contemporary stars, this course celebrates the voices and personalities that brought rhythm, improvisation, and sheer joy to vocal jazz. Participants will enjoy listening, learning about the artists’ stories, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the skill and creativity that makes scat singing so thrilling. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz enthusiast or new to the genre, this course offers a lively and inspiring dive into one of jazz’s most exciting vocal traditions.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Two Wednesdays, January 21 and 28 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Adèle M. Wilding is a professional jazz vocalist, composer, and educator with a career spanning the UK and Western Canada. She was the inaugural winner of the 2005 BWA Nina Simone Award in London and has performed at venues and festivals including the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. Her projects range from contemporary jazz to Caribbean-inspired fusion, and she has collaborated with some of Canada’s finest jazz, blues, soul, and gospel artists.
Mysteries of Old India
Tales from a Forgotten World
Step into an India filled with intrigue, splendour, and moments of quiet wonder — a land where empires rose and fell, caravans crossed vast deserts, and scholars shaped ideas that travelled the world. In this spirited introduction to India before 1765, we set aside the usual lists of rulers and dates to uncover the stories that pulse beneath the surface of history.
You’ll follow the trail of travellers braving monsoon-drenched forests, wander through bustling port cities glittering with jewels and spices, and encounter rulers, poets, monks, and merchants whose lives read like chapters from an old-fashioned adventure tale. Each session offers a glimpse into a civilisation alive with colour, curiosity, and unexpected turns.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Six Thursdays, January 22 to February 26 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Alan Freeland is a traveller, historian, and storyteller, bringing the past vividly to life. He has traced the Silk Roads from China to the mountains of Georgia and draws on hands-on research in museums such as the V&A and the British Museum to enrich his talks.
A former IT professional, he turned his retirement to history and art, inspiring audiences at Farnham U3A with topics from Medieval History to the Silk Roads. A guide at the Watts Gallery, and a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars, Alan combines scholarly rigour with a keen sense of adventure.
In Hardy’s Garden
Nature, Nostalgia and the Cottage Landscape
Step into the world of Thomas Hardy through the gardens that shaped his life and work. In this engaging talk, Phil Broomfield — the “Garden Detective” — explores Hardy’s birthplace in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, and his home at Max Gate, revealing how the natural landscapes and carefully cultivated gardens inspired the author’s timeless novels.
Discover the story behind Hardy’s writing desk looking out onto a flower garden, the trees and shrubs he planted at Max Gate for privacy and beauty, and the Neolithic circle beneath the property that hints at his fascination with archaeology. Through a rich mix of archival and contemporary photographs, Broomfield illustrates the evolution of Hardy’s gardens, the plants he prized, and the influences of cottage garden design over the past two centuries.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Tuesday, February 3 from 11:00 to 12:00 PM
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Phil Broomfield has always had a passion for horticulture, but his career started back in 2010 when he set up his own gardening business – The Garden Doctor.
Studying garden history has been an interest for a great many years, having visited countless National Trust and Historic Houses. He really likes to get a real feel for the place, its origins and how over the centuries gardens have evolved to suit changing fashions.
This passion has led him to create a series of Garden History lectures to offer clubs and associations across Dorset and surrounding counties, even further afield! Some may say he is a garden hybrid between Sherlock Holmes and Gertrude Jekyll!
Gods, Heroes and Monsters
An Introduction to Greek Mythology
Step into a world of thunderous gods, daring heroes, and fearsome monsters in this four-week exploration of Greek mythology. From the cunning of Odysseus to the might of Zeus and the mysteries of the underworld, each session brings the myths to life, revealing their stories, lessons, and enduring influence. Perfect for anyone enchanted by legendary adventures, this course blends storytelling, history, and myth to offer an unforgettable journey through the extraordinary tales that shaped ancient Greece.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Four Wednesdays from March 4 to 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Dr. Heather Barkman was born and raised in Manitoba. After receiving her BA and MA from the University of Manitoba, she moved to Ottawa to get her PhD from the University of Ottawa with a focus on women in early Christianity. She then moved back home to Winnipeg and teaches in the Classics and Religious Studies departments at the University of Manitoba.
On the Lam
Great (and Not So Great) Escapes from Prison
Lorna Poplak’s latest true-crime book, On the Lam: Great (and Not So Great) Escapes from Prison, hit the shelves in October 2025, with fascinating stories of the age-old tug-of-war between prisons struggling to keep inmates inside and inmates desperate to get out. Along with probing the origins, structure, and shortcomings of a variety of historic and contemporary correctional institutions, On the Lam brings into sharp focus the attempts — sometimes successful, occasionally deadly — of masterminds, tricksters, scoundrels, and innocents to claw their way to freedom.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Tuesday March 10 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Lorna Poplak is a Toronto-based writer, editor, and researcher drawn to the dark side of history. With a background in law, literature, information technology, and technical communications, Lorna has written scientific and historical articles, travel pieces, short fiction, and a radio play. She is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Mesdames of Mayhem. Lorna’s first two true crime books were Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada and The Don: The Story of Toronto’s Infamous Jail. The Don was shortlisted for both the Crime Writers of Canada Excellence Award and the Heritage Toronto Book Award. For more information about Lorna and her work, visit www.lornapoplak.com.