EXPLORE
Your passport to the world. No luggage required.
All Programs Below are Free for Members
Be sure to check back as more will be added throughout the season.
Before Rome, Before Greece—The Giants of the East
Ever wonder where the first cities rose, or where the very first books were written? Join us for a fascinating journey through the "Cradles of Civilization." This course isn't just a history lesson; it’s a detective story spanning thousands of years.
From the sophisticated urban planning of Mohenjo-Daro to the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon, we will explore the art, architecture, and beliefs that shaped the world we live in today. Rediscover the roots of our own traditions through the lens of the oldest known cultures on Earth.
What we will explore:
The Indus Mystery: The advanced world of the Harappans.
Mesopotamian Powerhouses: The rise of Sumer, Babylon, and the Persian Empire.
The Island Wonders: Stepping into the myths of Crete, Santorini, and Mycenae.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Six Thursdays: April 9 to May 14 from 10:00 - 11:00 am
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: After studying Fine Arts, Maria Chester decided to go deeper and studied Art History becoming a Professor in Pre-Columbian Civilizations. From her first passion, that was Cave Art and Rock Art she developed an interest in Archaeology, and this has served as a frame for her ongoing research. She is multilingual and enjoys travelling. She taught in several South American universities as well as private institutions. Maria has served as the National Subject Adviser on American Archaeology to The Third Age Trust where she became its Chairperson. In 2015, she became a founding member of the IC-International Committee to The Third Age Trust, in the United Kingdom. In May 2016 she was elected Secretary General of AIUTA- International Association of Universities of the Third Age. She also tutors regular courses on Art History for BEA-Berwick Educational Association.
Piano Works of The Schumanns
Most know Robert Schumann as a titan of the Romantic era, but behind the scenes was Clara—a composer of fierce intellect and one of the most influential pianists in history. After falling in love with their repertoire during her own studies, your instructor invites you to rediscover these two masters. In this course, we’ll move beyond the history books to explore the technical brilliance and raw emotion of their piano compositions. Come hear how their voices intertwined, clashed, and ultimately harmonized to change music forever.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Two Wednesdays: April 15 & 22 from 10:00 - 11:30 am
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Adèle M. Wilding is an award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, and educator with a career spanning over 20 years across the UK and Canada. The inaugural winner of London’s 2005 BWA Nina Simone Award, Adèle has performed at major events including the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. Known for her "Caribbean & Blue" project, she seamlessly fuses contemporary jazz with Caribbean rhythms. As a dedicated educator, she has contributed to the UK’s A Common Approach curriculum and continues to lead workshops and masterclasses, sharing her expertise in vocal improvisation and spirituals with the next generation of musicians.
Classical Music of Venice
Stories, Sounds and Splendor of a Floating City
Glide into the shimmering world of Venice — a city where music, art, and architecture rise together from the water in breathtaking harmony.
Along winding canals stand elegant palazzos. Towering over the main square, St. Mark’s Basilica, with its magnificent acoustics, inspired composer Giovanni Gabrieli to create glorious brass and choral masterpieces that still resonate today. Nearby, Antonio Vivaldi — the “Red Priest” — devoted his career to composing sparkling concertos for the young musicians of the Ospedale della Pietà.
Venice’s radiant beauty also inspired painters such as Canaletto and Guardi, who captured its luminous skies and shimmering waters, and masters like Titian and Tintoretto, whose magnificent works continue to fill Venetian churches with color and light. Opera, too, flourished in the city’s legendary theater, La Fenice, where audiences have gathered for centuries to experience musical drama at its finest.
Join us for an engaging journey through the composers, performances, and unforgettable moments that made Venice one of the world’s most dazzling cultural capitals — and discover how this floating city gave birth to some of the most beautiful music ever written.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Two Tuesdays: April 28 & May 5 from 10:00 - 11:00 am
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Andrea Ratuski is best known as a music producer and host at CBC in Winnipeg, most notably as host and producer of Northern Lights. An award-winning radio documentary maker, she hosted many national and local radio music programs and wrote for the CBC websites Manitoba SCENE and CBC Music, the national music website. She teaches music appreciation classes at Creative Retirement, Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, and others, and writes for a variety of publications. Andrea also enjoys hosting musical events, such as Winnipeg Philharmonic concerts and the Agassiz Chamber Music Festival.
Finding Flowers
Creating a New Manitoba Flora
Since 1957, the official "guidebook" to Manitoba’s wildflowers and forests has stayed exactly the same—but the nature around us hasn't. In the 66 years since our last botanical census, nearly 300 "new" species have appeared or been discovered across our province, from rare, hidden blooms to hardy newcomers.
Join Curator Diana Bizecki Robson as she reveals the detective work behind creating a brand-new Manitoba Flora. Part field explorer and part museum sleuth, Diana will share stories of:
The Rare & The Hidden: Searching the wild for plants that haven't been documented in decades.
Museum Secrets: Re-examining ancient pressed specimens to correct the records of the past.
The Changing Landscape: How our province's plants are reacting to human development and a shifting climate.
Come and see the "missing" flowers of Manitoba and learn how this new two-volume guide will protect our natural heritage for the next generation.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Monday, May 25 from 10:00 - 11:00 am
LOCATION: This is an online event
PRESENTER: Dr. Diana Bizecki Robson, Curator of Botany, Manitoba Museum, has been a key member of the Manitoba Museum team since 2003. With a Ph.D. in Soil Science and a Master’s in Plant Ecology from the University of Saskatchewan, her career has been dedicated to the study of rare plants and the tiny heroes that support them—wild pollinators like bees and flower flies.
An expert in the delicate balance of our prairie ecosystems, Diana’s research spans from the restoration of contaminated soils to the conservation of wildflower habitats. Today, she is channeling her decades of expertise into a monumental new publication: the Manitoba Flora. When she isn't documenting the province's vascular plants, you can find her in the field collecting fungi, lichens, and mosses to ensure even the smallest members of our ecosystem are recognized and protected.
Hidden Wonders
The Enchanting World of Follies and Grottoes
Why would someone build a tower to nowhere or a cave lined with shimmering seashells? Join British garden enthusiast Phil Broomfield for an exploration into the delightful eccentricities of the UK landscape. From the secret corners of his home county in Dorset to grand estates further afield, Phil uncovers the origins of these "architectural playgrounds." Discover the stories behind the whimsical towers, mock ruins, and subterranean escapes that have intrigued garden travelers for centuries.
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FEE: Free for Members
SCHEDULE: Thursday: May 28 from 11:00 am - 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!