All webinars are free to join. If you cannot attend at the
scheduled time, please register anyway in order to receive the recording
afterwards. You can watch at a time that's convenient for you!
Scroll to the bottom to see past webinars and their recordings.
Scroll to the bottom to see past webinars and their recordings.
MORE WEBINARS COMING THIS FALL!
Please stay tuned to our e-newsletter for updates.
Renaissance Florence | COMPLETED: Watch the Recording HERE (50 min., followed by Q&A)
Visit
the Gallerie degli Uffizi, the Accademia, and beautiful churches such
as the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella and Santo Spirito. See the artwork of
Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Michelangelo and others.
Click here for supplemental information about artists discussed in this webinar.
Visit
the Museo del Prado to see the paintings of Velázquez, Ribera and Goya.
Manet was so amazed by seeing Velázquez at the Prado that he wrote to
his friend Fantin-Latour back in Paris, “After this none of us are
painters.”
Click here for supplemental information for this webinar.
Click here for supplemental information for this webinar.
A Naturalist in Mauritius: A Research Travelogue with Patrick Moldowan | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE. (47 min, followed by Q&A)
Join Quest Nature Tours leader Patrick Moldowan for a research travelogue that will whisk you off to the western Indian Ocean. As a recipient of Wildlife Preservation Canada's New Noah scholarship, Patrick was involved with intensive species conservation efforts in Mauritius. The island is home to a diversity of unique flora and fauna and present-day conservation efforts are ensuring that they do not go the way of the Dodo. Patrick will share insights on the natural history of Mauritius and his experiences in conservation.
Join Quest Nature Tours leader Patrick Moldowan for a research travelogue that will whisk you off to the western Indian Ocean. As a recipient of Wildlife Preservation Canada's New Noah scholarship, Patrick was involved with intensive species conservation efforts in Mauritius. The island is home to a diversity of unique flora and fauna and present-day conservation efforts are ensuring that they do not go the way of the Dodo. Patrick will share insights on the natural history of Mauritius and his experiences in conservation.
Visit
the Rijksmuseum to see the paintings of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and
Leyster. Visit Rembrandt’s house to see where the great painter lived
and worked.
Friday, April 17 at 2:00PM ET: Belle Époque in Paris | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE (64 mins, followed by Q&A)
Visit
the Musée du Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay to see masterpieces of
neoclassicism, romanticism, realism and impressionism. Along with works
by famous figures such as David, Ingres, Corot, Monet and Degas, you
will also see by pictures by some underappreciated artists: the
African-American French Académie-trained painter Henry Osawa Tanner,
Cecilia Beaux and Mary Cassatt.
Walk Through the Heart of Montmartre in 1910 Paris with Lisa Pasold | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE
(We started having sound connection issues at 23:30, so please at that time fast forward to 37:30 where we got the connection back and Lisa backtracked to make sure everything was covered)
Writer,
traveller, and long-time parisienne Lisa Pasold led an hour-long
virtual walk through the heart of Montmartre in 1910 Paris. (We started having sound connection issues at 23:30, so please at that time fast forward to 37:30 where we got the connection back and Lisa backtracked to make sure everything was covered)
Armchair Art Tours Part II: Monet & the Impressionists | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE. (68 min. + Q&A)
Join Wendy O'Brien, philosopher of art and garden enthusiast, as she armchair travels to some of the world's greatest gardens. Combining history and design with painting and literature, she will help us to experience these magnificent spaces from within our own homes. This webinar focuses on Monet and the Impressionists in Giverny, France.
Join Wendy O'Brien, philosopher of art and garden enthusiast, as she armchair travels to some of the world's greatest gardens. Combining history and design with painting and literature, she will help us to experience these magnificent spaces from within our own homes. This webinar focuses on Monet and the Impressionists in Giverny, France.
Learning to identify birds by their vocalizations can add an entirely new dimension to our enjoyment of the outdoors. However, it can be a daunting undertaking. In this webinar, Justin will share some approaches to confidently identifying birds by their calls.
This webinar is part of Point Pelee National Park's Festival of Birds Lunch & Learn series.
Armchair Art Tours Part II: Sissinghurst & Monk’s House: The British Garden Painting Tradition | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE. (63 min. + Q&A)
Join Wendy O'Brien, philosopher of art and garden enthusiast, as she armchair travels to some of the world's greatest gardens. Combining history and design with painting and literature, she will help us to experience these magnificent spaces from within our own homes. This webinar focuses on Sissinghurst and Monk’s House: The British Garden Painting Tradition.
Join Wendy O'Brien, philosopher of art and garden enthusiast, as she armchair travels to some of the world's greatest gardens. Combining history and design with painting and literature, she will help us to experience these magnificent spaces from within our own homes. This webinar focuses on Sissinghurst and Monk’s House: The British Garden Painting Tradition.
Chris Earley, tour leader and author of the popular book Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America, shows you how to identify hawks with greater confidence. As always, Chris makes this an educational and fun experience!
Chris Earley is also the University of Guelph Arboretum's interpretive biologist.
This webinar is part of Point Pelee National Park's Festival of Birds Lunch & Learn series.
An Introduction to Gull Identification with Justin Peter | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE. (82 min. + Q&A)
Many birders are intimidated by gulls. Many of them look similar to each other, and they exhibit a plethora of plumages. Justin will discuss some ways you can become more comfortable with this group of birds, and even come to enjoy them!
This webinar is part of Point Pelee National Park's Festival of Birds Lunch & Learn series.
Armchair Art Tours Part II: Re-envisioning the Garden with Frida Kahlo | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE. (71 min. + Q&A)
Join
Wendy O'Brien, philosopher of art and garden enthusiast, as she
armchair travels to some of the world's greatest gardens. Combining
history and design with painting and literature, she will help us to
experience these magnificent spaces from within our own homes. This
webinar focuses on re-envisioning the garden with Frida Kahlo.
Feed the Birds with Chris Earley | COMPLETED: Watch the recording HERE. (39 min. + Q&A)
As many of us are staying home more than normal, watching backyard birds is a great way to connect with nature and reduce stress. Join Chris Earley, University of Guelph Arboretum's interpretive biologist, as he talks about the contents of his latest book titled Feed the Birds. He will cover favourite foods, the best feeders, how to keep birds safe and what cool bird behaviours to watch for in your backyard or local park. Ask your burning bird questions at the end of the talk!
This webinar is part of Point Pelee National Park's Festival of Birds Lunch & Learn series.
The War That Used Up Words? Literature in Paris 1910 - 1940 with Melanie Blake | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (74 min. + Q&A)
For decades, works like Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast and Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris have captivated our imaginations with their images of lively cafés that were a refuge from cold and poverty, of smoky clubs full of gin and jazz, and above all, of a city surging with creative energy. And rightly so—the decade after World War I was a time of radical experimentation in novels, poetry, painting, dance and more.
But it is only part of the story. Writers on both sides of the Atlantic were tapping into forces that had long made Paris a beacon of innovation. In this talk we’ll explore the wider panoply of prewar and postwar writers and discuss how the war intensified the already-present quest for new modes of expression. Immerse yourself in this unforgettable period and leave with a deeper understanding of literature in Paris, 1910–1940.
For decades, works like Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast and Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris have captivated our imaginations with their images of lively cafés that were a refuge from cold and poverty, of smoky clubs full of gin and jazz, and above all, of a city surging with creative energy. And rightly so—the decade after World War I was a time of radical experimentation in novels, poetry, painting, dance and more.
But it is only part of the story. Writers on both sides of the Atlantic were tapping into forces that had long made Paris a beacon of innovation. In this talk we’ll explore the wider panoply of prewar and postwar writers and discuss how the war intensified the already-present quest for new modes of expression. Immerse yourself in this unforgettable period and leave with a deeper understanding of literature in Paris, 1910–1940.
The War That Used Up Words? Part II: Poetry of WWI with Melanie Blake | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (52. min + Q&A)
What
happens when large numbers of literate soldiers are “plunged into
inhumane conditions?” World War I was the first global conflict in which
(with some exceptions) most soldiers could read and write. The result
was an outpouring of novels, memoirs, plays, songs, and above all,
poetry.
Most of these poems are long forgotten, and just a few famous works linger in our memories. These few poems have had an enormous influence on how three generations have thought about World War I. Poems like Rupert Brooke’s “1914”, John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields”, and perhaps above all Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est”.
But they tell only a small part of the story. Journey with me to the Western front for a fresh look at the poetry of WWI.
Most of these poems are long forgotten, and just a few famous works linger in our memories. These few poems have had an enormous influence on how three generations have thought about World War I. Poems like Rupert Brooke’s “1914”, John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields”, and perhaps above all Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est”.
But they tell only a small part of the story. Journey with me to the Western front for a fresh look at the poetry of WWI.
The Galapagos Islands are often touted as a laboratory of evolution by natural selection, and some of the archipelago’s birds are among the best-studied organisms anywhere. In this talk illustrated with photographs from his three expeditions there, Justin will help us get acquainted with some of these birds. We’ll see what they look like, how they behave and interact with fellow Galapagos denizens, as well as gain insights into their origins through some of the latest research findings stemming from decades of research.
They Came to Paris, Walk II: "Strolling Into the Modern" with Lisa Pasold | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (43 min.)
Writer, traveller, and long-time parisienne Lisa Pasold
leads an hour-long virtual walk into the astonishing early 20th-century
changes in the Paris village of Passy, on the Right Bank overlooking
the Seine. This is the era of “They Came to Paris”—the early years of
the 20th century when many American artists, writers and musicians chose
to live and work in Paris because of the artistic and social climate.
The western part of the city was newly chic, with radical new
architecture and experimental theatre.
Gastromania: The California Food Revolution with John Harris | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (69 min + Q&A)
L.
John Harris (pictured above) is a food writer, filmmaker, cartoonist,
and cookbook publisher. Otherwise known as “Mr. Garlic” and the “Balzac
of Berkeley,” he played a founding role in the California food
revolution that started in Berkeley in the late ’60s and spread
nationally, changing forever the way we shop, cook, and eat.
Join John for this webinar as he shares his passion for over-roasted coffee, stinky garlic, goaty cheese, baby vegetables, fatty pastrami and other delicacies through his witty drawings and drole memories of restaurant and café life. John will be hosting a Classical Pursuits trip to Paris in 2021.
Join John for this webinar as he shares his passion for over-roasted coffee, stinky garlic, goaty cheese, baby vegetables, fatty pastrami and other delicacies through his witty drawings and drole memories of restaurant and café life. John will be hosting a Classical Pursuits trip to Paris in 2021.
Reimaging Cities & Community with Urban Designer Ken Greenberg | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (39 min. + Q&A)
The
benefits and advantages of living in cities is being challenged by
inequality, gentrification, exclusion, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
But, argues Canadian Ken Greenberg, urban designer, city building
advocate, and author, we have the tools to make our cities places people
love to call home – resilient, inclusive, robust, and liveable.
Learn how urban planning strategies can address the novel challenges posed by COVID-19 and how they have been used to create some of the world’s most liveable cities.
Learn how urban planning strategies can address the novel challenges posed by COVID-19 and how they have been used to create some of the world’s most liveable cities.
Armchair Art Tours Part III, The Nature Series with Wendy O'Brien:
Tom Thomson’s Algonquin Park | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (70 mins. + Q&A)
Join philosopher and nature lover, Wendy O’Brien as she goes on an armchair hike through Ontario’s beautiful Algonquin Park through the works of Tom Thomson. Explore the trees, the flowers and the skies of this remarkable national heritage site through the wood panel paintings that Thomson created en plein air and the canvases he created to capture all that he observed in the natural world.
Tom Thomson’s Algonquin Park | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (70 mins. + Q&A)
Join philosopher and nature lover, Wendy O’Brien as she goes on an armchair hike through Ontario’s beautiful Algonquin Park through the works of Tom Thomson. Explore the trees, the flowers and the skies of this remarkable national heritage site through the wood panel paintings that Thomson created en plein air and the canvases he created to capture all that he observed in the natural world.
Armchair Art Tours Part III, The Nature Series with Wendy O'Brien:
Georgia O'Keeffe's New Mexico | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (55 mins. + Q&A)
Join philosopher and nature lover Wendy O’Brien as she explores the New Mexico desert with Georgia O’Keeffe via her paintings and drawings. O’Keeffe found a unique kind of beauty in the landscape of the southwest, one that we’ll experience via her canvases and her writings as we go on an armchair nature walk in and around her beloved Ghost Ranch.
Join philosopher and nature lover Wendy O’Brien as she explores the New Mexico desert with Georgia O’Keeffe via her paintings and drawings. O’Keeffe found a unique kind of beauty in the landscape of the southwest, one that we’ll experience via her canvases and her writings as we go on an armchair nature walk in and around her beloved Ghost Ranch.
Debbie Olsen collaborated with a small group of nature writers (including our very own Chris Earley) to put together a new book called "150 Nature Hot Spots in Canada: The Best Parks, Conservation Areas and Wild Places." She has visited every province and territory in Canada on her quest! Join our webinar with Debbie to learn more about four special places you should add to the top of your Canada hotspot list:
- Alberta Rockies: Jasper to Banff and beyond
- Churchill, Manitoba: The Polar Bear migration in winter, the Beluga migration in summer and other highlights.
- Canadian Yukon: Aurora viewing, gold panning, historical sites, dog sledding, sour toe cocktails and more.
- Newfoundland: Change Islands, Fogo Island, Miawpukek Annual Powwow and other adventures.
The Unusual Life of Leopards in India with Payal Mehta | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (30 mins. + Q&A)
India is home to 4 of the world’s 5 big cats, one being the graceful yet ferocious Leopard. Leopards in India have long discarded the rulebook of a big cat’s way of life. Join our India-based naturalist, Payal Mehta, for a look at how leopards are such a successful and yet a threatened species in India. This webinar will be as much about this cat as it is about the country itself, as the story of one is incomplete without the other.
India is home to 4 of the world’s 5 big cats, one being the graceful yet ferocious Leopard. Leopards in India have long discarded the rulebook of a big cat’s way of life. Join our India-based naturalist, Payal Mehta, for a look at how leopards are such a successful and yet a threatened species in India. This webinar will be as much about this cat as it is about the country itself, as the story of one is incomplete without the other.
Armchair Art Tours Part III, The Nature Series with Wendy O'Brien:
Emily Carr's B.C. Coast | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (81 mins. + Q&A)
Join philosopher and nature lover Wendy O’Brien
on an armchair nature walk along British Columbia’s Northwest Coast
with Emily Carr. Explore the old growth rainforest in Uculet and Tofino,
and travel up the coast into Canada’s remarkable Haida Gwaii to
experience the silence, the solitude and the spirituality that Carr
discovered in this place and on her canvas.
"Bears I Have Known": Memories from 28 Years Studying Black Bears and Polar Bears with Dr. Martyn Obbard | COMPLETED: Watch it HERE. (75 min. + Q&A)
Join bear biologist Dr. Martyn Obbard as he shares compelling stories of some of the individual bears he came to know well over years of studying them and show how they revealed to him some fascinating aspects of their life.
