About Our Lectures and Workshops
Our engaging lecture and workshop series offer meaningful learning opportunities without required readings, assignments, or tests. Participants can attend with friends or family members, and enjoy interacting with experts and other lifelong learners through both in-person and online formats (see for yourself why participants love our fully supported online events).
Stay Connected
Sign up for our email list and follow our Facebook page to receive notifications about our program offerings and other free events at Carleton University. We hope to see you soon!
About Our Late Spring 2023 Programming
From May to June, we are offering eight engaging series hosted by some of your favourite LLeaP lecturers, and one new lecturer!
Below are the details for our Late Spring 2023 session.
Late Spring Lecture and Workshop Series:
ONLINE LECTURE SERIES:
Behind the Headlines: Current News and World Events
IN-PERSON LECTURE SERIES:
Neurocognitive Aging: How Cognitive Abilities Change Over the Lifespan
Seasonal Sociology: How we mark, celebrate, enjoy, and dread the seasons
Baroque Music: More Than Meets the Ear
IN-PERSON WORKSHOP SERIES:
Writing the Stories of My Life: Remembering Through Music
Writing the Stories of My Life: Remembering Through Work
IN-PERSON GALLERY SERIES:
(AM) Love, Landscapes, and Other Themes in Art at the National Gallery
(PM) Love, Landscapes, and Other Themes in Art at the National Gallery
ONLINE LECTURE SERIES
Behind the Headlines: Current News and World Events
Lecturer: Dr. Elliot Tepper
Series description: In this World Affairs lecture series, we will discuss current events making the news, affecting our lives and our world. Hot topics of the week will be explored in-depth, providing context and background for stories in the headlines. We will also be exploring some topics that did not make the headlines, but should have. The content will be determined weekly by emerging issues of importance to Canadians. Come for lively discussions of the news that matters, led by a veteran Carleton University political scientist and media commentator. Perspective and analysis will be provided by the lecturer, followed by a discussion with participants. Come see why this series is an engaging and enlightening favourite for so many.
- Days: Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7
- Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern Time
- Format: Online
- Location: Zoom (This lecture series is offered via Zoom, which can be used on computers and mobile devices. We recommend you use a computer/laptop with high-speed internet. A camera and microphone will enable you to participate more fully, but they are not required. See our Support Page for details.)
- Lecture Series Outline: Each lecture will cover up-to-the-hour information on current news and world events, so an outline is not available.
- Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 150 participants
- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: Dr. Tepper is a veteran professor of comparative politics and international relations at Carleton University. He regularly provides media commentary at home and abroad on a wide range of topics, providing context and deep background to the news stories of the day.
Dr. Tepper’s career in academia and public policy provides the basis for thoughtful analysis on current events, and his lifetime of teaching on-campus and through the public media provides the basis for an engaging, interactive classroom experience. An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Tepper provides analysis and policy advice to national and international organizations.
Neurocognitive Aging: How Cognitive Abilities Change Over the Lifespan
Lecturer: Dr. John Anderson
Series description: Join the Director of Carleton’s new Cognition and Neuroscience of Aging Lab, Dr. John Anderson, to explore the cognitive neuroscience of aging. In this lecture series, you will learn about the factors influencing cognitive aging, such as genetics, lifestyle, education, and health conditions. You will also explore the effects of cognitive aging on memory, attention, language, decision-making, and social cognition.
We will highlight the daily challenges and opportunities that older adults face and how they can maintain or enhance their cognitive functioning. The series will be interactive and engaging, with examples from research and practice. You will have the chance to participate in discussions and activities that will help you apply your knowledge to real-world situations. No prior background in psychology or neuroscience is required.
- Days: Thursdays, May 4, 18, 25, June 1, 8, 15
- Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: Carleton University Minto CASE
- Lecture Series Outline
- Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 45 participants
Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: Dr. John Anderson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science and cross-appointed to the Department of Psychology at Carleton University and a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Cognition and Wellness. Dr. Anderson is the Principal Investigator of the Cognition and Neuroscience of Aging Lab, as well as an Affiliate Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Dr. Anderson has a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Toronto. He completed post-doctoral training in research on bilingualism and cognitive reserve at York University and advanced neuroimaging and the links between depression and dementia in older adults at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Seasonal Sociology: How we mark, celebrate, enjoy, and dread the seasons
Lecturer: Dr. Tonya Davidson
Series description: Do you get a sense of cozy wistfulness in fall when the leaves are crunchy and the opportunities to buy pumpkin-spice everything have suddenly popped up? And, just months later, in January, find yourself bombarded with media and news messaging around weight-loss new year’s resolutions that seem at odds with the thick stews and bulky sweaters the season demands?
In this lecture series, you will explore how such rituals related to the natural world are highly social phenomena. Throughout this series you will be introduced to contemporary Canadian sociology as well as multiple sociological interpretations of a variety of seasonal and social phenomena. Each week you will learn how sociologists unpack meanings ascribed to different types of weather, rather than seeing seasons as taken-for-granted facts of nature.
Join Dr. Tonya Davidson to explore sociological analyses of social seasonal experiences, from summer weddings to winter funerals, and from Mother’s Day celebrations in spring to Thanksgiving dinner in fall. Together you will reflect on seasonal change in Ottawa, and analyze how seasonal experiences both bring society together and further entrench existing forms of social inequality.
- Days: Thursdays, May 4, 18, 25, June 1, 8, 15
- Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (CDCC)
- Parking: Parking is not included in the series fee
- Lecture Series Outline
- Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 30 participants
- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography:Tonya Davidson is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University. Her research interests have focused on questions of memory, national belonging, the built environment, and Ottawa. She most recently published Seasonal Sociology (co-edited with Ondine Park), which won an American Association of Publishers award for “best textbook in the social sciences” in 2021.
Baroque Music: More Than Meets the Ear
Lecturer: Olivier Henchiri
Series description: Develop your knowledge and appreciation of Baroque music in this series by the founder of the Ottawa Baroque Consort, Olivier Henchiri. Through guided listening, we will explore concepts such as the doctrine of affections, emotional attributes of musical keys, counterpoint, imitative writing, ornamentation, and word painting.
One lecture will be dedicated to uncovering the abundant and vivid word painting in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Historical performance practice will also be discussed and demonstrated in class using a period instrument. This series will give you the tools not only to recognize music from this era instantly, but also to see it—and hear it—in a completely new light.
- Days: Fridays, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9
- Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: Carleton University Minto CASE
- Parking: Parking is not included in the series fee. A parking discount link and code will be emailed within two weeks of the series start date
- Lecture Series Outline
- Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 45 participants
- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: A strong advocate for early music in Ottawa for over fifteen years, Olivier Henchiri founded and co-directs the Ottawa Baroque Consort, an orchestra on period instruments. He is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music in Gatineau and studied historical performance at the Tafelmusik Baroque Institute.
Olivier loves exploring the richness of music through its historical context, and immersing audiences in an experience that combines music with storytelling and visual arts. He has played cello in a number of orchestras, chamber ensembles, and festivals, and he frequently offers masterclasses, workshops, and music appreciation lectures on Baroque music.
IN-PERSON WORKSHOP SERIES
Writing the Stories of My Life: Remembering Through Music
Lecturer: Dr. Anna Rumin
Series description: We all have a story to tell, though knowing where to begin can become so overwhelming that we may put off writing the story at all. This is an invitation to re-collect, record and share the stories from your life through the lens of “music”.
What are the stories behind your favourite bands and the performances you attended? Did you sing or play a musical instrument? How did music play a role in your family when you were a child? What music completely transforms your mood? What was the first song you slow-danced to? What music do you associate with love, those you love and loss? This workshop will equip you with a safe space in which to begin writing these stories, as well as weekly prompts to encourage you to continue writing on your own between classes.
- Days: Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 1, 8
- Time: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: Carleton University Nicol Building
- Parking: Parking is not included in the series fee. A parking discount link and code will be emailed within two weeks of the series start date
- Lecture Series Outline: Provided to registered participants only
- Fee: $195.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 12 participants
- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: Dr. Anna Rumin is a native Montrealer whose identity has been shaped by the political landscape of her home province, her Russian roots, a passion for lifelong learning that has been woven both formally in academia and informally through travel, voracious reading and writing, and a love for the stories hidden in our natural world.
Her interest in narrative inquiry stems from her belief that not only do we all have a story to tell but that our stories help us to better understand who we were, who we are and who we are becoming. She has now designed nine memoir-based writing workshops that invite participants to think of themselves as the narrators of their lives, as seen and written through a particular lens. Anna is committed to supporting those with whom she works by providing them with opportunities to set and meet their goals. In her spare time, Anna writes short fiction and has been the recipient of numerous awards.
Writing the Stories of My Life: Remembering Through Work
Lecturer: Dr. Anna Rumin
Series description: Whether we call ourselves writers or not, writing gives clarity to our lived experiences. Re-collect, record and share the stories from your life through the lens of work. What were the chores you did as a child? Were you expected to work as a teen? How did work play a role in your young adult life? What kind of work did your parents do? How is your adult life defined by work? Who were the most and least inspiring people in your working life? How might writing about what we did as we define as “work” give us a glimpse into who we were and who we have become? This workshop will equip you with a safe space in which to begin writing these stories, as well as weekly prompts to encourage you to continue writing on your own between classes.
- Days: Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 1, 8
- Time: 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: Carleton University Nicol Building
- Parking: Parking is not included in the series fee. A parking discount link and code will be emailed within two weeks of the series start date
- Lecture Series Outline: Provided to registered participants only
- Fee: $195.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 12 participants
- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: Dr. Anna Rumin is a native Montrealer whose identity has been shaped by the political landscape of her home province, her Russian roots, a passion for lifelong learning that has been woven both formally in academia and informally through travel, voracious reading and writing, and a love for the stories hidden in our natural world.
Her interest in narrative inquiry stems from her belief that not only do we all have a story to tell but that our stories help us to better understand who we were, who we are and who we are becoming. She has now designed nine memoir-based writing workshops that invite participants to think of themselves as the narrators of their lives, as seen and written through a particular lens. Anna is committed to supporting those with whom she works by providing them with opportunities to set and meet their goals. In her spare time, Anna writes short fiction and has been the recipient of numerous awards.
IN-PERSON GALLERY SERIES
(AM) Love, Landscapes, and Other Themes in Art at the National Gallery
Lecturer: Maria Martin
Series description: This small-group series led by LLeaP lecturer Maria Martin will help you to develop your knowledge, appreciation and comfort level when viewing and discussing art. Each week, we’ll gather at the National Gallery of Canada to explore a new theme with a light-hearted approach: Spring and Summer, pre-Confederation Art, 17th to 20th century French Landscape Art, Architecture in Art, Love Stories, and Contemporary Art.
Lectures and discussions will take place in front of selected works in the Gallery’s collection. The lectures are geared toward people who wish to develop their knowledge and comfort level when viewing and discussing art. Participants should come away from the lectures with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, many interesting pieces of Canada’s national art collection.
Note: This series ran in 2019 and 2020 as “Selected Themes in Viewing Art at the National Gallery.”
- Days: Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7
- Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: National Gallery of Canada
- Parking: Parking is not included in the lecture fee (see the National Gallery of Canada website for more details)
- Lecture Series Outline
- Fee: $182.00 (plus HST)
Enrolment Capacity: 20 participants- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: Maria Martin has studied and worked in the Arts for many years. She holds a Master’s Degree in the History of Art from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Carleton University. Maria has recently retired as a Manager with the federal government. She previously worked at the Canada Council for the Arts as an Art Consultant at the Council’s Art Bank, and as an Education Officer and Guide at the National Gallery of Canada.
(PM) Love, Landscapes, and Other Themes in Art at the National Gallery
Lecturer: Maria Martin
Series description: This small-group series led by LLeaP lecturer Maria Martin will help you to develop your knowledge, appreciation and comfort level when viewing and discussing art. Each week, we’ll gather at the National Gallery of Canada to explore a new theme with a light-hearted approach: Spring and Summer, pre-Confederation Art, 17th to 20th century French Landscape Art, Architecture in Art, Love Stories, and Contemporary Art.
Lectures and discussions will take place in front of selected works in the Gallery’s collection. The lectures are geared toward people who wish to develop their knowledge and comfort level when viewing and discussing art. Participants should come away from the lectures with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, many interesting pieces of Canada’s national art collection.
Note: This series ran in 2019 and 2020 as “Selected Themes in Viewing Art at the National Gallery.”
- Days: Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7
- Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern Time
- Format: In-person
- Location: National Gallery of Canada
- Parking: Parking is not included in the lecture fee (see the National Gallery of Canada website for more details)
- Lecture Series Outline
- Fee: $182.00 (plus HST)
- Enrolment Capacity: 20 participants
- Registration: Closed
Lecturer biography: Maria Martin has studied and worked in the Arts for many years. She holds a Master’s Degree in the History of Art from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Carleton University. Maria has recently retired as a Manager with the federal government. She previously worked at the Canada Council for the Arts as an Art Consultant at the Council’s Art Bank, and as an Education Officer and Guide at the National Gallery of Canada.