Speaker - Ted Barris CM
November 9, 2023
Title: Battle of the Atlantic
Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory – by Ted Barris
In the 20th century’s greatest war, one battlefield held the key to victory or defeat – the North Atlantic. It took 2,074 days and nights to determine its outcome, but the Battle of the Atlantic proved the turning point of the Second World War.
The siege pitted German U-boats (attempting to destroy Allied transatlantic Merchant Navy convoys to the U.K.) against Royal Canadian Navy escorts and bomber-reconnaissance aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In 1939, Canada’s navy went to war with exactly 13 warships and about 3,500 sailors. During the desperate Atlantic crossings, the RCN grew to 400 fighting ships and over 100,000 men and women in uniform. By V-E Day in 1945, it had become the 4th largest navy in the world. The Battle of the Atlantic proved to be Canada’s longest continuous military engagement of the war.
Ted Barris has now published 20 non-fiction books, half of them wartime histories. His book The Great Escape: A Canadian Story won the 2014 Libris Award as Best Non-Fiction Book in Canada. His book Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid Against Nazi Germany received the 2019 NORAD Trophy from the RCAF Association. And his book Rush to Danger: Medics in the Line of Fire was listed for the 2020 Charles Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction in Canada. Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory is Ted’s 20th published non-fiction book. Meanwhile, as 2022 ended, Ted received news that he’d been appointed Member of the Order of Canada.
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Speaker - Betty Franklin - Registered Nurse, Mental Fitness and Wellbeing Expert, Author, Educator
September 14, 2023
Living With The “F Words" in Your Life
Betty works with organizations to enhance employee wellbeing, both mental and physical. Using researcn-based concepts, highlighted in her book, GUTS - Get Uncomfortable To Succeed, Betty developed a model for living a fulfilling life that embraces six key components. Along with presentations, her coaching program and workshops educate, encourage, and inspire participants to harness the power of these components to live well, no matter the circumstances.
Living life well is not easy ... its unpredictable; it comes with ups, with downs and with challenges. Learning, and knowing how to travel effectively and efficiently through life tests our skills, abilities, knowledge, and stamina. It dares us to open our minds to be better, work wiser, and persevere on both a personal and professional level. Living life well, and ending it well requires us to get uncomfortable.
In Living With the "F Words" in Your Life, Betty Franklin introduces audiences to an innovative, whole person, practical approach to life and wellbeing.
Incorporating her healthcare background and personal experiences, with science and research, she asks you to look at six key components of life. Bringing these components, called the "F Words" - Family, Fitness, Friends, Finance, Fun and Faith - together, Betty leads participants on a journey highlighting concepts and strategies to support their wellbeing, resilience, and mental fitness.
Peter Sloly, OOM, MBA, BA, CEO of Sloly Solutions
October 12, 2023
"Reflections and Projections for Policing and Public Safety"
Peter is the founder and CEO of Sloly Solutions, a consulting company providing strategic advice to
governments, private and public sector organizations. In addition to his consulting business, Peter is currently a "Visiting Fellow, Change Maker-in-Residence" at University of Toronto’s Massey College.
Peter has enjoyed three different careers as a professional athlete, a partner in a major professional services firm, and as a police officer who rose through the ranks over three decades to become Chief of Police.
He has participated in several international development missions including two tours of duty in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo. He has received United Nations and Canadian Medals for peacekeeping as well as being invested as an "Officer of the Order of Merit (Police Forces)" by the Governor
General of Canada.
Peter has spent his lifetime championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti racism. Peter’s professional mission is to help build smarter, safer cities and more just, inclusive societies. His personal motto is "Others before self, compassion for all".
Peter will provide his views on Policing and Public Safety, a matter of growing concern to all of us.
Peter will be hosted by Lloyd Posno.

December 14, 2023 - No Meeting