Friday Update, April 4, 2025

Attention Please: Donations request, Programs, Drop-ins, Call for Nominations
Programs Update: Mon Travel Talk, Tues Lecture, Hearing Education, Wed Discussion, Fri Flicks, Creative Painting, Growing Food in a Small Space

Social Activities: Chinese Tea Ceremony, Tours, A Blooming Good Time, Theater Outing
Miscellanea: Private events, Friday Update info

Click link buttons below for more information or to register.

Attention 

Donations Request before May 2
Plant & Garden Sale

The Gardeners group needs garden art objects, tools, decorative pots, larger utility pots, houseplants, and divided plants (as long as they are not from beetle restricted zone). 

Donations of non-living items can be left on the second floor balcony (off the Art Room) anytime. Please look after your plant donations until closer to the date. The group can provide basic plastic pots with soil, if needed. 

Email Jan Belzile to let her know about your donation at gardeners@bhsociety.ca

Use Them or Lose Them! 

The following programs will disappear unless more people register for them:

Strong and Steady (Tuesday)

Tuesdays, starting Apr 15. 12:45 to 1:45pm. Begg Room. 11 sessions $148.50. Registration required.

Gentle Yoga

Thursdays, starting Apr 17. 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Begg Room . 10 sessions $135. Registration required. 

Vocal Inventions - An Improv Choir

Thursdays, starting Apr 17. 10:30 am to noon. Activity Room/ Tent. 8 sessions $80. Registration required. 

Drop-ins 

Drop-ins for exercise programs are exclusive for active members. To drop-in for a session, members must arrive 15 minutes early to ask the instructor whether there is a spot available to join the class. When the instructor confirms, the member may go to the office to pay for the drop-in before the class. 

Please note that when the program is full, there is no guarantee of available spots if all registrants attend the session. In case of payment without room capacity, the member may ask for a refund in the office.

Call for Nominations 

Past President Conrad Guelke is the Chair of the Nominations Committee. The Committee, whose members are Eda Ertan (ED), BevAnn Lister Dean, Stan Hohnholz, and Lorin Ritchie, is tasked with presenting a slate of prospective Board of Directors for 2025 -2026 at the upcoming AGM to be held on May 28. Nomination forms, which are available in the office (third floor), need to be signed by the nominee, a proposer and a secondary. All must be BHS members. The nominations period is open until 10 business days before the AGM, May 14. The Nominations Committee members will be available to describe the nomination procedure and ensure prospective directors understand what is expected.

The committee is responsible for presenting a slate of potential directors with the necessary skills to provide Brock House Society with a viable and effective Board. Members with questions should address them to Conrad Guelke (cguelke@telus.net).

Brock House Society relies on the commitment of its volunteers to flourish. Serving as a Board member is an example of such commitment.

Programs Update

Language Classes
LG202 Beginner/Intermediate Italian

Thursdays, starting Apr 10. 1:45 to 3:15pm. Games Room. 8 sessions $192. Registration required.

LG203 Advanced Italian (on Zoom)

Wednesdays, starting Apr 16. 4:00 to 5:30 pm. 8 sessions $210. Registration required. Free. 

LG201 French Intermediate (on Zoom)

Mondays, starting Apr 28. 11:45 am to 1:15pm. 8 sessions $192. Registration required. 

Monday Travel Talk, Apr 7
Voyages in the Western Pacific: Solomon Islands, Papua, New Guinea, and Micronesia (on-site presentation by Rob Allan)

The travel presentation starts at 10:30, but members are welcome to join the Zoom meeting at 10 am to get to meet the group. 

Mondays, 10:30 to noon. Halpern Room and on Zoom. Free. Drop-in. To be part of the Travel Talk mailing list, please contact monday.travel@bhsociety.ca.

Tuesday Lecture, Apr 8
Nunavut: 25 years on 

Dr. Frank Tester, Professor Emeritus, Social Work, UBC and Adjunct Professor, Indigenous Studies, University of Manitoba. Available both in person and via zoom.

Tuesdays, 10:30 to 11:30 am. Live in the Halpern room and on Zoom. Free. To receive a weekly email reminder and zoom link, contact Allan atlecture.discussions@bhsociety.ca

Tuesdays, 10:30 to 11:30 am. Halpern Room and on Zoom. Free. Drop-in. 

Strategies for Hearing Loss Management, Apr 8

Learn practical strategies to improve daily interactions when you have a hearing loss. Dr. Katarina Vavrovicova will talk about the latest hearing aid technologies and communication techniques to improve social well-being. 

Tuesday, April 8. 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Halpern Room and on Zoom. Free. Registration required. 

Wednesday Discussion, Apr 9
How to counteract Donald’s tariffs?

Wednesdays, 10:30 am to noon. Halpern Room. Free. Drop-in.

Friday Flicks, Apr 11
Mr. Turner (2014)

The last part of the life of J.M.W. Turner, the great, eccentric English Romantic painter. Profoundly affected by his father's death, loved by the housekeeper he takes for granted, he forms a close relationship with a seaside landlady. (150 mins, Europe)

Friday, 1:00 pm. Halpern Room. Drop-in. 

Creative Painting with Acrylics
Two smaller groups for personalized instruction!

Unleash your creativity with Georgia Youngs, renowned artist and educator. Open to all skill levels. Beginners will receive an introduction to drawing and colour theory, while advanced students can refine their techniques. Dare to paint!

Mondays or Tuesdays, 12:30 to 3pm. Begins Mon April 7, or Tues 8 (Tues). Art Room. 10 sessions. $200 Members, $300 Non-members. Registration required. Only 3 spots available!

  

Growing Food in a Small Space 
Want to grow fruits & vegetables?

You don’t need a big garden. Laura Doheny from Hunter’s Garden Centre will show you how to cultivate a mini-garden on your balcony or windowsill.

Thurs, April 10. 10 to 11am. Halpern Room. 1 session. Free. Registration required. 

Social Activities

Chinese Tea Ceremony

Tuesday, April 22. 1 to 2:30 pm, 2:30 to 4pm. Halpern Room. $5 Members. Registration required.

Harrison Tulip Festival 
Date changed to May 1

Ten million tulips await you! Plus a delicious lunch at River’s Edge Restaurant and a visit to Golden Ears Cheesecrafters.

Thursday, May 1. 8 am to 5:20 pm. $119.  Members and members’ guests. Registration required. 12 people needed to run the tour; 6 spots available.

A Blooming Good Time

The Social Events Committee invites you to a Spring High Tea, with a flower-arranging celebration by Jessica of Quince Fine Floral, and music by Ken Burns. Sponsored by the George Halpern Trust Fund. Registration required.

But wait, there’s more! On the same day, the BH Gardeners will also be holding a plant sale from 11:30am to 4pm. The plant sale is public. No registration required. 

Friday, May 2. 1 to 3:00 pm. Whittaker Conservatory. $30 Members, $35 Members’ guests. Registration required. 

Raise the Stage Theater Outing
Calling all theater lovers!

“Casey and Diana” is a powerful drama inspired by Princess Diana’s historic visit to Toronto’s Casey House in 1991.The play, directed by Andrew Kushnir, is tremendously moving and at times humorous & poignant in its portrayal of men at the heart of the HIV/AIDS Crisis with their devoted care-givers and a ‘People’s Princess', who shows warmth and compassion when others would not.

     

Those interested should call Arts Club Box Office at 604 687 1644(10am to 6pm) or email: tickets.artsclub.com. Early reservation is advisable as matinee performances are popular. Left or Right Orchestra is preferable price-wise, however this is an individual choice.

Please email Jennifer at jennia2000@yahoo.com to confirm your seat reservation and your interest in restaurant dining after the show.

Saturday, May 10. 2:00 pm matinee. Stanley Alliance Industrial Stage on Granville Street. Registration required. 

Miscellanea

Book your next private event at Brock House

Planning a wedding? A retirement party? A birthday bash? A celebration of life? A family gathering? There’s no better venue than Brock House, who in partnership with Peake Catering+Events will ensure your event will be sensational. What’s more, you’ll be supporting BHS!

For inquiries and quotes, email elise@peakeofcatering.com. 

The Friday Update 

The Friday Update is a weekly email newsletter providing you with practical information about upcoming BHS activities. Your submissions are welcome. Send them to communications@bhsociety.ca by noon of the Wednesday preceding publication. Content may be edited for brevity and clarity. Previous issues of the Friday Update can be found in our Friday Update Archive.