The far right is rising at an alarming rate – and it’s different from anything we’ve seen before. Billionaire tech barons, ethno-nationalists and religious fundamentalists are uniting in their belief that some kind of cleansing cataclysm is coming. They welcome a future of catastrophe, and they are convinced they’ll be among the saved on the other side. But Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor reveal that these new survivalists are far from impregnable.

Guardian journalist and host of Today in Focus podcast Nosheen Iqbal hosts them to discuss their blistering and hopeful new book, End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World. They’ll take us deep into this man-made Armageddon complex and show us how to resist it. This is your chance to hear firsthand from Klein and Taylor on how we can help each other counter this apocalyptic narrative with a far better story. A story not of end times, but of better times; not of separation and supremacy, but of belonging and interdependence. This is a livestream event from London, England. Feel free to bring your lunch.

After 25 years of providing space for aspiring artists of this region to study at home alongside peers from across the country and around the world, Thompson Rivers University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program officially closed this spring. In recognition, this exhibition celebrates a few of the many artists who graduated from this program and continue to create and exhibit work on regional, national, and international stages.

Since 1943, BC Livestock has been selling cattle throughout the province.  Kamloops is one of 4 auction sites run by rancher-owned and operated businesses.  All sales are open to the public, but KALS has an opportunity to meet the auctioneer and have a brief tour before the auction begins.

Charlotte Higgins never imagined she would report on a war. But in the autumn of 2022, seven months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she travelled there to cover a literary festival. The experience would change her life. In her searing new book, Ukranian Lessons: Art in a Time of War, she details her first-hand account of art, survival and resistance in wartime Ukraine. Drawing on two decades of cultural journalism at the Guardian, three years of reporting trips to Ukraine and her training as a classicist, she explores what artists are prepared to risk – and why culture remains worth fighting for. She will be in conversation with three exceptional Ukrainian writers, Olia Hercules, Sasha Dovzhyk and Olesya Khromeychuk. Chaired by Shaun Walker, the Guardian’s central and eastern European correspondent, join them as they reflect on how art and literature give voice to the often unspoken truths, horrors and emotions of the conflict. This is a livestream event from London, England. Please feel free to bring your lunch.

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is universally famous for his Abstract Expressionist drip paintings. Two women in his life made major contributions to his success in the Ab Ex movement. The CIA also played a role in promoting Abstract Expressionism. This presentation will consider his well known Ab Ex works as well as the paintings of Janet Sobel and Lee Krasner, and other women of the Ab Ex movement.

Listen and learn about bees and the variety of honeys in a presentation at this farm near Vernon. Watch the bees make honeycombs. Experience working bees up close. Taste the honey and mead, honey wine made from the farm’s honey. Take a bee friendly garden walk suitable for all abilities. Davidson Orchard is nearby and has a cafe and two gazebos for a lunch break. Bring $3 if you would like to participate in the mead tasting. Meet at Shopper’s Drug Mart in the Valleyview Parking lot to carpool. Departure at 10:00 am.

This class is an opportunity to tour, learn the history of, and enjoy a visit with the cats who have been rescued by Sammy’s Forgotten Felines, and who are awaiting adoption through the Catloops Cat Cafe.

The course will cover the ins and outs of printing on a 3D printer, where to find already made 3D files to print and will also introduce how to design your own 3D item to print.  You will be able to print a small item on the day.

The History of the Middle East helps explain its current situation, and provides a foundation for thinking about how it may develop. This lecture proposes a framework for understanding today’s region, by reviewing geography, colonial legacies, oil wealth, individual leaders, and other factors. It identifies recurring regional patterns that play out differently across individual countries. Particular topics include a discussion of why democracy has proven weaker in the Middle East than the state of economic development might suggest, and how the various waves of colonisers have contributed to the mosaic of ethnicities and religions. The lecture concludes by using Iran as an illustrative case study of how all these factors can play out at a local level, inviting discussion of how the same factors have played out differently in other countries. This is a Zoom class, so you may enjoy it along with others in the Sports Council classroom, or in the comfort of your home if you wish.

Every day we are faced with persuasive messages. Some of these persuasive messages are misinformation (or disinformation). If we understand why misinformation can persuade us, then we can inoculate ourselves. We will examine the psychological processes involved in the persuasion of misinformation and propaganda. We will also discuss and practice strategies that can be applied to evaluate the validity of information and to prevent the psychological effects of misinformation.

Let’s explore the underlying reasons for the deep pleasure we find in reading fiction. On one level, the answer is as simple as what Roman poet Horace required of poetry —that it “instruct and delight.”  We learn and we enjoy.  But there are other levels.  What reading fiction does for us and to us is really quite remarkable.  Look at this two-hour session as skimming the surface of answering the title questions and setting the stage for a lengthier exploration in a winter, 2027 multi-session course.

Birken is a Canadian Theravada Buddhist Monastery surrounded by forests and marsh lands.  It operates almost entirely off-grid with a high level of energy efficiency.  For over 2,500 years the monastic tradition has survived solely on the generous support of the lay community.  In return, monastics provide dhamma teachings and spiritual mentorship.  Guests are welcome to stay for a retreat or to experience the monastery on a day visit.  Guests are also welcome to contribute and partake in the lunchtime meal at 11:30 am.  The Abbot, Ajahn Sona is deeply interested in ecological movements at both practical and philosophical levels.  While Ajahn Sona gives Dhamma talks on his YouTube channel and he guides the green design technologies and principles of the monastery

On our visit, our guide will be a monastic who will familarize us with the outside space as well as the beautiful meditation sala.  We will also partake in the lunchtime meal at 11:30 am. There will be time for participants to spend time in quiet reflection both in the meditation sala or the walking paths.

The public is invited to join us at the KALS Annual General Meeting. The meeting will take place at the Kamloops Sports Council, where business side of KALS and reelect a new board of governance.

B.C.’s DRIPA refers to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, passed unanimously in 2019. It establishes the UN Declaration (UNDRIP) as the framework for provincial reconciliation. Recent court rulings sparked a political crisis, leading Premier David Eby to delay planned legislative adjustments to the fall.   Murray will discuss the Act, ammendments, and what it all means for British Columbians.

The Mount Paul Community Food Centre (CFC) is a welcoming space for all.  It was created in 2017.  With dignified and low barrier programs, the centre creates services aimed at combatting food security concerns in the community.  The centre offers between 20 and 25 programs, depending on the time of year, focused on food access, food skills, advocacy and gardening. These include community meals, food skills classes, a community pantry, food hamper delivery, a market of affordable produce, garden programs and supports for seniors.  It serves between 750 and 1000 people every week.  The centre operates under the non-profit Interior Community Services and is part of a national network under Right to Food.  The Mount Paul Community Food Centre was recognized as the Not For Profit of the Year in 2021 by the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce.

This course will examine the Disney musicals that have been adapted for the stage. Particular attention will be paid to the work of legendary Disney composers, the Sherman brothers and Alan Menken. Musicals will include Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Frozen, Hercules and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Learn how the City of Kamloops is advancing climate action through its Community Climate Action Plan.  This presentation provides an overview of the Plan’s eight strategic focus areas, or “Big Moves,” and explores how they support a low-carbon, resilient community by reducing emissions, improving transportation and buildings, and minimizing waste.

Burkas2Bullets, winner of 5 International Film Festivals, features 4 Combat Camera tours in Afghanistan showcasing the NATO mission with a focus on Afghan Police & Military women. It shows Afghanistan during a time of hope, progress, and a semblance of Democracy. Tragically that ended in 2021 with Afghanistan retaken by the Taliban and Gender Apartheid imposed on all girls and women.

This class will offer a practical introduction to Ayurvedic Health care, including body types, breathing exercises, diet and physical exercise to reduce the severity of disease processes.

It will continue by looking  specifically at, and teaching, diet and exercises especially related to dementia and related  illnesses.

This session will explore how attention works, how it helps guide our everyday behaviour, and some of its limitations. We’ll look at what changes in the brain, including examples such as spatial neglect, can teach us about how attention is organized and supported by the brain. We’ll then introduce working memory, how it works together with attention, and how both of these important cognitive processes may change as we age.

The Ancient Greek philosopher, Empedocles, described the physical world and its phenomena in terms of four ‘roots’; Fire, Air, Earth and Water.  Phenomena and materials were supposed to arise by combinations and interactions of these when mediated by love and conflict. Later philosophers described these things as ‘elements’ and the term is still applied in a literary sense. Much later, ‘elements’ became applied scientifically to the more than 118 types of atoms that form all regular matter.  The detailed study of the formation and properties of the elements makes up the modern subjects of nuclear physics and chemistry. The four traditional elements make up the world about us so we will look at some of the properties, compositions and characteristics of each from the viewpoint of modern science.  The talks will contain aspects of Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Meteorology, General Science and History.

“Men don’t talk face to face; they talk shoulder to shoulder”.  A Men’s Shed is a space where men gather to work on projects that are fun and help out their community.  Together they create, tinker, drink coffee and tell stories. Men’s Sheds are for men of all ages. Men’s Shed is worldwide, community-based and non-commercial. A Shed fosters a supportive community where men can engage in meaningful projects, learn new skills and combat isolation.  This might be a perfect fit for you or someone you know.

What happens when you step away for 5 months to explore the lands of your heritage?  Derived from Sanskrit, Vashudha’s name translates to “earth”, a guiding principle that shapes her worldview.  Having grown up across a unique cultural tapestry spanning Nepal, India, Malaysia and Canada, she shares a unique perspective  on how environment and community shape who we are. This sessions explores the power of travel, tracing your history and  discovering  how exploring your background can help you find yourself, re-shape your identity, and consolidate your understanding of home

Philosophers from Plato to Nietzsche have discussed why music and poetry are so important.  Plato notoriously dismissed poets as liars, who try to pass off a copy of a copy as the real thing. Aristotle, though, argues that poetry can convey universal truths about the human condition that are “more true” than particular historical facts. The 20th Century poet and philosopher Benjamin Fondane goes a step further and argues that poetry doesn’t try to imitate or represent reality; rather, poetic experience allows us to participate in a fundamental reality that is otherwise blocked off from our everyday existence. As for music Plato argues that musical sounds and harmonies penetrate deep into the human soul, affecting our emotions, moods and even our moral character. Nietzsche builds on this idea: for him, music allows us to transcend the everyday world to reach a realm of pure, ceaseless becoming where we become one with the universe. There are clearly some parallels between what Fondane says about poetry and what Nietzsche says about music.  We will explore these different views, read some poetry and listen to various kinds of music.

Mennonites are often among the first to assist victims of fires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.  Who are these helpful folks?  They’re a Christian denomination started in Europe in 1525.  Mennonite teachings include loving one’s neighbour, working for peace, not bearing arms, separation of church and state, and baptism of believing adults.  Over the years, Mennonites have developed a way of life characterized by practicality, thrift, simplicity, and trust in God. To learn more about the Mennonites’ journey through time, their beliefs, food, and folkways, join Elma (Martens) Schemenauer’s Whirlwind Tour of Mennonite History.

This presentation will be an update of a KALS lecture on online sources for reliable health information first offered in March 2025.  The rapidly evolving health information and research environments, including the impact of generative AI, will be discussed. Please be advised that the previous class is not a pre-requisite for this class.

The first class will be a lecture on One Health to set the stage.  This will be followed by three more lectures on research activities at Cheeptham Cave Microbiology Lab such as, drug discovery from cave bacteria, biocement potential from cave bacteria, microbial degradation of microplastics, probiotics for bats against White Nose Syndrome, bacteriophages as alternative treatment for multi-drug-resistant infections, innovative microbiology education (art and science). A short (15 minute) reading assignment will be offered before some classes to facilitate discussions.

This introductory session will be a jazz based class focusing on motor skills, balance and function.  There will first be a discussion of the brain/body value of  movement, then a chance to move!  The class will be guided by Heather Clark, a professional dance and fitness instructor, who has a passion for mobility and longevity.

Join an expedition ship sailing from Iceland to Greenland in the Wake of the Vikings.  Then enjoy a land add-on with a trip to the Greenland icecap followed by a visit to Ilulissat, the iceberg capital.  Learn about the history and culture of this land so much in the news recently.

Although there is debate on whether Palestine and Palestinians have ever existed, the area and its indigenous people have a long history.  Much of the news that comes to us through the Western press has an Israel/Israeli slant.  Very often the history of Palestine is ignored or downplayed. In this class, Dawne will offer a perspective of the Palestinians through the centuries up to and including the present conflict.

Ten years after moving from Iran to Canada, urban planning graduate and non-profit leader Sadie looks back on a decade of growth, personal pivots, and community building. In this presentation, she maps her journey from the historic streets of Tehran to Ontario, and eventually, to a life-changing six-day drive across Canada that brought her home to Kamloops. Drawing a beautiful parallel between the patient, environment-dependent process of sourdough baking and the immigrant experience, Sadie offers a warm and grounded look at how we adapt, cultivate resilience, and ultimately find our unique rise in the places we call home.

The exploration of the Northwest Passage has been a fascinating chapter in Canadian history.  For centuries, explorers tried to find this fabled route to the riches of the Orient.  The most famous expedition was led by Sir John Franklin in 1845, and the disappearance of his two ships and 129 men launched 30 years of searches and discoveries.  Today, the Northwest Passage is traversed by cruise ships, and visitors are awed by the spectacular vistas of the Arctic.  Roland Neave has travelled extensively through the Northwest Passage, and was one of the first tourists to have the thrill of visiting the sight of the sunken shipwreck Erebus, the Franklin ship that was discovered in 1914.  This group also visited the Franklin graves on Beechey Island  and explored by Zodiac the tidewater face of Crocker Glacier.  Roland will share his knowledge of the history of the Northwest Passage highlighted by slides of his Arctic expedition.

This lecture explores the origins, the evolution and the role of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in shaping Canada’s national identity.  From its beginning as the Northwest Mounted Police to its transformation into today’s RCMP, the force’s contributions to frontier justice, law enforcement and Canada’s international reputation is legendary. Join Paulette for a nuanced look at Canada’s most iconic police force in the world. A zoom class, you may enjoy in the comfort of your home or in the company of others at KSC.

All That You Change Changes You shines a light on Laura St. Pierre’s decade-long approach to two survivalist tropes: scavenging and sowing. Borrowing its title from the opening lines of Parable of the Sower (1993), a novel by the late author, Octavia E. Butler, this exhibition brings together works made over the last decade, all produced against the backdrop of a built environment transformed by absence and adaptation.

Providing physical activity guidance for the population is very general at 150 minutes of exercise per week, but we know that the benefits differ from one person to the next. Individualized exercise recommendations that maximize the benefits are being developed in the hopes of improving health and well-being. The goal of the research is to create daily, tailormade exercise regimes based on physiology and physical fitness.

Space is no longer the domain of governments alone.  Private companies are launching satellites, planning lunar bases, and racing toward Mars. Yet the legal frameworks governing all of this were written before Neil Armstrong took his first step. This session explores what the law says about who owns the solar system, who’s responsible when things go wrong, and what the coming decades might mean for how humanity — and the law — adapt to life beyond Earth. No legal background required.

Adapting to extreme environments is something humans are very good at and in this session we will examine how we can adapt to different stresses such as altitude, temperature and zero gravity environments. Depending on the task, some performances are actually enhanced under what would be, at first thought, unfavourable conditions whilst others can be managed with ingenious strategies.

North and South America were the last continents to be settled by Homo sapiens, but the story of when, where and how remains a fascinating mystery. Were the first migrants Ice Age hunters crossing the Bering land bridge, or seafarers following a Pacific coastal route? Drawing on evidence from archaeology, genetics and climate science, this talk takes us through the competing theories and the recent discoveries now reshaping them.  This a Zoom presentation.  You can view it in the company of others in the Sports Centre classroom, or, should you wish, in your own home.

The Russian attack on Ukraine and the Ukrainians’ amazing resistance is one of the most extraordinary and important events of our lifetime. Its impact will resonate throughout the world for decades to come.  From April through May of 2026, I travelled to Odesa Ukraine to show my support for the Ukrainian people and to visit the many friends that I have in the city.  During that  time I volunteered for a local NGO which works with the rehabilitation of Ukrainian veterans of the war.  The first half of this presentation describes wartime life in the city and how my friends are adapting to a very difficult situation.  The second part talks about the Veterans Hub where I volunteered and their work with Ukrainian veterans, helping them rehabilitate to civilian life.  It was an extraordinary experience.  This is a Zoom class; you can enjoy it with other KALS members at the Sports Council classroom, or in the comfort of your own home.

The conflict in Iran, which has spread across the Middle East and disrupted the global economy, has far-reaching consequences. Regardless of where this rapidly evolving situation stands on the date of this session, a number of conclusions can already be drawn and discussed regarding its geopolitical effects, many of which are likely to be felt for years to come. With this in mind, the presentation will endeavour to examine the economic, political, and military challenges arising from the war. This course will be hosted on Zoom, you can join from the comfort of your own home or join at the Kamloops Sports Council.