Programs

Kamloops Adult Learners Society (KALS) is a community of actively engaged learners who are interested in exploring and understanding a broad range of topics, sharing ideas, and meeting others who have similar interests. Classes are usually two hours in length and are single-session or multi-session of two to ten weeks duration.

Membership is required to register. For more information about membership, click here.

How To Register for Courses

On-line by clicking the online registration button:

In person on McArthur Island at 1550 Island Parkway Dr. through-out the semester during office hours Monday-Friday 9am-4pm (Closed from 12pm-1pm). Credit, cash or cheque

Register by Phone by Calling 1-250-376-1525

*Single session courses are non-refundable. Multi session courses are refundable with a $10 cancellation fee.

New Ideas about Big Bang
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 50

Single Session

Multi Session

In this lecture, John Felvinci explores the Big Bang theory, which is supposed to have started our Universe. Of late, new theories and interpretations have emerged. Some have put the date back by many billions of years; others are delaying the birth by having inflation precede it. Many new measurements by the Webb telescope, and other new ideas about dark matter indicate a a need for revision.

Zoom class—you can enjoy it in the comfort of your home or in the company of others at KSC

Instructor: John Felvinci

John Felvinci

John Felvinci was born in Hungary and came to Canada after the 1956 revolution. He studied at McGill University and earned a doctorate degree in nuclear physics. In 1965, he left for the US to teach and conduct research at Columbia University in New York. During his research, he branched out to computers and later worked in industry, installing radiation monitors and security systems at nuclear power plants. In 1990, John returned to Montreal and worked in telecommunications. After he retired in 1994, he joined MCLL (McGill Community of Lifelong Learning), where he has been active in moderating study groups, giving lectures and helping with administration.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Friday February 13, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Community Wealth Building
Cost: $15
Min: 10
Max: 30

Single Session

Multi Session

Session 1 – What is Community Wealth Building?
Community wealth building is a people-centred approach to economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places ownership, control and benefits into the hands of local people and organizations. It emphasizes the importance of locally-rooted structures such as cooperatives, social enterprises, businesses, and creative financing structures such as community bonds. In this session, we’ll explore the pillars and guiding principles of community wealth building, and learn from successful examples from across Canada and abroad.
 
Session 2 – Models of Community Wealth Building
What would the Kamloops region look like if we took a people-centred approach to economic development, affordable housing, and community ownership? Through interactive discussion and workshop activities, we’ll explore examples of community wealth building in the Kamloops region and opportunities to further grow our community wealth building strategies

Instructor: Lindsay Harris and Miles Pruden

Lindsay Harris and Miles Pruden

Lindsay Harris is a community developer and researcher living in Kamloops, BC. She has a PhD from UBCO and a background in agriculture and food systems, affordable housing, community economic development, rural and small city resilience and grassroots community decision making. She is a co-owner of Tapestry Collective Co-op and the Executive Director of the Propolis Cooperative Housing Society, which aims to build affordable, sustainable housing in the Kamloops region. Miles Pruden is a construction project manager with a talent for designing and building high performance buildings at costs at or below conventional construction costs. Miles is the owner of Nexbuild Construction. Miles recently completed construction of a net-zero 4-plex on Schubert Drive, which is Kamloops’ best performing multi-family building for energy usage. He also built a childcare facility, which achieves net-zero energy and also significantly outperformed the average construction cost per childcare space in BC ($27,000 compared to $40,000).

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Tuesday February 17, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tuesday February 24, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Understanding, Protecting, and Appreciating our BC Bats
Cost: $10
Min: 12
Max: 40

Single Session

Multi Session

Bats in British Columbia are an essential, vulnerable, and underappreciated species.  Join Emily in an introduction to the world’s only flying mammal to discuss the benefits bats provide to our environment and the ways we can help them.  Over half of BC’s bat species are listed as endangered or of special concern. This talk will explore the threats they face, bust common myths, explain what to do if you encounter one, and highlight the work of the BC Community Bat Program.  Learn how you can help protect these fascinating creatures and gain a new appreciation for the bats living in our own backyard.

Instructor: Emily Rothbart

Emily Rothbart

Emily Rothbart is a student in the Natural Resource Science program at Thompson Rivers University. Her passion for wildlife and the natural world led her to the BC Community Bat Program where she has embraced her role as the Thompson Region Coordinator. Although still learning, Emily is eager to share her enthusiasm for these incredible animals and to help raise awareness about the importance of bats in our ecosystems.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Tuesday February 17, 2026 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Travels in Egypt
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 40

Single Session

Multi Session

On a recent trip to Egypt, I was met with a world both ancient and modern  — old and new mingled in a way that was unexpected. Egypt is a country and culture rich in art, history, ancient artifacts and architecture. Mine was an intense visit filled with surprises and amazing sights. This photo presentation will provide some historical background and share what I saw and experienced in the places I visited.

Instructor: Ernie Kroeger

Ernie Kroeger

Ernie Kroeger is a retired instructor from TRU. After a long career as an artist and educator, he has become an avid traveler. His interest in art history, literature and photography have inspired these travels. He was recently honoured with the designation Professor Emeritus.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Wednesday February 18, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Clouds: The Sky’s Weather Makers
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 50

Single Session

Multi Session

This talk by a retired meteorologist takes us to the fascinating world of clouds-what they are and why they matter. Starting with the physics of condensation, Rick explains how rising air cools to produce droplets of ice crystals, sometimes leading to rain. He then identifies the different cloud types, their structures and how they signal changes in weather. Reinforced by informative short videos, the presentation leaves us with a clear understanding of clouds and their role in weather. This is a zoom class, you may attend from the comfort of your own home or join in person at the Kamloops Sports Council.

Instructor: Rick Jones

Rick Jones

Rick Jones holds a Master of Science degree and an MBA from McGill University. Until his retirement, he worked as a meteorologist at Environment Canada for close to 35 years. He also managed the Nav Canada Aviation website. Passionate about learning, upon retirement, he began taking courses with McGill Community for Lifelong Learning and later became its vice-president and then president.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Friday February 20, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Asteroids
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 50

Single Session

Multi Session

In this lecture, John explains the origins of asteroids and their locations in the Solar System. He discusses the probability of asteroids hitting Earth, the effects of past asteroid hits on the history of life on Earth and the efforts underway to prevent future hits. Finally he describes the explorations of asteroids by space probes.

A zoom class- you can watch from home or at KSC

Instructor: John Felvinci

John Felvinci

John Felvinci was born in Hungary and came to Canada after the 1956 revolution. He studied at McGill University and earned a doctorate degree in nuclear physics. In 1965, he left for the US to teach and conduct research at Columbia University in New York. During his research, he branched out to computers and later worked in industry, installing radiation monitors and security systems at nuclear power plants. In 1990, John returned to Montreal and worked in telecommunications. After he retired in 1994, he joined MCLL (McGill Community of Lifelong Learning), where he has been active in moderating study groups, giving lectures and helping with administration.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Wednesday February 25, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Poetry, Myth and Metamorphosis
Cost: $50
Min: 8
Max: 20

Single Session

Multi Session

This course is an opportunity to encounter, perhaps for the first time, perhaps for the hundred and first, some of those ancient mythical narratives that are so deeply embedded in Western thought and art.  Although there are many different sources for the myths of Greek and Roman culture, we will explore a selection of them as seen through the unique imagination of the 1st Century Roman poet Ovid, whose extensive poetic collection he called Metamorphoses, and which has become the most widely known and most influential collection of such myths.  The late English poet, Ted Hughes, translated about a third of Ovid’s stories in a lively and graphic poetic style that captures much of Ovid’s own distinctive tone, and it his collection that we will use for our encounter or re-encounter with Greek and Roman myth.

 

Instructor: Rod Michell

Rod Michell

Rod has a Masters degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford University, and has had a lifelong interest in classical music. In 1970 Rod joined the newly opened Cariboo College as Chair of the English Department and taught for a further 38 years. Retiring in 2008, Rod joined KALS and has taught many multi-session courses on the classics of Western literature, including the Ancient Greek and Roman periods and the Middle Ages. The “Come to the Concert” series grew from Rod’s work writing programme notes for the Kamloops Symphony concerts.

Location: Parkview Activity Centre, 500 McDonald Ave.
Dates:
Monday March 2, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday March 9, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday March 16, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday March 23, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday March 30, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday April 13, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday April 20, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Additional Comments:
The course requires a text, approximately $20, available at first class. Course text: Ted Hughes.  Tales from Ovid.  New York:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997.
Exploring the Northwest Passage
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 40

Single Session

Multi Session

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. He was one of the first tourists to have the thrill of visiting the site of the sunken shipwreck Erebus, the Franklin ship that was discovered in 1914. This group also visited the Franklin graves at Beechey Island and explored by zodiac the tidewater face of Crocker Glacier. Roland will talk about some of the history of the Northwest Passage accompanied by slides of his Arctic expeditions.

Instructor: Roland Neave

Roland Neave

Roland and his wife, Anne, are passionate community advocates who aim to preserve the natural world through philanthropy and education. Together they received honorary degrees from TRU in 2022. Roland was a Cariboo College student from 1970 to 1972 then transferred to Simon Fraser University. During the summers, he organized bus tours to Wells Gray Park, a business which grew over fifty years into the largest outbound tour company in BC.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Tuesday March 3, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Daily Weather Reports: Then and Now
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 50

Single Session

Multi Session

This presentation explores the history of weather observation and forecasting, from ancient folklore and Aristotle’s Meteorologica of 340 BCE to today’s high-tech era of satellites, supercomputers and AI-driven models. Bringing in both Canadian and international examples the presenter, a retired meteorologist, highlights pivotal advances such as telegraph networks, meteorological stations and revolutionary digital modelling. This is a zoom class; attendees may watch from the comfort of their own home or attend in person at the Kamloops Sports Council.

Instructor: Rick Jones

Rick Jones

Rick Jones holds a Master of Science degree and an MBA from McGill University. Until his retirement, he worked as a meteorologist at Environment Canada for close to 35 years. He also managed the Nav Canada Aviation website. Passionate about learning, upon retirement, he began taking courses with McGill Community for Lifelong Learning and later became its vice-president and then president.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Thursday March 5, 2026 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Women in Canadian Theatre: Playwrighting and Beyond
Cost: $35
Min: 10
Max: 40

Single Session

Multi Session

In this class, we will focus on the role of women in the development of Canadian theatre. While we will centre our studies on playwrights, we will also look at a variety of aspects of female influence.  Expect to learn more about the history of Canadian theatre, as well as the contemporary scene. The play we will be studying will be available for purchase for under $15.

Instructor: Ginny Ratsoy

Ginny Ratsoy

Ginny Ratsoy, TRU Professor Emerita, has been teaching for KALS since 2007. She has presented and published widely on the subject of Canadian Theatre – in scholarly articles in books and journals and in programme notes for Western Canada Theatre.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Friday March 6, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Friday March 13, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Friday March 20, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Friday March 27, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tanzania
Cost: $10
Min: 10
Max: 40

Single Session

Multi Session

In this presentation, Bruce and his family travel to Arusha and northern Tanzania on a series of safari excursions to various wildlife and national parks, including the famous Ngorongoro Crater. They meet with local inhabitants and experience their widely varying lifestyles.

Instructor: Bruce Thomson

Bruce Thomson

Bruce is a retired instructor from TRU. He has an entrenched case of wanderlust and loves to travel both on and off the beaten path (but prefers off the beaten path). He has been fortunate in his to have life travelled to visit or to work in many countries in Asia, the Americas Europe and Africa. In the past few years, Bruce has shared his travel adventures with several KALS classes.

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Monday March 9, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hummingbird Drones: Transforming Wildfire and Emergency Response
Cost: $10.00
Min: 10
Max: 40

Single Session

Multi Session

This presentation outlines and highlights how Hummingbird Drones have used emerging technology to fight fires, save lives and revolutionize the drone industry in Canada and across North America.

Instructor: Nico Torchia

Nico Torchia

Nico Torchia is the Project Manager at Hummingbird Drones. Nico is a certified drone operator in both Canada and the United States, with over four years of experience heading hundreds of drone operations across Canada. His work spans from wildfire response, search and rescue, training programs and much more. He has played a key role in Canada wildfire incidents, Search and Rescue and more. Nico brings a unique blend of technical expertise and real-world experience to every mission, and today he’ll be sharing how drone tecnology is transforming emergency response and wildfire management

Location: Kamloops Sports Council – 1550 Island Parkway Dr.
Dates:
Tuesday March 10, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
KALS Winter 2026 Calendar Available on Website – December 19th, 2025 REGISTRATION WILL OPEN – January 5th, 2026 @ 9 am

How To Register for Membership

On-line by clicking the online registration button:

In person on McArthur Island at 1550 Island Parkway Dr. through-out the semester during office hours Monday-Friday 9am-4pm (Closed from 12pm-1pm). Credit, cash or cheque

Register by Phone by Calling 1-250-376-1525