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.

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.

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 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.

Donald Trump heads into these midterm contests with some of the lowest approval ratings in presidential history, finding himself on the wrong side of US public opinion on everything from AI data centres to building work at the White House. Will voters punish his party, even though his name is not on the ballot paper? Will his promise to give $5,000 to every US adult if Republicans triumph turn things around? Or do his failed attempts to ram through changes to the US voting system, coupled with the daily cost of ongoing war with Iran, mean a Democratic blue wave is now unstoppable?

The panel discuss the election results and their implications for the future of Trump, the US and global politics. They’ll explore the key questions, ranging from the politics of artificial intelligence to whether a new age of US instability lies ahead – and ask who might succeed Trump in the White House in 2028.

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.