
Opportunities To Ignite Your Mind
Lectures Fall 2026
Scroll down to see the 4 entertaining, informative lectures we are offering this fall
Beyond the Neon Signs:
Exploring Strip Mall Food Culture
A Special Lecture with the Creators of Eat the Strip


Discover the extraordinary culinary worlds hidden right inside our local strip malls! Learning Again in Almonte invites you to an engaging afternoon with Ameya Charnalia and Danielle Jeffery, the couple behind the hit blog and CBC Radio column Eat the Strip.
Ameya (originally from New Delhi) and Danielle (a proud Almonte native!) have spent the past few years hunting down the most exceptional, overlooked food in Ottawa and the surrounding area. But this talk isn't just about finding the perfect bite. It is about the remarkable stories behind the counter.
Come hear how migration, food, and community intersect in the most unexpected places. Ameya and Danielle will share how immigrant entrepreneurs transform ordinary concrete plazas into vibrant cultural hubs, and how everyday dining experiences tell powerful global stories.



A Journey Through Our Land
With Author, Musician and
Incomparable Raconteur
Phil Jenkins
This unique multimedia lecture takes you across the Canadian landscape through the lens of four books exploring the history and culture of this unique country
-
Fields of Vision: An intimate look at the heart, struggles, & heritage of family farms.
-
An Acre of Time: A deep, historical unearthing of a single, storied acre of land.
-
River Song: A journey along the rich cultural and natural currents of the St. Lawrence
-
Beneath My Feet: A tribute to the life and explorations of famed Canadian natural scientist George Mercer Dawson. The Performance
-
Visuals: Introductory slides that set the historical and geographical scene.
-
Readings: Excerpts that bring the people and places to the forefront.
-
Music: An original song written specifically to accompany each book's narrative.



The Singing Tower on the Hill:
A Civic Voice to Commemorate, Communicate & Celebrate with Dominion Carillonneur,
Dr. Andrea McCrady

Canada's Dominion Carillonneur, Dr. Andrea McCrady, will join us to share her personal journey and the incredible history behind what has been called the "Voice of the Nation".
-
A History of Resilience: The Peace Tower and its carillon arose from fire and conflict. After the fire of 1916 destroyed the original Victoria Tower and single clock bell the replacement tower housed a massive 53-bell instrument .
-
A Musical Tribute: Discover how these bells were installed in 1927 to honor Canada's ultimate sacrifices during the Great War.
-
97 Years of Stories: Learn how just five unique musicians have guided this mighty instrument to echo the heartbeat of Canadian life.
-
The Sound of History: Travel through time as Dr. McCrady chronicles the diverse moments the bells have accompanied, ranging from solemn memorials to massive, joyful celebrations.

We Lend a Hand:
The Forgotten Story of the Ontario Farmerettes
Stay tuned for details of this presentation, coming soon
Save the date,
The afternoon of November 22



Learning Again in Almonte and the Women's Institute are collaborating to bring you this compelling 49-min documentary, deftly revealing the true, long forgotten story of the Ontario Farm Service Force. It put 40,000 volunteer teenage girls to work between 1941 and 1952, arriving from different parts of Ontario and Quebec to many locations in Southwestern Ontario. They were called The Farmerettes. Their job: to ensure critical food production during the most perilous period of modern history.
