Program

Presenter

Topic or Event

Friday

Meet and Greet Icebreakers

Come join for pizza and meeting other members. We will have fun icebreaker activities to help get to know each other.  And, there is pizza!

Kevin Stanfield

Forecasting Forecasting

I’m the lead meteorologist for AM660 and previous chief meteorologist of CTV Calgary. I also run applied weather operations for a number of our city’s largest events and am entrenched as a first line for emergency responders in this space. I’ve seen a lot, and have witnessed a lot of change in all forms of meteorology – what does the future hold? How are trends changing? I’ll aim have the answers.

Cst. Kimball Bishop

Cyber Safety

Us curious folks can do a lot of cruisin’ online.  Learn about several topics with respect to cyber security and safety.  This includes awareness and advice for us and youth, online frauds and schemes, data breaches, and the impact of AI on crime. (AI is everywhere now!)  He will share insights into how people can fall victim to these scams.  There will also be a questions period at the end to field some questions.

Ron Bettin

No Looking Back – The Importance of Resilience in the Face of Adversity

In 2011, Ron’s life took an unexpected turn after a devastating ATV accident, resulting in a broken neck and arms. His recovery journey illustrates the transformative power of resilience.

This presentation delves into resilience as a key trait for overcoming adversity, both individually and within teams. Drawing on Ron’s story and examples from space missions like Apollo 13, we’ll explore how resilience fosters adaptability, creative problem-solving, and team cohesion. Attendees will leave inspired to cultivate resilience within themselves and their teams to meet today’s challenges head-on.

Dr. Douglas Hamilton

Fireside Chat with Space Medicine Doctor

Did you know there is a specialty in medicine that relates to pilots and astronaut health in Space?  What is a Flight Surgeon and what do they do?  Dr. Hamilton has an extensive and varied medical and engineering background including working with NASA during the Space Shuttle missions and with astronauts on the ISS.  He approaches problem solving in high risk scenarios with an analytical engineering mindset, and helps to develop computer technology for use in in Space.  Bring your questions!

Marizabel Forno

ADHD Unmasked: Navigating the Adult Mind for Growth & Success

ADHD in adulthood is often misunderstood, especially in high-functioning individuals. This engaging and informative workshop will break down the science behind ADHD in a way that’s easy to understand, while offering practical strategies to navigate its challenges.

We’ll explore how ADHD affects motivation, decision-making, time perception, and emotional regulation—highlighting why traditional productivity methods don’t always work. You’ll learn about the brain’s dopamine-driven reward system, how the Default Mode Network (DMN) fuels creativity, and why ADHD brains often thrive in big-picture problem-solving. We’ll also dive into sleep patterns, social intelligence, and strategies for managing daily life more effectively. Whether you’re an adult with ADHD, or simply curious about how ADHD shapes behavior, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable takeaways.

Michelle Clayton

The Fascinating World of Honeybees

Imagine a world without apples, almonds, canola, or even coffee. It might sound impossible, but without honeybees, that would be our reality. These tiny creatures are responsible for pollinating a third of the food we eat and maintaining biodiversity around the globe. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of honeybees—exploring their incredible role in nature, the threats they face, and how each of us can make a difference. Bring your curious questions to this conversation.

Jason Donev

The Triumph and Tragedy of Oppenheimer

The Oppenheimer movie was the most watched biopic of all time. This portrayal of a founder of the nuclear industry brought the history and politics of nuclear science and technology to a wide audience and has sparked innumerable discussions. This talk will analyse the movie’s impact on the public’s discourse on nuclear power and how the stories we tell about nuclear science and technology matter for the future of the industry.

Apostolos Kantzas

Responsible Harnessing of Alberta’s Energy Related Resources

What are the major energy related resources in Alberta?  How are they associated with the oil and gas industry? Is the industry capable of responsibly managing these resources?  Which energy related resource is the most important? Is exporting the best alternative? How does the oil and gas industry pivot to think “out of the box” to capitalize on all energy resources?

Jennifer Howse

Telescopes with the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

The presentation starts with interchange and discussion on the definition of sciences and astrophysics. In context the telescope development and design I present on the James Webb Telescope. We then hand out telescope kits to each participant. They will put the kit together following enclosed instructions. If possible, if we could go out as a group and test out the telescopes and observe through two different eyepieces. The group disassembles the telescopes and we wrap up with light ray diagrams and answer any questions.

Diana Pederson

Introduction to Cryptography

Ever wanted to know how to send secret messages in code for fun?  We will start with a bit about how this game of codes started, including how advances in cryptography were key in WWII. Includes a look at how cryptography is used today.  Once we know a bit about codes, we will test our hand at how to break codes with a whimsical treasure map game that needs decoding!  Join us for a bit of intrigue and fun!

Peter Sells

The Long and Bumpy Road; An Entrepreneur’s Journey in the Real World

Entrepreneurism is the dream of many, but, like many dreams, it doesn’t always come true. Recent statistics show that at least half of new businesses in Canada fail within three years, and only one-fifth survive a decade. So why would anyone leave a stable, well-paying public sector job at age 50 and go into business as an entrepreneur?

This presentation will use my entrepreneurial journey to illustrate the rewards and pitfalls of starting your own business. If you think it’s going to be hard; it’s way harder than you think. If you think it’s going to be risky; be prepared to risk and lose everything. If you believe in your idea for a new, environmentally responsible product and you want to break into a $6 billion industry dominated by giant multinationals without compromising your principles; then buckle up. It’s a long and bumpy road.

Speaker Bio

Peter Sells began his career riding the back of a fire truck in downtown Toronto in 1986 and within ten years was the Chief of the Toronto Fire Academy. He parlayed that experience into a fire protection management consultancy, providing training and strategic planning services across North America and globally, eventually landing at the Emirates Civil Defence Academy in Dubai, UAE. Peter returned to Canada as a partner in FireRein Inc, producer of the world’s only certified 100% bio-based fire protection water additive.

Camille Wong

A Few Minutes With a Flight Attendant

Ever wondered what it was like to be a flight attendant?  What is fun?  What is hard?  Come learn about whatever you wanted to know about life as a flight attendant. It is not as glamorous as it may look on the outside. Camille will share stories, challenges, and laughs about her job.

Andrew Nugara

Hiking, Scrambling, and Climbing in The Canadian Rockies – the physical and mental benefits of a life outdoors

Come hear about how hiking, scrambling, and climbing unexpectedly changed Andrew’s life in a very positive way when he was 33.  His mountain adventures eventually led to becoming a published author of mountain guidebooks. He will discuss the challenges and rewards of being an author. 

Robyn Foret

An introduction to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

The history of the RASC

Today’s Society and its focus

The Calgary Centre

Partnerships in the Community

What’s up and coming

If time allows “Stellar Evolution”

John Wilder

Teaching in the Age of generative AI: Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education

Generative AI is a powerful force that is disrupting the status quo in many different fields. In this talk, I will give a brief overview of current state-of-the-art generative AI models. As part of my job, I have been meeting with faculty members from various degree programs, in both STEM and humanities, who have asked for guidance on how to teach and assess learning when students have access to tools like large language models. I will present some of the concerns faculty members have brought to me. I will also discuss ways in which these models can enhance learning. To conclude, I will discuss ways educators can try to promote ethical usage of AI to their students in order to prepare them for a world where AI is commonly used while still teaching the necessary skills of their field.

Ian White,

CTV News

Challenges in Today’s Media Environment

I was privileged and lucky enough to bring Southern Albertans local TV news in a “golden age” of media.  That’s when local stations added and expanded newscasts.  Now the trend is in the other direction.  I’d like to explore the changes that have made this possible and whether it’s good for society.

Priscilla Lee

An Existential Journey for Gifted Individuals

Join us for an insightful workshop, “Finding Purpose: An Existential Journey for Gifted Individuals,” led by Priscilla Lee, Mensan and Registered Psychologist at  innerloguetherapy.com , this session delves into Existential Depression, existentialism, and the search for meaning—topics that often resonate deeply with gifted individuals.

Priscilla will share her expertise on how these existential concerns uniquely impact the gifted mind, offering valuable perspectives on navigating life’s big questions and cultivating a sense of purpose.

This interactive session encourages open discussion in a supportive space, where participants can reflect and share their experiences. Given the depth of the topic, we welcome attendees 16 years and older to join this meaningful conversation.

Diana Pederson and Shannon Wong

Mensa 101

An Informational session about MENSA and all that we offer (to adults, YAMs, and youth / families). Learn about what programs are available and answer questions.

Dinner Gala Event

Come join us for a keynote speaker, costumed personality fun, and getting to know other members over a tasty full course buffet dinner.

Games Room

Of course we will have a room dedicated to gaming and a GamesMeister to arrange several group events.  There will be a variety of games available to choose from, sign up sheets to organize your own group game times.  This area will also host a bulletin board to post your notes, announcements, and sheets to organize off site activities.

Hospitality Room

We will have snacks available across the day catered by our wonderful hotel.
This is your space to hang out and socialize with other members.  There are also several fun Lounge areas and restaurants in the hotel to hang out, chat, eat, and drink.

Sunday Morning

8am to 12noon

Breakfast & Canada Annual General Meeting

Everyone is encouraged to join in on celebrating all those who won awards, and giving your input on the direction of Mensa Canada by voting.

Starts with Breakfast at 8:00am with the meeting immediately following at 9am.