Lectures. Talks. Ideas.
Dear Friends,
We are thrilled to share the three new courses that we’re offering this spring at the Al Green Theatre in the Miles Nadal JCC!
On Tuesday mornings, starting April 14th, an all-star roster of Speakers Annex favourites takes us on a journey through the history of modern design in “The Wonderful World of Design.” Learn more and register HERE.
On Wednesday afternoons, starting April 15th, art historian Angela Glover recounts the stories behind the world’s most beloved paintings in “The Impressionists: The Movement That Changed Art Forever.” Learn more and register HERE.
On Friday mornings, starting April 10th, Speakers Annex favourite Peter Harris leads “The Spirit of the ‘60s,” a rollicking cultural history of the grooviest of decades. Learn more and register HERE.
If you’re interested in attending all three programs, and getting a nice discount, make sure to take advantage of our “Spring Season Pass.” Click HERE to learn more and contact our trusty Help Desk ([email protected]) with any registration questions.
A reminder that our two winter courses, on the World’s Great Music Cities and the History of Ballet, continue through March 4th, and drop-in tickets are still available. Please scroll below for more on each of these programs, some cool events from our partners, and the latest installment of “Something You Might Enjoy.”
Here’s to another season of exciting new discoveries!
Will Di Novi
Host and Organizer
The Speakers Annex
The Speakers Annex is proud to be presented in partnership with
OUR EXCITING NEW SPRING COURSES!
Fridays, April 10-May 15
10:30 AM-12 PM
MNjcc Members: $99
Non-Members: $119
| The Spirit of the ‘60s
Join Speakers Annex favourite Dr. Peter Harris for a rollicking cultural history of the grooviest of decades!
From the election of JFK to the sultry sounds of Woodstock; from the landmark protest movements exploding in Berkeley and Paris to the cultural watershed that was Expo ‘67, we’ll take a spirited look at the people, movements and earth-shaking events that left their mark on the decade, leading to sweeping changes in society, culture, politics and the arts.
Click HERE for the full course schedule and descriptions of each of the six sessions. |
Tuesdays, April 14-May 19
10:30 AM-12 PM
MNjcc Members: $99
Non-Members: $119
| The Wonderful World of Design
In this exciting new series, an all-star roster of leading writers and scholars—including many longtime Speakers Annex favourites—guides us through the history of modern design, each delivering a talk on the design history of a favourite object or place.
From the architecture of libraries with critic Christopher Hume to the intriguing history of the “little black dress” with a leading fashion writer, we’ll look at stunning examples from innovative designers and examine the world around us with a fresh new set of eyes!
Click HERE for the full course schedule and descriptions of each of the six sessions. |
Wednesdays, April 15-May 20
1 PM-2:30 PM
MNjcc Members: $99
Non-Members: $119
| The Impressionists: The Movement that Changed Art Forever
Art historian Angela Glover makes her Speakers Annex debut with this delightful series on one of the most beloved artistic movements in history.
A veteran art educator who’s led popular courses for the 92Y in New York, Angela will offer a fresh perspective on artistic icons like Monet, Degas, Mary Cassatt and Renoir, exploring the radical vision at the heart of their beautiful paintings and their dramatic impact on how we still look at art.
Click HERE for the full course schedule and descriptions of each of the six sessions. |
MNjcc Members: $214
Non-Members: $259
| All-Access Season Pass!
Interested in attending all three of our spring programs?
Then consider signing up for this all-access season pass.
Receive unlimited access to each of our three programs at a significant discount! |
OUR ONGOING WINTER COURSES
Wednesdays, January 28-March 4
10:30 AM-12 PM
Drop-in Tix Available:
MNjcc Members: $21.60
Non-Members: $24
| Passion and Precision: The History of Ballet
Take a dazzling journey through the history of ballet with Natasha Frid Finlay, a dance notator and popular pre-show speaker with The National Ballet of Canada.
From ballet’s origins in the royal courts of Europe to the first iconic productions of Swan Lake and Giselle to 20th century icons like Rudolph Nureyev and Karen Kain, Natasha will pull back the curtain on this wonderful art form, before closing the series with a very special treat: an onstage conversation with the great Veronica Tennant, former Prima Ballerina with The National Ballet of Canada and an inspiration to generations of dance-artists.
Click HERE for the full course schedule and descriptions of each of the six sessions. |
Tuesdays, January 20-February 24
10:30 AM-12 PM
Drop-in Tix Available:
MNjcc Members: $21.60
Non-Members: $24
| Musical Meccas: The World’s Great Music Cities and the Artists They Inspired
He's back! After rave reviews for his recent series on history’s greatest songs, Dr. Andrew Scott returns with this fun new course on the musical icons of the past century and the cities that inspired them.
From Django Reinhardt’s Paris at the apex of the Jazz Age to the sun-drenched LA landscapes that gave the world the Beach Boys; from London’s mods and rockers at the height of the Swinging Sixties to Glenn Gould’s intimate bond with his hometown of Toronto, we’ll explore how the cultural landscapes within these wonderful cities shaped the careers and music of the century’s musical giants.
Click HERE for the full course schedule and descriptions of each of the six sessions. |
SOME COOL EVENTS FROM OUR PARTNERS
| Enjoy Bagels & Books at the MNjcc Book Club!
The Miles Nadal JCC Book Club returns in March! Reviewer Denise Drabkin spotlights An American Marriage, New York Times best-selling author Tayari Jones’ moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple, and the examination of institutional racism and social prejudice.
Even if you haven’t read the book, you are welcome to join us for the stimulating review, the opportunity to discover a new author, the engaging group discussion...and the coffee and bagels! Presented in partnership with the Bernard Betel Centre.
Thursday March 26, 11:00am-1:00pm.
Questions? Email Lisa Roy at [email protected].
Register HERE. |
| International Women’s Day at The Heliconian Club
The Heliconian Club invites you to join them on International Women’s Day - Sunday, March 8, 2026.
The IWD theme this year is “Give to Gain.” Amina Mohamed, the founder of the charity Cameras for Girls, will share a Ugandan/Canadian success story of providing girls with the tools and skills to pursue careers in photojournalism and empowering them to step confidently into male-dominated media spaces. The afternoon will feature various activities including a gallery of moving photographs that illustrate what happens when girls have the opportunity to tell their own stories.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue. Doors open at 1:30 pm. For tickets and more info, click HERE. |
| Visit and Enjoy the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
The Arts & Letters Club is a social club for people active or interested in literature and the arts. Located in its historic Toronto building at 14 Elm Street, the Club hosts literary talks, stage productions, musical performances, painting sessions and more. The Club’s lounge and bar is open to visitors every Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm. Beginning in September, the Club will be offering the Speakers Annex community an opportunity to sample its fun events.
If you are interested in learning more, please email Martin Jones at [email protected]. For more information on the Club, please visit www.artsandlettersclub.ca. |
SOMETHING YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Regular recommendations of fun things to read, watch and listen to!
David Bezmozgis
(Photo Credit: The Globe and Mail)
| A SHORT STORY MASTER!
Do you enjoy a good short story? Then make a beeline for my latest reading obsession: the work of Toronto writer David Bezmozgis.
Bezmozgis first won acclaim with Natasha and Other Stories, from 2005, a poignant and funny collection about a Soviet Jewish family settling in Toronto, and his 2017 book Immigrant City is another terrific collection about the lives of immigrants across the Jewish diaspora.
Bezmozgis has won acclaim all over the world for his clever portraits of complicated families—most recently, for this stunning New Yorker story—but he offers something special for readers here in Toronto, revealing the rich stories lurking in high-rise towers and strip malls across our city.
If you’re looking for something to read that’s moving and perceptive, but always entertaining, make sure to check out this local short story maestro!
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SPEAKERS ANNEX READING GUIDES
Last June, I asked some beloved Speakers Annex contributors to share a few books that we all might enjoy over the summer months. The result was our first ever “Summer Reading Guide,” which you can see HERE.
We now return with a new “Winter Reading Guide,” presented in partnership with friend-of-The Speakers Annex Eleanor Wachtel, the host of CBC’s Writers & Company, who has offered her own list of wonderful reading suggestions!
HELPFUL LINKS AND MORE!
For registration assistance, please contact the MNjcc customer support team at 416-924-6211 x0 or email [email protected]. You can also refer to this detailed, step-by-step registration guide.
Email me about our upcoming programs, or anything else on your mind, at [email protected]. I always love to hear from you!
Consult this FAQ Help Sheet for answers to common questions about our events.
Thank you so much again!
