Lectures. Talks. Ideas.
Dear Friends,
Are you excited for spring? Are you ready to plant new seeds in those curious minds of yours?
If so, we hope that you’ll join us at the Miles Nadal JCC for the fun courses we’re kicking off in just three weeks:
“The Spirit of the ‘60s”: Course outline HERE. Registration HERE.
“French Impressionism”: Course outline HERE. Registration HERE.
“The Wonderful World of Design”: Course outline HERE. Registration HERE.
Spring Season Pass: Attend all three courses at a discount. Registration HERE.
For more on each of these programs, check out our Facebook Page, where we’re posting video greetings from our wonderful spring speakers. HERE is Peter Harris previewing his series on the 1960s. HERE is Christopher Hume previewing the opening talk in “The Wonderful World of Design.” And stay tuned for more video greetings in the weeks to come.
Please contact our Help Desk ([email protected]) if you require assistance and please scroll below for some cool events from our partners. Scroll down to the bottom for “Something You Might Enjoy,” which highlights the films playing next month at the Hot Docs Festival.
With immense gratitude for your curiosity. We can’t wait to see you in April!
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 politics, arts and culture.
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! |
SOME COOL EVENTS FROM OUR PARTNERS
| New Lecture Series with Phillip Silver!
Award-winning set, lighting, and costume designer Phillip Silver returns with a fascinating new three-part series exploring Jewish clothing across time and place. From biblical eras to contemporary communities, discover how Jews have dressed and accessorized themselves in distinct ways - whether through choice or imposition - to express devotion, liturgical practice, distinguish gender roles, or communal identity.
Widen your understanding of what Jews look like, in the past, in the present, and around the world. Join us in the Al Green Theatre, on Zoom simulcast, or register to receive the recordings.
Mondays, April 27-May 11, 1:00-2:30 PM
Questions? Email Lisa Roy at [email protected].
Register HERE. |
| Holocaust Remembrance Day Film Screening
In the 1920s, Henry Ford – famed Model-T maker – published a series of antisemitic articles that were later packaged into four books titled The International Jew. His hatred spread abroad, and was so influential that Adolf Hitler praised Ford as “the leader of our fascist movement in America”. This documentary – held in honour of Holocaust Remembrance Day – examines Ford’s often-sanitized legacy and the troubling parallels between his era and our own. Join us in the Al Green Theatre, or register to receive an at-home viewing link.
Thursday April 16, 1:00-2:30pm
Questions? Email [email protected].
Learn more and register here.
|
| Dance Panel Discussion At The Heliconian Club!
Fans of our recent Ballet series will want to check out a fun event that the Dance Section of the Heliconian Club is hosting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7 PM: a panel discussion of contemporary issues in classical ballet and modern dance featuring four celebrated dancers—Linda Maybarduk, Svea Eklof, Anisa Tejpar, and Jordana Daumec.
This panel will be moderated by Deirdre Kelly, the former Globe and Mail dance and fashion critic, who will also be leading a talk in our upcoming series, “The Wonderful World of Design.”
This event will be taking place at the historic Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue. For tickets and more info, please 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!
 2026 Hot Docs Documentary Festival,
April 23-May 3, 2026 | DOCS, WONDERFUL DOCS!
As many of you know, I had a long and happy run overseeing the special event programs at the Hot Docs Cinema, and I’ve been encouraged to see that the organization’s new leadership is taking strong measures to safeguard the future of its flagship documentary festival—a highlight of our city’s cultural calendar for over 30 years.
This year’s edition kicks off April 23rd and the full lineup of films will be unveiled next week, but you can see some of the cool films they’ll be screening HERE and HERE—including a new doc on the history of the CN Tower that I, as a card-carrying city nerd, am very eager to see!
Single tix will be available to the public starting March 31 and you can get early access on March 24 with a Festival ticket package. You should also keep in mind that daytime screenings for students and people 60+ are completely FREE!
For more info, the festival’s website is HERE. Hopefully, I’ll cross paths with you at a few of the films! |
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!
