Sunday June 1st, 2025 – [Online] First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Institutions in Ontario

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural [institutions] of the State.”

The full title of our featured presentation is:
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Institutions in Ontario: Through the Lens of Artificial Persons

In Ontario, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people organize for various reasons through quasi-Artificial or Artificial Persons or institutions by creating, maintaining, or sustaining these Persons under instances of enabling legislation. Living in today’s world, at least in Ontario, requires an institutional perspective, which is often overlooked by some academics who acknowledge its existence but do not focus on this vital viewpoint.

Others within the academic community suggest that this may be to protect embedded institutions and further assert that this practice needs to cease. This presentation will seek to provide an appropriate institutional lens for viewing Ontario from the perspective of a First Nations person and former Indian Day School student by highlighting the ways that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people engage with their institutions. This will enhance his understanding of the world through his perspective and, further, this lens might be helpful for others’ experiences or benefit.

Our featured speaker will be Tim Mt. Pleasant, a Toronto Oasis participant. Tim is a member of the Tuscarora Nation at Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation. He recently participated in postgraduate research training at McGill University, where he served on the Advisory Council on Human Research Ethics and the Research Ethics Board. Tim pursued a Master of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in Bioethics and a postgraduate certificate in Translational Biomedical Science Research, though he has yet to complete these programs. He was admitted to McGill University and received offers from NYU and Johns Hopkins University after graduating with distinction from Ryerson University’s Honours Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy program in 2021.

With over 10 years of experience in Ontario’s Long-Term Care sector, including 8 years in Community Mental Health and Addictions, Tim also worked with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services on the First Nations Student Nutrition Program and is currently a Policy Intern with the Mental Health and Addictions Division of Ontario’s Ministry of Health. Tim serves on the Ethics Review Board of Public Health Ontario and the Board of Grand River Community Health Centre, and he is a peer reviewer for the Canadian Journal of Bioethics. Additionally, the Canadian Encyclopedia recently published his first article on the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307641276

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday May 25th, 2025 – [Online] How Tidy Is Your Place?

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and then discussing one or more YouTube videos that provide some insights into how clutter builds up in our lives and spaces, its effect on us, and how we can start to declutter.  The video(s) will be selected and introduced by Tania Akon, a Toronto Oasis organizer.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307641281/

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday May 18th, 2025 – [Online] Isaac Asimov and Humanism

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and then discussing YouTube videos about Isaac Asimov, his thoughts on humanism, and his vision for the future of humanity. The videos will be selected and introduced by Tania Akon, a Toronto Oasis organizer.

We will also be having live music! Our guest musician will be Camil@ Diaz-Varela (they/them), a musician, theatre maker, and community organizer committed to intercultural collaboration and musical folk futures. They are a band member of the Janice Jo Lee Ensemble and Solidarity Squad (Canada’s #1 labour band) and have performed at Small World Music, Axé World Fest, Folk Alliance International, and many CUPE, UFCW, and union gatherings. They’re a deeply spiritual person, and music is essentially their cult of choice.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307528086

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

The performance by the guest musician has been recorded: GMT20250518-152451_Recording_640x360.mp4

Sunday May 11th, 2025 – [Online] Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and then discussing YouTube video(s) about Gene Roddenberry and his vision for the future as depicted in the science fiction TV series he created, Star Trek.  The video(s) will be selected and introduced by Tania Akon, a Toronto Oasis organizer.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307404646

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday May 4th, 2025 – [Online] What Are the Differences Between Generations?

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and then discussing one or more YouTube videos about generations (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z) – what these categories mean and what, if any, impact they have in our lives. The topic & video(s) will be selected and introduced by Tania Akon, a Toronto Oasis organizer.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307286870/

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

[Online & In-person] Field Trip to West Hill United Church in Scarborough

There will be no online meeting for Toronto Oasis this Sunday as we will be going to West Hill United to attend a talk by a featured speaker both our communities have in common: Steve Ghikadis – Ambassador Program Director of Recovering from Religion. Steve’s presentation is entitled: Family and Community: Living with Different Worldviews.

West Hill United starts their meetings on Sundays at 10:30 am. Participants can attend both in person and online. For those who wish to attend online, click here to join their meeting.

For those wanting to attend in person, you can access West Hill United by TTC or by car.  West Hill United is located at: 62 Orchard Park Drive, Toronto, ON M1E 3T7. 

West Hill United member Dan Cooperstock and Toronto Oasis organizer Ryan Zhang have a total of seven spaces available between their respective cars for those wanting to carpool. Please let them know as soon as possible via the following email addresses if you wish to be driven there:

Ryan Zhang’s email: ryan.zhang@oasisnetwork.com

Dan Cooperstock’s email: dcoops@sympatico.ca

For those taking the TTC, take the 86 (A, B, C) bus from Kennedy Station and then get off at the stop located at the south side of the intersection of Kingston Rd and Manse Rd. West Hill United’s building is also on the south side of Kingston Rd and is a two-minute walk west of this stop.

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Please RSVP on the event’s Meetup page to give us an idea of how many people will be attending: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307162589

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday April 20th, 2025 – [Online] Is It Time for Electoral Reform in Canada?

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and discussing YouTube video(s) on the topic of electoral reform in Canada. Toronto Oasis Organizer Ryan Zhang will be providing an introduction to the topic as well as suggested discussion questions.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/307028568/

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday April 13th, 2025 – [Online] Exploring the Canadian Constitution

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and then discussing video(s) on Canada’s Constitution with a particular focus on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Toronto Oasis Organizer Ryan Zhang will be providing an introduction to the topic as well as suggested discussion questions.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/306899768

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday April 6th, 2025 – [Online] What Does It Mean to be Canadian?

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and discussing YouTube video(s) on the topic of Canadian identity. Toronto Oasis Organizer Ryan Zhang will be providing an introduction to the topic as well as suggested discussion questions.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/306773372

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!

Sunday March 30th, 2025 – [Online] The Impact of Online Algorithms

This will be an online Zoom meeting.  See our online meeting instructions at: https://torontooasis.org/online-meeting-instructions.  Our program will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. You can join the meeting starting at 10:45 am for our open social.

We will be watching and then discussing a YouTube video on the impact of online recommendation algorithms.  The video will be introduced by Ryan Zhang, a Toronto Oasis organizer.

We will also be having live music!  Our guest musician will be Leslie Shapiro, a contemporary harpist from Southwestern Ontario.  She earned her degree in applied harp from the University of Guelph.  Leslie has performed all over Canada, using music to speak truth to power.  Whether performing her own compositions, or doing a unique twist on covers, Leslie is sure to entertain audiences of all kinds!

We will also be having live music! Our guest musician will be Leslie Shapiro.

Please RSVP on the Meetup event page to get access to the Zoom link: https://www.meetup.com/toronto-oasis/events/306646460/

By participating in this event, you agree to abide by the Toronto Oasis Code of Conduct (http://torontooasis.org/code-of-conduct).

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and perhaps some new ones!