Toronto Oasis, Secular Community

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

Before she became a lawyer our featured speaker, Heather Hui-Litwin, held many assumptions about the justice system. She had a lot of faith in the system. She thought it was mostly common sense. She thought in terms of black and white, right and wrong. She believed that the person in the right will be saved, and justice always prevails. After having gone through a civil trial, becoming a lawyer herself, she realized that her beliefs were overly simplistic. Her idealization of the adversarial process prevented her from exploring and understanding the tremendous value in collaborative conflict resolution processes, such as mediation.  If she had known then, what she knows now, she would have done things differently. In this talk Heather will attempt to share with you the realities she learned, in her journey from being a client to becoming a lawyer. 

Heather Hui-Litwin is a non-practising lawyer whose passion is in public legal education.  She and her husband were once embroiled in a lawsuit which lasted many years. During part of the lawsuit, they represented themselves. Even though being a litigant was stressful, she developed a strong interest in the law. She went to Osgoode Hall Law School, and was called to the Bar in 2012. Her personal experience motivated her to work in the area of access to justice. She co-founded the Self-Rep Navigators (www.limitedscoperetainers.ca) in 2015, with colleague Mick Hassell, in hopes of developing limited scope services to be an acceptable mode of legal practice, and promoting it to the public. She is also starting a public legal education project, Litigation Help, www.litigation-help.com , where she and her colleagues will deliver legal education in plain language through its own YouTube channel, as well as speaking to the public in libraries and community centres.

Our guest musician will be Jessica Stuart (https://jessicastuartmusic.com/). Vancouver born, Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist/songwriter, Jessica Stuart has spent much of the last decade touring the world with her award-winning jazz-pop trio, The Jessica Stuart Few.  As an accomplished vocalist, guitarist and koto player (13-stringed traditional Japanese harp), Stuart has been praised for her on-stage charm, musical chops, and signature song writing style.   Described by The Globe & Mail as “endlessly charismatic”, Jessica has been likened to a modern-day Joni Mitchell with lyrics that describe the joys and challenges of the human experience, delivered in a catchy, but musically adventurous package.  

Some of Stuart’s recent career highlights include a Top 40 single in Japan, a “Best Album” designation in the international Independent Music Awards, festival performances in Australia, Germany, China, Japan and North America, and regular rotation on airwaves around the globe, from the BBC to the CBC.

Coming off of the release of the single “Fukue’s Theme Part I” that accompanied a record-breaking viral CBC documentary about the artist herself (3 million views and counting), Stuart has released an indie-pop single this summer (June 2019) called Simple Little Song, under the new project name JESSA.

Lola Bradford will do the Community Moment.  The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves.  It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy.  Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community.  Interested in presenting your own Community Moment?  Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/pzdxgryzmbdc/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

The Trans Mountain Pipeline: an integral view of the topic in the context of the upcoming 2019 Canadian federal election

In this conversation our featured speaker, Erick Carreras, will breakdown the topic of the Trans Mountain Pipeline by viewing it from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. The different perspectives will then be integrated to come up with key considerations when placing the topic in today’s “glocal” context of the 2019 Canadian federal election. Some of the different perspectives that will be reviewed include, but are not limited to, the following: a timeline of the pipeline since it was first built in 1953, until present-day; some key players on the issue; how the new federal carbon-tax, the Paris Climate Agreement (2017), and the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards relate to the pipeline; the incentives on both sides of the debate; real and viable integral alternatives to the colonial structure of competitive and restrictive dichotomous debate; and finally, how this all relates to the stance each Canadian federal party is taking on the issue, and how it may affect whose name you tick on the ballot on election day, October 21, 2019. Erick will link us to his website, keep channels of communication open to continue the conversation beyond the event, as well as offer his presentation material to anyone who would like a copy. 

Erick Carreras has a background in clinical surgical research, nutrition and methylmercury assessments in the Amazon of Peru, and was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Faculty of Health Science at McMaster University when he graduated with a Master’s of Science in Global Health (2017). During his MScGH, Erick took a term to study abroad in the Netherlands at Maastricht University to specialize in a branch of Sociology known as Science and Technology Studies (STS), where his scholarly work investigated the economics of capitalism as a contributing driving force to the establishment of psychiatry as we know it today. Since the completion of his studies, Erick Carreras has worked to promote Gender Equity and Social Inclusivity in the workplace of the private sector in Barranquilla, Colombia; completed free-lance English to French translation work for a non-profit that helps establish Syrian Refugees coming to Canada who identify as a part of the LGBTQ2+ community; and currently supports the field work and administration of social programs created by, and for, urban Indigenous of Turtle Island residing in Ontario. Using his website (erickcarreras.ca), some social media platforms, public presentations (such as this one), and his upcoming book, Erick hopes to raise the consciousness of the world, at scale, to make the impact he hopes to have on the world: contribute to empowering the collective so we may all iteratively co-create a holistically healthier world for all, by all.

Our featured musician will be Cassie Norton, the music director of Toronto Oasis.  At times fragile and sweet, at other times strong, bold and even harsh, this Toronto based violinist/ singer-songwriter tells the stories behind her lyrics with sound. Cassie’s music is, at times friendly, familiar, and simple, examining ordinary characters with an extraordinary level of depth. Other times it is more adventurous, rumbling with dissonant and irreverent sounds and epic themes.

Cassie and her band have been performing at Toronto venues such as Burdock Hall, Arrayspace, and The Supermarket since January 2018, and released their first EP: Lullaby for the End of Time in February 2019. In addition, Cassie has recorded two full length albums as a solo artist, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010).

When she isn’t busy making her own music, Cassie shares her love of music with others through teaching. She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and through her private studio. Check out her website: https://www.cassienorton.com/

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/pzdxgryzmbtb/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

We all inherently have an understanding of consciousness, our awareness that we are alive and able to comprehend our existence.  In this presentation our featured speaker, Philosofree (a.k.a Phil Cheney), links scientific perspectives from Quantum Physics, Holon Theory, and Dark Energy into an interesting way to view consciousness as connectedness.  The second part of the presentation will look at the fastest growing philosophy in North America and its reliance on these new views of consciousness as the energy/fuel to free individual belief from societal dogma.

Phil ‘Philosofree’ Cheney is awed by the Cosmos, and excited about human potential. He is a renaissance man who appreciates life, having worked in over 55 countries, including as a university lecturer in his native Australia, trade leader in Thailand, Government budget consultant in Papua New Guinea, software distributor in Zimbabwe, marketer in Germany, Building Construction in China, farm exporting in Japan and author in his current home in Toronto.

Philosofree is a mystic who is curious about integrating science and the metaphysical. He has published 8 books, 5 CDs of original music and won awards for software design and clinical practice in medicine.  His education background includes degrees in Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology.  Phil prioritizes his wife, daughters and grandchildren, and loves to sing and dance with them.

Our guest musician will be Erik Bleich. Erik is a singer songwriter whose genre blends classic pop and folk traditions – from street lit lullabies to manic, rambling romps.  It’s his vision of folk music for the Internet Age.  Check out his website: www.erikbleich.com

Cathy Fountas will do the Community Moment.  The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves.  It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy.  Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community.  Interested in presenting your own Community Moment?  Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/pzdxgryzmblb/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

In this candid talk, our featured speaker, Tim Mt. Pleasant, will explore with us what happens when one is no longer capable of making one’s treatment and financial decisions. What does the law determine for us, and what control can we exercise before we lose it?  Control, Tim will argue, is a fluidic state that more often, than not sees power transfer from the self to the other.  Sometimes this transfer is bidirectional, and in other, it is not.  What tools are available to us that will ensure that our values and wishes are respected and upheld in any state of fluidic change?  Through a non-legal review of the decision-making hierarchy contained with the Health Care Consent Act, Tim will examine with us the complexity of situations that arise when an individual does not plan appropriately.

Tim Mt. Pleasant is a First Nations member of the LGBTQ2S+ and Disabled community from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation and is currently studying Philosophy at Ryerson University. His experience comes from work in the Long-Term Care (10 years), Mental Health/Addictions (8 years) and Public Service Sector during the last 22 years.  Tim works in the area of Bioethics at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre / University Health Network and has an interest in the values that one assumes when entering various systems, the fluidity of control and capacity, in addition to the new realm of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).

Tim volunteers in areas that allow him to advocate for those with Mental Health or Addictions challenges, including marginalized populations and those that get lost in various systems, specifically within Health Care and Social Services sectors.  He has served on the Board of Directors of PFLAG Canada, the Canadian Bioethics Society, ARCH Disability Law Centre, Community Resource Connections of Toronto, Toronto Distress Centres, and the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Tim is also a member of and currently sits on the Equity Committee of the Canadian Philosophical Association and Ryerson’s Research Ethics Board.

Ronny Yaron will do the Community Moment.  The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves.  It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy.  Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community.  Interested in presenting your own Community Moment?  Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/gkxgdryzlbhc/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

This Sunday, at Toronto Oasis, our featured speaker, A. D’Agio, will lead us in a workshop entitled: Building Our Own Ethics.  

The outline of the workshop is as follows:

1. Laying down a foundation (assumptions, goal, principles, etc.)
2. Erecting a framework (blueprint customization, aphorisms, examples, etc.)
3. Filling in the Gaps (by whom and when, etc.)

Born in England, A. D’Agio resides now in Toronto, writing poetry and lyrics about humans, and their quirksome relationships with each another. Experience first hand the mind numbing madness https://twitter.com/HumanistPoet or https://www.facebook.com/HumanistPoetAdagio

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/gkxgdryzlbxb/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

Can you be an educated person in 2019 without knowing about the Doctrine of Discovery? Our lives are affected every day by these rulings or edicts from 1452 and 1493. What are these ‘inter cetera bulls’? How do they still impact Canadians? Enjoy some amazing ‘gifts to the world’, dig into the shocking Doctrine of Discovery, and participate in our Oasis discussion as ‘the1492guy’ helps us bring pre-Columbus onto our 2019 landscape.

Our featured speaker, Dave Patterson (‘the1492guy’) is a speaker and author from Richmond Hill.  He has done 50 of his various presentations, which are perfect for audiences that want to feel inspired about Indigenous issues, instead of always feeling guilty or upset about the latest news. He dispels the ‘Myths of 1492’ by retelling histories, so the listener realizes all Europeans and Indians were peers and co-equals, but then people forgot. The ‘gifts to the world’ from the Western Hemisphere form the backbone of our civilisation. Accomplishments prior to 1492, inventions, innovations, contributions to today’s world – all can be shocking to the average Westerner who has learned that nothing much was accomplished in our home hemisphere before Columbus.  

Dave is the author of the book 500 Years of Lies: Discover the Extraordinary Number of Native Indian Gifts to the World.  It serves the same purpose as the talks, giving hundreds of these well-established contributions that unfortunately are not part of our world-class education. 

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/gkxgdryzlbpb/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

The human genome contains about 3 billion base pairs of DNA.  Not only does the genome contain the instructions needed to develop a living, breathing, human being, but it can also reveal insights about our shared history.  In recent years, studies examining DNA from both living humans and ancient remains have revealed much about the history of our species including our migration from Africa to other parts of the globe, our interactions with other human species, and how related we actually are to each other.  

Our featured speaker, Ryan Zhang, will discuss some of the most interesting and surprising findings from human genetics research in recent years.  In addition, he will also discuss what this research shows about our ancestry, the concept of race, and our cultural and ethnic origins.  

Ryan Zhang graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Toronto majoring in Human Biology and minoring in History.  He is currently a second-year student of the Environmental Technology Program at Georgian College and aspires to become a professional in the environmental field when he graduates.  He is intensely curious and enjoys keeping fish, learning about nature, listening to history podcasts, and obsessively reading Wikipedia articles for fun. 

Jess Bootsma will do the Community Moment.  The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves.  It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy.  Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community.  Interested in presenting your own Community Moment?  Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/gkxgdryzkblc/

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Social 10:45am – 11:00am.

Demographics in the 21^st century are becoming more secular – and quickly. In response to these changes, communities around the world are avoiding traditional institutions, like religion, and instead searching for a more fitting system that follows our changing needs and values – communities like Oasis.

This week’s speaker, Aaron Taylor, is visiting from Calgary where a similar group is growing rapidly. He will be sharing his experiences, what brought him into this work, and to trade ideas and insight with you.

Aaron Taylor grew up near Toronto and currently lives in Calgary, Alberta. He was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and uses his experience to relate with others who have lost faith, friends or family in the same way. Armchair philosopher, music lover, and family man, Aaron has plenty of stories and something in common with everyone.

You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/gkxgdryzkbcc/