The 2024 Land O’ Lakes Speakers’ Forum program has been finalized with an excellent line-up of talented speakers. The Speakers’ Forum is a joint project between the Lions Club of Land O’ Lakes and the Cloyne and District Historical Society. It is held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from April to September. This year will be its second year of operation, and attendance is expected to be higher than in 2023.

Admission is free; everyone is welcome. The doors of the Northbrook Lions Hall open at 6:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m. Registration is not required.

April 27th  Terry Fallis, Best Selling Author

A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the award-winning author of nine national bestsellers, including his most recent, A New Season (2023), all published by McClelland & Stewart (M&S). He is working on his tenth novel, likely to be released in August 2025. Terry has written for many publications, including Maclean’s, Canadian Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, the National Post, and the Toronto Star. Speaking Topic Terry’s ninth book A New Season #1 BESTSELLER. “a novel unlike any of his others. A thoughtful exploration of aging, loss, family, friendship, and love, all with his trademark humour and heart”,

May 22nd  Rand Simon, Hockey Agent

Rand joined Newport Sports Management just before the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, following a four-year stint as the senior editor of The Hockey News. He is very active in all contract negotiations and is recognized as an industry leader in salary arbitration preparation and conducting research for contractual negotiations. His speaking Topic is ‘An agent’s role in representing, managing, and marketing hockey players’.

June 26th  Rita Di Ghent, Performing Arts

Rita di Ghent (BFA, MA) has mentored creatives for the past 23 years as faculty in the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design Department of York University. She also regularly holds women’s fires and circles and Song Medicine Gatherings. Her singular brand of storytelling involves music, singing, and drumming. Rita lives in Prince Edward County. Rita will speak about how she navigates her life and career as someone with a neurodivergent, specifically, a brain wiring known as aphantasia.

July 24th Dr. John Cranfield, Acting Dean of the University of Guelph

“Agriculture and Food in a Post-Pandemic World:“ John Cranfield is the Acting Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph, and a Professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics. His training includes undergraduate and Master’s degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph, and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
John is a noted expert on food economics and has been featured in over 70 television, radio and newspaper interviews. His research focuses on the economics of consumer behaviour and demand analysis at the individual, household and market levels. An important aspect of his research involves understanding the factors that drive what people buy and consume, such as the influence of advertising programs. As Acting Dean, John focuses on forging strategic partnerships that create opportunity, contribute to the development of human potential, and serve the needs of broader civil society.

August 28th, Alana Free, Vice President of Good Life Fitness Canada

‘How To Live Longer and Enjoy A Better Life’ is the topic of Alana Free’s speech. Alana is Vice President of Good Life Fitness Canada. Proudly Canadian since 1979, GoodLife Fitness is the largest fitness club chain in Canada and the fourth largest overall in the world. With over 365 clubs from coast to coast, including GoodLife Fitness, Énergie Cardio, Fit4Less by GoodLife and ÉconoFitness Clubs, approximately 14,400 employees and more than 1.25 million members, GoodLife is helping to transform the health and wellness of 1 in 28 Canadians every day.

September 25th, Gary Colwell, Astronomer

Gary Colwell is an accomplished Amateur Astronomer with 58 years of experience. In 1973, he received the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Award for his research on Comet Kohoutek. Gary has twice been the President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Hamilton Centre, and is currently the President of the North Frontenac Amateur Astronomy Club. Gary played a key role in developing the North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve and has built two Observatories on the Preserve, each housing a 16” and 14” telescope, which he has refurbished. Gary is a sought-after lecturer in astronomy and astrophotography, presenting at “Starfest”, the largest Star Party in Canada, and various RASC Centre’s.