Should we worry about the growing tensions between Taiwan and mainland China?
Peter Casurella
Thursday, April 2, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
As of March 2026, the rising tensions between Taiwan and mainland China are arguably a significant cause for international concern, regarded by analysts as a primary flashpoint for potential global conflict. While experts generally stop short of predicting an imminent full-scale invasion, the risk of miscalculation is rising due to increased military activity, “gray-zone” coercion, and strained US-China relations. The US war with Iran could also significantly increase tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, primarily by creating a strategic diversion that may embolden Beijing.
Lethbridge: A Cycle Commuter’s Dream / Nightmare?
Mathew Hellawell
Thursday, April 9, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Lethbridge and bicycles. Some would say they go together like oil and water. Others might say, “keep your mouth closed if you’re headed west” What is going on in our city and why? As a bike shop owner and an avid cyclist, Mathew is in a unique position. Today he will discuss his own experiences cycle commuting and share some stories from others. He will outline a few things that seem unique to Lethbridge and how we compare to other centers.
How did a Potato Farmer from Chin, AB end up on the Agenda in Davos, Switzerland?
Chris Perry
Thursday, April 16, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
An Alberta farmer represented Canadian agriculture at the World Economic Forum. Chris Perry, a potato farmer from Chin, east of Coaldale, received an invitation from PepsiCo to participate in the January 2026 event in Davos, Switzerland. While in Davos, the fourth-generation farmer participated in two sessions. One was the “Partners in Possibility: Collaborating for Resilient Food Systems” panel, with representatives from PepsiCo, banking, and other industries. That discussion focused on how collaboration among farmers, brands, finance, and policy can move solutions from pilots to true infrastructure.
Is Permanent Daylight Saving Time right for Alberta?
Dr. Mike Antle
Thursday, April 23, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
For the last 50+ years, we’ve been changing our clocks twice a year. While this was originally supposed to save energy, the disruption to our circadian rhythms has led people in countries engaged in this practice to wonder if it is still worth it anymore. While the vast majority of people feel we should “lock our clocks”, deciding on what permanent time to stick with is less clear. Are the choices arbitrary, or are there compelling reasons for one option over the other?
Why Is Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes a Concern? Insights on Ecological Effects of Coal Development
Lorne Fitch, Professional Biologist
Thursday, April 30, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Evidence indicates that the environmental impacts of coal development are negative and incapable of being effectively dealt with by mitigation, compensation, or reclamation. There are significant legacy issues from the existing footprint of coal development and there is no compelling evidence that future coal development will provide any different outcomes. The speaker will argue that more coal development will create more environmental problems. Avoidance of serious, lingering environmental problems will only be achieved by an end to coal development in the Eastern Slopes.
Russian Olive - How Should We Manage This Beautiful Invader?
Kelly Cooley, CoolPro Solutions
Thursday, May 7, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Eurasia introduced to North America in the late 19th century to serve colonizing families as windbreaks to help stem soil erosion. In the 20th and 21st century, Russian Olive became more valued as an ornamental species, and for game bird sport hunters on otherwise vast treeless prairie areas. While Russian Olive has some traditional medicinal and culinary uses in its native Eurasian range, it is now widely considered an aggressive invasive species, particularly in the Western U.
How Can Everyday Observation Become Conservation Action?
Brook Skagen, P.Biol., RTAg., AWB®, Owner and Principal Ecologist of Larkfir Conservation Services
Thursday, May 28, 2026 12:00 PM
Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
Southern Alberta’s grasslands are among the most biodiverse and most endangered ecosystems in the world. Yet they are often perceived as familiar, quiet, or even unremarkable. In landscapes like these, ecological change can unfold gradually and largely unnoticed, allowing species and habitats to decline without broad public awareness. This presentation explores how everyday observation plays a critical role in conservation. Using a local example from southern Alberta, the talk introduces the foundations of ecology, the study of living things and their interactions, and demonstrates how small, consistent acts of noticing can reveal meaningful ecological patterns.