Courses
150th Anniversary of Ross Bay Cemetery
John Adams, the author of the Historic Guide to Ross Bay Cemetery, will share memories of the cemetery and discuss gathered research. You will learn about cemetery design, monument styles, famous and not-so-famous people buried at Ross Bay.
Read MoreA Buddhist Guide to a Compassionate Life
Universal compassion is the heart of Mahayan Buddhism. In this course, you will explore how to live a meaningful life through following the path of a Bodhisattva.
Read MoreAccepting Loss and Change in Our Life
Experiencing and dealing with unwanted changes is often a very painful part of life. Instead of allowing adversities to make us unhappy and discouraged, we can use them to enhance our spiritual growth and thereby maintain a pure and peaceful mind all the time.
Read MoreA History of the James Bay Neighbourhood
Learn about the history of James Bay, Victoria’s oldest residential district, from the 1840s to today.
Read MoreA History of Ross Bay Cemetery
Ross Bay Cemetery is a designated heritage site and one of British Columbia’s most iconic Victorian era cemeteries. John Adams, author of A Historic Guide to Ross Bay Cemetery and long-time member of the Old Cemeteries Society, will trace the origins of the cemetery from 1872 to the present day.
Read MoreA New Look at James Bay History
In this richly illustrated look at the history of James Bay, instructor John Adams brings an updated focus to the past looking at Indigenous origins and current involvement, Hudson’s Bay Company farms, gold-rush-era land speculation, locating the colonial and provincial government buildings, industrialization, zoning for high-rise apartments in the 1950s and 1960s and the eventual backlash against them.
Read MoreAmerican Democracy on Trial: the 2024 US National Elections
n this talk on the 2024 US national elections, months before the actual election date in November, Professor Prince will discuss the state of American democracy.
Read MoreAncient Wisdom for Modern Times
When Seneca retired he was glad to resume his philosophical studies. He was inspired by reading a collection of Epicurus’ letters to draft his own Letters to Lucilius, which became his greatest masterpiece.
Read MoreAn Introduction to Humanities
An introduction to the various ways in which scholars from different disciplines in the Humanities interpret, analyze and evaluate texts.
Read MoreAn Introduction to Neuroscience
Advances in neuroscience have provided insight into all aspects of our lives. In this course, you will learn the basics of neuroscience: neurons, sensory perception, vision, motor control, attention and memory.
Read MoreAn Introduction to Art and Architecture in the Islamic World
The development of Muslim religious and social practices gave rise to a tradition of Islamic art and architecture that includes everything from mosques and charitable foundations such as hospitals and soup kitchens to richly painted books featuring epic stories and poetry.
Read MoreA Short History of Vampires
UVic’s Dr. Peter Gölz will present an overview of the history of vampires in legends and films, showing how vampires became the most successful myth of the 20th century.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence and You
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been called "the new electricity" because it is reshaping our lives. How will AI do that? Find out as we separate fact from hype.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence in Border Management
In this course you will be introduced to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and learn about their practical applications in both trade facilitation and trade enforcement.
Read MoreAstronomy from Space
Space Astronomy has the advantage over ground-based observations of being able to collect data in wavelength ranges that do not penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, as well as providing clear images not affected by that atmosphere.
Read MoreAtlantis: Fact, Fiction or Fantasy
Ever since the story of Atlantis was first articulated in Plato’s dialogues more than 2300 years ago it has caused more controversy than the Shroud of Turin.
Read MoreBeing Religious in the 21st Century
In this course, you will explore the study of religion in society. You will discuss how religion has changed overtime and its current state in the United States, Canada, Denmark and France.
Read MoreBeing Religious in the 21st Century: An Intro to the Sociology of Religion
The majority view in the sociological study of religion used to be that religion was on its way out in the Global North. While there were some notable holdouts, like the United States, other nations like Canada, Denmark, and France were becoming increasingly secular. Yet, today, while there has been a decline in some religious organizations, others are flourishing.
Read MoreBoosting or Maintaining Your Brain Power as You Get Older
This presentation looks at ways to maintain or boost brain power through lifestyle choices, especially the role of physical activity which is the number one way to preserve memory and other cognitive functions.
Read MoreThe Law of Borders in the 21st Century
In this course you will learn about the complex object of the border through the prism of law.
Read MoreChina’s Belt and Road Initiative: Multiple Perspectives
China’s Belt and Road Initiative involves development projects in over 100 countries. In this course, we focus on Eurasia where it includes both overland and sea routes designed to kick start regional connectivity and economic growth.
Read MoreChinese New Year Customs
John Adams, author of Chinese Victoria, will explain how the date of the annual event is calculated, how the twelve Chinese zodiac animals were chosen and show many of the items popularly used in the celebrations.
Read MoreChinese Victoria: History of Victoria's Chinatown
Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest, permanent, urban Chinese community in Canada—dating back to the 1858 Gold Rush on the Fraser River.
Read MoreChristmas in Old Victoria
Find out how Christmas was observed in Victoria during the 19th century, from the annual decoration of the churches to the competition between butcher shops for the fanciest store window displays.
Read MoreConflict Over the Land Shared by Israelis and Palestinians: A Background
During fall 2023, an approximately century-long conflict over the land shared by Israel and Palestine reached an acutely violent point with some 1200 killings and 200-300 hostage-takings by Hamas, and a massive retaliatory bombardment of, and ground operation in Gaza by Israel.
Read MoreConspiracies and Radicalization in the "Post-Truth" Era
To better understand the rapid spread of conspiratorial thinking and extremist ideologies.
Read MoreConspiracies, Extremism and Radicalization in the 21st Century
What does it mean to be a conspiracy theorist? What can lead someone from sharing memes about the Reptiloids or the Illuminati online, to storming the halls of the United States Capitol buildings?
Read MoreConspiratorial Thinking in the Age of COVID
Our social media networks have become filled with strange claims: that Bill Gates is micro-chipping us through our COVID vaccines, that COVID itself is a hoax, etc. How do some of us come to believe such wild claims?
Read MoreCultural Property
The related concepts of Cultural Property, Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture are considered nationally and internationally in contexts including Intellectual Property, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law and International Law as these areas pertain to cultural artifacts and intangible cultural expressions.
Read MoreCross Border Management in Comparative Perspective
In this course you will join experts from around the world to examine local and regional changes affecting the politics and policies of cross border regions and transboundary people.
Read MoreDead (Wo)men Do Tell Tales: The Archaeology of Death
The dead are all around us, but they are not silent. They are invoked and recycled in daily life, present in the world around us, and yet, what can the funerary practices of a society tell us about the living?
Read MoreDecolonization and Cultural Safety
As part of the Fundamentals for the Homelessness Serving Sector, we will be offering a course on Decolonization and Cultural Safety in fall 2023.
Read MoreDevelopment of Centennial Square
Centennial Square was created in the early 1960s to mark Victoria’s 100th anniversary as a city with mayor and council. The history, development and evolution of the square will be the topics of John Adams’s illustrated talk.
Read MoreDoing Philosophy is Learning to Die
In 1580 the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne wrote his essay Doing Philosophy is Learning to Die, recycling many passages and ideas from his favourite Latin philosophers, especially Lucretius and Seneca. We will explore the Latin sources and historical context of Montaigne’s essay as well as his ways of thinking and writing.
Read MoreEarth’s Final Frontier – A Journey into the Abyss
In this session, participants will dive into the deepest reaches of our oceans, and learn how these alien environments have influenced our knowledge of who we are and what lies beyond our solar system as well as mysteries the depths could help us unravel in the future.
Read MoreEcclesiastes and the Meaning of Life
Ecclesiastes (Qohelet in Hebrew) is arguably the most enigmatic book of the Hebrew Bible. This course explores historical, literary and theological aspects of Ecclesiastes and its relevance in present times.
Read MoreEcological Border Management
In the era of the Anthropocene, as aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra biomes are being affected by important ecological changes, management issues are rising beyond state boundary lines.
Read MoreEco-Philosophy and Deep Ecology at the End of the World
Many people worry that the earth is in danger. An interesting question is: if this is how it is, how should we live in these times? Inspired by the work of a medieval Japanese monk, this presentation explores how diverse eco-philosophers understand our connection with nature, and how to live in a way that honours it.
Read MoreElections to the European Parliament: What is at stake?
In June 2024 European citizens go to the ballot box to elect their new parliament. Does it matter? What is at stake?
Read MoreEmily Carr's James Bay
Emily Carr was born in Victoria’s James Bay neighbourhood in 1871 and died there in 1945. Instructor John Adams will bring to life the places, people and events that featured in Emily’s world.
Read MoreEmpire and Desire: The Ottoman Palace in Western Imagination
Topkapı Palace served as the seat of Ottoman imperial power for 400 years.
Read MoreFairfield History
Before 1843, what did the terrain of Fairfield look like, where were the village sites of the Indigenous inhabitants, and how were the streams and waterways used as a shortcut from Ross Bay to the Inner Harbour?
Read MoreFalls Prevention for Seniors
Falls can be very serious and have lasting effects, however many falls are preventable.
Read MoreForensic Anthropology of the Human Skeleton
This six-part series will examine topics of forensic anthropology and concepts relating to the recovery and analysis of unidentified human remains in a medico-legal context.
Read MoreFreedom from Anger and Resentment
Anger, from minor annoyance to complete meltdown, afflicts our minds almost daily. Resentment is even worse because it holds on to this anger, becoming a destructive force of unhappiness.
Read MoreFriends and Friendships
Friendships can be an important source of inspiration and support. Each participant will identify some notable friends, investigate their relationship and share with the group what they find.
Read MoreGender and Sexuality
As part of our new offering on Fundamentals for the Homelessness Serving Sector, we will be offering a course on Gender and Sexuality, where , learners are introduced to gender-based and LGBTQIA2S+ issues related to homelessness. Leaners are also introduced to best practices for supporting individuals experiencing gender-based violence and individuals engaged in sex work.
Read MoreGhosts and Legends of Victoria
As October draws to a close, people begin to think of Halloween. Historian John Adams has been collecting ghost stories from Victoria for 25 years and will share some of the classics and some of the most intriguing during this presentation.
Read MoreHomelessness and Housing First Principles
As part of our new offering on Fundamentals for the Homelessness Serving Sector, we will be offering a course on the different types of homelessness and housing first principles. Learners are also introduced to person-centered and trauma-informed support techniques using a decolonized and anti-stigma approach.
Read MoreHow to be Fairly Cheerful
Being in a state of constant happiness is an unrealistic hope, but a less ambitious plan can be realized: staying fairly cheerful in the face of life’s disappointments, adversities and frustrations.
Read MoreHow to Enjoy a Life of Altruism
In this course we will learn practical ways to apply the Six Perfections and follow a way of life characterized by greater empathy and compassion for others.
Read MoreHow to Give a Great Presentation
Dr. Krigolson will provide tips on how to give an outstanding presentation including how to engage your audience, how to speak and how to design good slides.
Read MoreHuman Evolution
Bringing together the evidence from the fossil record, recent genetic advances, and the archaeological data, we will examine the biological and cultural characteristics that define humans, as well as the major theories for how such characteristics evolved.
Read MoreIndigenous Intellectual Property
The premise of this course is that the articulation, restatement, and development of indigenous intellectual property law must derive from indigenous legal orders as an integral part of the societal governance.
Read MoreIndigenous Internationalisms and Border Crossings
Expressions of Indigenous internationalism are practiced in several different ways by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Turtle Island and globally.
Read MoreIntroduction to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
An interdisciplinary exploration of the history, theory and practice of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Focuses on understanding the origins and evolution of EDI frameworks, and the recent boom of EDI initiatives in the workplace in response to social movements.
Read MoreIntercultural Communication in the Workplace
As a global citizen, an understanding of cultural difference and ability to communicate effectively with diverse communities is critical for work in both local and international settings.
Read MoreIntellectual Property
A study of the concepts, principles, and policies of intellectual property law, the relationship and boundary issues between types of intellectual property as well as broader dimensions of cultural creativity.
Read MoreIntroduction to Canadian Contemporary Issues
An introduction to contemporary issues in Canadian society including: politics, economic and social structures, cultural and arts policy, science and technology, multiculturalism, bilingualism, Indigenous issues and gender issues.
Read MoreIntroduction to Canadian Culture
An introduction to the multidisciplinary study of cultural structures and expression in Canada, including such forms as literature, fine arts, mass media and communications.
Read MoreIntroduction to Intercultural Studies
An interdisciplinary exploration of theory and practice in the field of intercultural studies. Focuses on understanding the application of intercultural concepts and theories to effect social change.
Read MoreIntroduction to the Human Dimensions of Climate Change
This course examines a range of understandings of and approaches to addressing climate change. It explores what kind of problems climate change poses; what toolkits are needed to develop and engage it effectively; how to collaborate across diverse priorities in relation to it; and what scales and kinds of actions should be prioritized.
Read MoreIssues and Ideas in Canadian Environmentalism
This course offers an opportunity to explore how the physical environment of this country shapes the Canadian people.
Read MoreKarma and the Power to Change
Often when things go wrong we look for someone to blame or we conclude that life is unfair. This may lead to feelings of resentment, guilt or shame. In this course, you will examine the perspective of the Buddhist concept of karma, which holds that our intentions are the causes and our experiences are the effects.
Read MoreLove that Heals
Love is a powerful force for healing, transformation and forgiveness. It has the power to gradually overcome anger and resentment, and to pave the way for stable relationships.
Read MoreMaking Sense of the Self - Western & Eastern Approaches to “Who am I?”
In this course, we will explore the "self" from the lens of both Eastern Wisdom Traditions and contemporary Western Psychology.
Read MoreManaging Borders and Bodies in the 21st Century
In this course you will learn about the various ways that international actors and states manage the flow of people across international borders.
Read MoreManaging Intellectual Property
Explores strategies, processes, and frameworks for obtaining, retaining, assigning, and licensing selected Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) including entertainment related IPRs in music and film.
Read MoreMeditation for a Peaceful Heart
The key to a happy life is learning to reside in a peaceful heart. This is something we can all learn to do.
Read MoreMental Health and Substance Use & Supporting Others, Caring for Yourself
In this interactive, hands-on workshop, you will have the opportunity to discuss topics related to working in the homelessness serving sector.
Read MoreMindfulness and our Search for Meaning
Mindfulness practice is pervasive today, with various claims about its effectiveness. Yet a big question about mindfulness meditation remains unasked: what does it mean? In this presentation, we look back into more traditional discussions of this practice to find various detailed discussions of meaning.
Read MoreModern Border Security Management
Border security management is a complex multiplayer effort grounded in vertical/horizontal, domestic/international, and public/private partnerships.
Read MoreMurder, Bodysnatching, and Anatomization in England, 1752-1832
In 1752 the British government sought to punish murder more effectively by passing a law that imposed postmortem dissection upon all people convicted of that crime.
Read MoreNetworks and Borderlands: Bordering Processes in the 21st Century
In this first lecture, we'll establish the framework for our future discussions. What do borders look like in the 21st Century? Does it make sense to talk about borders in digital spaces, and if so, what do they look like? How do online social movements and ideologies engage in bordering processes?
Read MoreNetworks of Rage: Far-Right Extremism Online
In this lecture, we will assess how far-right activism in North America has used digital landscapes to effectively transcend national borders. We will examine some of the ways that far-right ideologies emerge, how they use the internet and social media first to organize, and then to spread internationally.
Read MoreNerdology: The Sociology of Video Games and Digital Media
This course will discuss video games as the revolutionary creative and commercial products they are.
Read MoreNlaka’pamux Responses to Museum-Building, 1880-1920
Nlaka’pamux communities in south central British Columbia experienced a surge of traditional cultural activity (buckskin work, basket-making, weaving, storytelling, etc.) between 1895 and 1920.
Read MoreNot Just a Little Bit of Olde England
For years Victoria had the reputation for being so very English. Local historian John Adams will sort fact from fiction and show that there was a lot more diversity in the city than tourism promoters, beginning in the 1920s, wanted us to believe.
Read More-ologies and -ologists
Words ending in “-ology” refer to a branch of learning or the study of a particular subject and “ologists” are people studying or learning about an “-ology”.
Read MoreOrganizational Diversity and Inclusion
Learn to identify the barriers to diversity and inclusion in organizations, and develop the knowledge and skills to build respectful, equitable, and innovative workplaces.
Read MorePatent Law
A study of the principles and practical implications of patent protection in Canada. Discussions include the fundamental concepts of patentability, validity, infringement, and commercial exploitation of patentable technology, including pharmaceutical and biotechnological product and process protection.
Read MorePerson-centred Procedures
As part of our new offering on Fundamentals for the Homelessness Serving Sector, we will be offering a course on Person-centred Procedures, where learners are introduced to best practices for record-keeping, resolving conflict, crisis management and critical incident debriefing.
Read MorePolitics, Policies and Planning for Climate Action
This course uses British Columbia as a case study to introduce the policy and political contexts that shape climate action across scales from local to global, including relevant institutional and governance innovations.
Read MorePopulism in the EU: Brothers of Italy, Boris and the BBB
The rise of populism in the EU has often been attributed to the failure of the EU to deal with crises.
Read MorePublic Health in Colonial Nigeria: Morals, Ethics and State Power
Drawing from multiple archival sources on colonial sanitation laws and methods used to enforce them, Dr. Alade will explore how some public health officials used state power during the British colonial administration of Nigeria.
Read MoreResponsibilities and Reciprocity in the Place You are Now
This introductory survey course centers local lands and Coast Salish protocols to highlight relationships of land, water and people, including what it means to be a good guest here.
Read MoreRussia’s War on Ukraine
This talk will provide an overview of the Russo-Ukrainian war since the beginning of Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022.
Read MoreSilencing the Inner Critic
Many of us have a tendency to be excessively self-critical, self doubting, and lacking in confidence. In this course, we will learn how to use Buddhist insights and wisdom to free ourselves from self critical thoughts and attitudes and recognize our potential for limitless inner peace and mental freedom.
Read MoreSkepticism and Critical Thinking in the 21st Century
In light of growing anti-intellectualism, we are faced with a daunting prospect - a world where facts matter less than popularity, and where certainty threatens to replace truth. We are entering what some scholars refer to as a post-truth age and it is happening at a perilous time.
Read MoreSocial Networks: How Conspiracy Theories Move in Digital Spaces
Today, conspiracy theorists from around the world can come together, share their beliefs, and develop new ones to then be spread through our social media networks. How does this happen? Why do they spread so quickly, and what can be done about it?
Read MoreSpecial Topics in Canadian Studies
This online course explores the history, achievements and possibilities inherent in grassroots organizations in Canada, using examples from across the country but with a focus on British Columbia movements.
Read MoreSpill Response on Canada's West Coast
This presentation will explore the history of oil spill response in Canada and the development of Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) on the West Coast.
Read MoreStories in Stone: Rock Art Around the World
For thousands of years, paint and stone have been used all over the world to make art. From painting on rock surfaces, to meticulous grinding of pigments and stone, rock art in the form of pictographs and petroglyphs is one of the most intriguing cultural expressions.
Read MoreSupporting Others, Caring for Self
As part of the Fundamentals for the Homelessness Serving Sector, we will soon be offering a course on Supporting Others, Caring for Self.
Read MoreTelling Aisha’s Story: Oral History with a Palestinian Miller
Historian Elizabeth Vibert shares the challenges and outcomes of her oral history project in a Palestinian refugee camp.
Read MoreThe Changing Face of Victoria's Chinatown in the 21st Century
In 1995 Victoria’s Chinatown was designated a national historic site of Canada because it is the oldest surviving Chinatown in Canada, it was the largest urban centre of Chinese population in Canada until the first decade of the twentieth centu
Read MoreThe Epicurean Way of Life
Death is nothing to be feared, there are no intimidating gods in the world, and what's good to have is easy to get, once you learn how to distinguish real good from illusory goods.
Read MoreThe Myths That Plato Told – Part 1
In this discussion seminar we select two of these stories, connecting Plato's treatment with other ancient sources and interpreting the myths in terms of Plato's own philosophy.
Read MoreThe Myths That Plato Told – Part 2
After people die, where do their souls go? And what happens to them? Plato explored this question in three different works and three different ways, each time by creating a new myth out of elements of traditional Greek mythology.
Read MoreThe Myths that Plato Told - Part 3
Why is sexual desire a good thing? This was the topic chosen by Agathon and his guests at the famous Symposium of Plato. In this seminar, focusing on myths of love, you will read and discuss the main speeches in this influential work, including the Origin of Love delivered by Aristophanes and the Ladder of Love delivered by Socrates.
Read MoreThe Neuroscience of Aging
In this session Dr. Krigolson will discuss how the brain grows from conception to birth and then how it ages throughout the lifespan.
Read MoreThe Neuroscience of Human Decision Making
Recent advances in neuroscience have helped us understand how we make decisions. In this talk, your instructor will review these advances and provide practical applications of these concepts.
Read MoreThe Neuroscience of Human Learning
In this session, Dr. Krigolson will take you through the neuroscience of human learning.
Read MoreThe Neuroscience of Sleep
Sleep is the single biggest factor that influences brain health and the impact of sleep on brain health becomes increasingly more important as we age. In this talk, Dr. Krigolson will outline the physiological mechanisms behind sleep and how sleep works.
Read MoreThe Prime Minister’s Office in Canada: From Sanctuary to Command
This talk examines the unexpected origins of the Prime Minister’s office in the 1920s and 1930s, its restructuring in the 1960s, and its eventual emergence as a centre of decision-making filled with unelected advisors.
Read MoreThe Sculpting of Myth and Imagination
The flat lands of Tuktoyaktuk to the ice cap of Greenland and … the little grub that defies hibernation.
Read MoreThe Social Construction of Borders
Borders help to define citizenship and to exclude the unwelcome and Other. But what of culture? Does cultural identity stop (or start) at the border?
Read MoreThe Storm Rises: Qanon as Conspiracy and Quasi-religious Movement
Of all the conspiratorial claims to have emerged in the past five years, perhaps the most bizarre—and dangerous—is Qanon, a paranoid, conspiratorial movement that has in recent years taken on an almost religious dynamic. What is this movement? What do its followers believe? Why do some of its more lurid elements feel so familiar?
Read MoreThe Wisdom of Proverbs
Proverbs offers a much richer understanding of the meaning of wisdom throughout the Bible and in our own lives. This course uses a combined lecture and seminar format with plenty of time for discussion and questions.
Read MoreThinking About Religion Today
The study of religion is currently characterized by provocative developments calling into question the conceptual basis for this field of study.
Read MoreTrade and Customs Borders in the 21st Century
In this course you will learn about the regulatory environment of trading networks and how they functionally redesign borders and influence customs policies and practices.
Read MoreTransformation in Complex Systems
This course introduces skills needed to support planning and decision-making about climate action under conditions of uncertainty, with particular attention to assessing sites for and implications of specific interventions.
Read MoreTroy Revisited
Troy is a well-known legendary city and an archeological site in the northwest corner of Turkey. Homer’s Illiad defines a walled-city in front of which the Acheans and the Trojans launched a fierce battle for Helene’s sake.
Read MoreUkraine and the Middle East: Impact and Responses
In this talk, you will learn about the impact that the Ukraine war had on the Middle East. We will explore and discuss topics such as food security and energy prices. This talk will also consider how regimes and populations have responded to Russia’s invasion.
Read MoreUniversity 101
A desire to learn is all you need for University 101. This non-credit course in the humanities is for you if your economic and social circumstances normally pose obstacles to university education (e.g., low income, mental health challenges, single parenthood, homelessness).
Read MoreUniversity 102
A desire to learn is all you need for University 102. This non-credit course in the social sciences is offered to people whose personal, economic and social circumstances might pose obstacles to university education (e.g., low income, physical or mental health challenges, work and family responsibilities or lack of opportunity).
Read MoreUniversity 201
University 201 is a course for people who have completed at least one of the University 101 or 102 courses. The course runs in all three academic terms and covers a wide range of different topics on a monthly basis.
Read MoreUVic’s Transformative Climate Action Program: What can it do for you?
Are you looking to develop the skills and knowledge to develop, lead and support effective climate action across diverse sectors? Join us for one of our free 30-minute Zoom information sessions where we will introduce you to the Transformative Climate Action Certificate and micro-credential options.
Read MoreVictoria 100 Years Ago: A Look at 1923
Join local historian John Adams for a trip to the Victoria of 1923. You’ll learn about the Chinese Students Strike, a proposed curfew for children, plans for the CPR’s Steamship Terminal... and more!
Read MoreVictoria in the 1960s
The decade of the 1960s was a pivotal time in Victoria. High rise apartments were sprouting up in James Bay. The first malls were being built in suburban areas. Heritage preservation projects started with Centennial Square and Bastion Square. In this presentation, you will hear from historian John Adams for an illustrated talk about the fascinating 1960s in Victoria.
Read MoreVictorian Cities of the Dead
Some of BC’s most impressive 19th century cemeteries are located in Victoria, and instructor John Adams knows them intimately.
Read MoreVictoria's Industrial History
In this illustrated talk, John Adams will explain the origins and operation of the most important industries, and reasons for their demise.
Read MoreWant to Save the Planet? Eat Better Food
Agriculture is the world’s single largest driver of climate change and the sector most affected by it. Agricultural irrigation has doubled in the past 50 years and now consumes greater than 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals while synthetic fertilizer use increased 500 per cent.
Read MoreWhat is the Meaning of Suffering?
It is impossible to live a life without suffering. Yet, we all respond to suffering in different ways; it means something different to different people.
Read MoreWhy Philosophy? Aristotle's Lost Dialogue Protrepticus
Aristotle's masterful introduction to philosophy inspired many later authors from Epicurus to Cicero and Iamblichus. Recent scholarship has authenticated large citations from this work, which can now be reconstructed as a witty dialogue. In this seminar, you will read and discuss this reconstructed dialogue.
Read More