All posts by Whiff Admin

2025 Fall Speakers

Sept 30, 2025: Professor David Wilson,
Celtic Studies Program at St. Michael’s College

Spies, Rogues, and Informers:
Irish Revolutionaries and the Canadian Secret Police

In the mid-nineteenth century a group of Irish revolutionaries, known as the Fenians, set out to destroy Britain’s North American empire. Between 1866 and 1871 they launched a series of armed raids into Canadian territory. revolutionary and conservative movements; David will take us into a dark and dangerous world of betrayal and deception, spies and informers, invasion and assassination, spanning Canada, the United States, Ireland, and Britain. Canadian Spy Story raises fundamental questions about state security and civil liberty, with important lessons for our own time.
 

 

 

Oct 28, 2025: Andrew Coyne,
Columnist & Broadcaster

The Canadian Political Landscape

Andrew Coyne is a Canadian columnist with The Globe and Mail and a member of the At Issue panel on CBC’s The National journalism.

Andrew last spoke to Whiff in November 2017 … some things have changed since then …

 

 

Nov 25, 2025: Professor Matti Siemiatycki, Professor of Geography & Planning, and Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto

Toronto Congestion and Planning

Professor Siemiatycki’s work focuses on delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, evidence based infrastructure investment decisions, and the effective integration of infrastructure into the fabric of cities. His recent studies explore transit policy decisions, the value for money of public-private partnerships, and the development of innovative mixed-use buildings as a form of place based infrastructure policy. He is a highly engaged public scholar with a deep commitment to informing public discourse about city building. He regularly provides advice to governments, civic institutions and industry, and is a frequent commentator in the media and public realm on urban issues, with a honed ability to communicate with various audiences.

June Bash, Monday, June 9, 2025



Your Junta is pleased to announce that the 2025 June Bash will be returning to the RCYC on the Island on MondayJune 9thWe have already received confirmations from 60 Whiffers and guests that they will be attending the 2025 June Bash.  We are hoping for as lovely an early summer evening as we enjoyed at the previous two very successful June Bashes.

The event ticket is $125 per person and it includes:
   — a launch pass to the island;
   — a veranda reception with hors d’oeuvres from 6 -7;
   — followed by a fine dinner with wine in the ballroom.

Peter Baines has again arranged for a short tour of the RCYC’s island facilities conducted by RCYC Archivist and Curator, Beverley Darville, before the reception. Please indicate in your RSVP if you would like to join the tour.

Please Note: RSVPs for the June Bash are NOT complete
until your Interac pre-payment is received before June 5th 
and you receive a final confirmation notice.

Join fellow Whiffers and guests on Monday, June 9th at the RCYC 
The reception at the RCYC begins at 6:00 pm.

Please note: there is a limit of 100 attendees for this meeting.

Sorry, but the deadline to RSVP for the June Bash has passed.

You may send an email to RSVP@Whiff-of-Grape.ca to see if any late reservation slots are still available. Please do NOT send a money transfer until directed to do so by the Treasurer.

Thank you for RSVPing for the October Whiff dinner @B&R

Thank you for RSVPing that you will be attending the next Toronto Whiff meeting 6:00 PM, Tuesday, Oct 28th, 2025

 

Did you get the 2024 Welcome Back letter? Read it here.

To complete your RSVP : You must now make a $115 Interac Payment/pp (add $100 if you haven’t remitted annual dues) to treasurer@whiff-of-grape.ca before 1PM, Thursday Oct 23rd.

[ All charges are INCLUSIVE of 13% Harmonized Sales Tax.  HST Number: 87931 0019 RT 0001 ] [A PDF “cheat sheet” on how to make Interac e-Transfers to the Whiff may be downloaded from here.]

Once payment has been received,  you will be sent a final confirmation along with details regarding the B&R and meeting protocols. Cancel before Oct 23rd as per cancellation policy.

Need to change any of your RSVP response? Click here.

The Whiff of Grape Social Club Inc. HST Number: 87931 0019 RT 0001 RSVP@Whiff-of-Grape.ca www.Whiff-of-grape.ca

October 28, 2025: Meeting Attendees & Notes

List by First Names or Last Names or in RSVPing order.

Yes: 96

No: 16

NameRSVP StatusAssociated AttendeesNote
Robert Adams Yes
Ken Bahen Yes
Peter Baines Yes
Bob Blair Yes
Ted Boyd Yes
William Broughton Yes
Michael Butler Yes Mary Usher-Jones
Roxy Cairncross Yes Jim Cairncross
Jim Cairncross Yes Roxy Cairncross
Roxy Cairncross - garlic intolerance
Charlotte Carter Yes Brian Carter
Brian Carter Yes Charlotte Carter
Barbara Charles Yes Michael Charles
Michael Charles Yes Barbara Charles
Allen Clarke Yes Dale Jeffries
Roger Clarkson Yes
Andrew Coyne Yes
Eleanore Cronk Yes Ian Mackay
Douglas Davis Yes Douglas Davis
Douglas Davis Yes Douglas Davis
Terry Ellwood Yes
Paul Emond Yes
Robert Farquharson Yes John McKernan
Warren Finlay Yes
Tom Fischer Yes
Sue Fleming Yes Jock Fleming
Jock Fleming Yes Sue Fleming
Brett Flint Yes
Ron Foreman Yes Bev Moir
John Fraser Yes
Michael Gardiner Yes
Gary Getson Yes
Chris Girard Yes
Brian William Gray Yes
Rosemary Gray Yes Robert Milnes
John Hackett Yes
Erin Hasley Yes Michael Hasley
Michael Hasley Yes Erin Hasley
George Hayhurst Yes
Gordon Henderson Yes I have a credit for a dinner I paid for last year but couldn't attend. Charles McRae reminded me about this a few weeks ago
Paul Henderson Yes
Patricia Hope Yes Willem (Wim) Kwant
Lindsay Hutton Yes Alan Hutton
Alan Hutton Yes Lindsay Hutton
Robert Hyland Yes
Dale Jeffries Yes Allen Clarke
Michel Maia
Christopher Jones Yes Matt Latella
Peter Ketchum Yes
Willem (Wim) Kwant Yes Patricia Hope
Matt Latella Yes Christopher Jones
Glenn Leslie Yes
Tim Macdonald Yes
Bart MacDougall Yes Ann McCulloch
Ian Mackay Yes Eleanore Cronk
Charles MacRae Yes
Michel Maia Yes Dale Jeffries
Ann McCulloch Yes Bart MacDougall
Lorna McKay Yes Stuart McKay
Stuart McKay Yes Lorna McKay
John McKernan Yes Robert Farquharson
Douglas McWhirter Yes Roberta McWhirter
Roberta McWhirter Yes Douglas McWhirter
Bob Medland Yes
Robert Milnes Yes Rosemary Gray
Bev Moir Yes Ron Foreman
Steven Moorhead Yes Evelyn Moorhead
Evelyn Moorhead Yes Steven Moorhead
Bob Morrison Yes Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison Yes Bob Morrison
David Murray Yes
Kathryn O’Connor Yes Paul Potvin
Daniel Owen Yes
Irene Palmay Yes Frank Palmay
Frank Palmay Yes Irene Palmay
Laura Rocabert-Maila
Bill Pashby Yes no food allergies
Janet Paterson Yes John Paterson, Sr.
John Paterson, Sr. Yes Janet Paterson
Paul Potvin Yes Kathryn O’Connor
Kathryn will contact Peter with her dietary restrictions.
Ken Powell Yes
Burt Retter Yes
Laura Rocabert-Maila Yes Frank Palmay
Tom Sanderson Yes Tim Sanderson
Tim Sanderson Yes Tom Sanderson
Trish Simmie Yes Peter Simmie
Peter Simmie Yes Trish Simmie
John Smith Yes Trish Vakil
Christopher Turney Yes
Mary Usher-Jones Yes Michael Butler
Trish Vakil Yes John Smith
Lee Watchorn Yes
Joyce Westlake Yes Brian Westlake
Brian Westlake Yes Joyce Westlake
Ted White Yes
Richard White Yes
Ken Wiener Yes
John Wildman Yes
Rob Woodrooffe Yes

October 28, 2025 – Attendees & Payments

Show Member version of list - by Status & LastName
List by First Names or Last Names or in RSVPing order. Check-In: shows # paid. Click on  CHECK-IN  to mark  PAID .

Yes: 96

No: 16

Check-In: 88

Check-InNameRSVP Status
Gary Getson Yes
Chris Girard Yes
Christopher Turney Yes
Laura Rocabert-Maila Yes
Frank Palmay Yes
Irene Palmay Yes
Michael Hasley Yes
Erin Hasley Yes
John Wildman Yes
Michel Maia Yes
Allen Clarke Yes
Dale Jeffries Yes
Ted White Yes
Roger Clarkson Yes
Warren Finlay Yes
John Hackett Yes
George Hayhurst Yes
Christopher Jones Yes
Matt Latella Yes
Douglas Davis Yes
Douglas Davis Yes
Steven Moorhead Yes
Evelyn Moorhead Yes
Ken Powell Yes
Charlotte Carter Yes
Brian Carter Yes
Bob Blair Yes
Paul Emond Yes
Ted Boyd Yes
Brett Flint Yes
Roberta McWhirter Yes
Douglas McWhirter Yes
Tom Sanderson Yes
Tim Sanderson Yes
Robert Adams Yes
Tom Fischer Yes
David Murray Yes
Tim Macdonald Yes
Patricia Hope Yes
Willem (Wim) Kwant Yes
Peter Ketchum Yes
Toni Morrison Yes
Bob Morrison Yes
Eleanore Cronk Yes
Ian Mackay Yes
Daniel Owen Yes
Brian William Gray Yes
Lee Watchorn Yes
Robert Farquharson Yes
John McKernan Yes
Burt Retter Yes
Bob Medland Yes
Mary Usher-Jones Yes
Michael Butler Yes
Michael Gardiner Yes
Brian Westlake Yes
Joyce Westlake Yes
Rob Woodrooffe Yes
Alan Hutton Yes
Lindsay Hutton Yes
Barbara Charles Yes
Michael Charles Yes
Charles MacRae Yes
Ann McCulloch Yes
Bart MacDougall Yes
Richard White Yes
Ron Foreman Yes
Bev Moir Yes
John Fraser Yes
Jock Fleming Yes
Sue Fleming Yes
John Paterson, Sr. Yes
Janet Paterson Yes
William Broughton Yes
Bill Pashby Yes
Paul Henderson Yes
Terry Ellwood Yes
Kathryn O’Connor Yes
Paul Potvin Yes
Glenn Leslie Yes
Gordon Henderson Yes
Roxy Cairncross Yes
Jim Cairncross Yes
Stuart McKay Yes
Lorna McKay Yes
Rosemary Gray Yes
Robert Milnes Yes
Peter Baines Yes
Robert Hyland Yes
Ken Bahen Yes
Ken Wiener Yes
Trish Simmie Yes
Peter Simmie Yes
John Smith Yes
Trish Vakil Yes
Andrew Coyne Yes

October 28, 2025 – Who’s Attending?

Please note that there is a limit of 100 attendees at this meeting.
List by First Names or Last Names or in RSVPing order or by RSVP STATUS.

Yes: 96

No: 16

NameRSVP Status
Alan Hutton Yes
Bart MacDougall Yes
Bill Pashby Yes
Bob Blair Yes
Bob Medland Yes
Bob Morrison Yes
Brett Flint Yes
Brian Westlake Yes
Brian Carter Yes
Brian William Gray Yes
Burt Retter Yes
Charles MacRae Yes
Christopher Jones Yes
Christopher Turney Yes
Dale Jeffries Yes
Daniel Owen Yes
David Murray Yes
Douglas Davis Yes
Douglas McWhirter Yes
Frank Palmay Yes
Gary Getson Yes
George Hayhurst Yes
Glenn Leslie Yes
Gordon Henderson Yes
Trish Vakil Yes
Ian Mackay Yes
Jim Cairncross Yes
Jock Fleming Yes
John Paterson, Sr. Yes
John Fraser Yes
John Hackett Yes
John McKernan Yes
John Smith Yes
John Wildman Yes
Ken Bahen Yes
Ken Powell Yes
Ken Wiener Yes
Lee Watchorn Yes
Michael Butler Yes
Michael Charles Yes
Michael Gardiner Yes
Michael Hasley Yes
Andrew Coyne Yes
Paul Emond Yes
Paul Henderson Yes
Paul Potvin Yes
Peter Ketchum Yes
Peter Baines Yes
Peter Simmie Yes
Richard White Yes
Rob Woodrooffe Yes
Robert Adams Yes
Robert Hyland Yes
Robert Milnes Yes
Roger Clarkson Yes
Ron Foreman Yes
Steven Moorhead Yes
Stuart McKay Yes
Ted Boyd Yes
Ted White Yes
Terry Ellwood Yes
Tim Macdonald Yes
Tom Fischer Yes
Tom Sanderson Yes
Warren Finlay Yes
Willem (Wim) Kwant Yes
William Broughton Yes
Trish Simmie Yes
Irene Palmay Yes
Rosemary Gray Yes
Lorna McKay Yes
Roxy Cairncross Yes
Kathryn O’Connor Yes
Janet Paterson Yes
Sue Fleming Yes
Bev Moir Yes
Ann McCulloch Yes
Barbara Charles Yes
Lindsay Hutton Yes
Joyce Westlake Yes
Mary Usher-Jones Yes
Chris Girard Yes
Robert Farquharson Yes
Allen Clarke Yes
Eleanore Cronk Yes
Toni Morrison Yes
Patricia Hope Yes
Tim Sanderson Yes
Roberta McWhirter Yes
Evelyn Moorhead Yes
Charlotte Carter Yes
Douglas Davis Yes
Matt Latella Yes
Michel Maia Yes
Erin Hasley Yes
Laura Rocabert-Maila Yes
Bill McNaughton No
Clifford Lax No
Dave Pelletier No
Don Johnson No
Doug Mills No
George Denier No
Henry Borden No
Ian Brown No
Jack Way No
Mark Nesbitt No
Michael Willson No
Mike Charles No
Peter Goring No
Tom Leverty No
William Hewitt No
Sally Medland No
Aubrey Baillie No Response
Anthony Miller No Response
Bev Collombin No Response
Bill Boughner No Response
Bill Barnett No Response
Bill Fleury No Response
Chris Portner No Response
Dan Sullivan No Response
David G. Temple No Response
David Cameron No Response
Don Comish No Response
Garnet Watchorn No Response
Gary Durno No Response
Germán Morales No Response
Gil Lamothe No Response
Gordon Tamblyn No Response
Graeme Clark No Response
Hank Bulmash No Response
Ian Farquharson No Response
Jean-Luc Major No Response
Jim Matthews No Response
John Gardner No Response
Jon Allen No Response
Lake Trevelyan No Response
Mike Innes No Response
Mike Miller No Response
Norair Yeretsian No Response
Norman Hardie No Response
Patrick Reid No Response
Paul Warrington No Response
Peter Douglas No Response
Peter Sisam No Response
Robin Barstow No Response
Robin Labatt No Response
Rod de Courcy Ireland No Response
Rudi Vezér No Response
Sarwar Kashmeri No Response
Tom Jamieson No Response
William Kinnear No Response
z-No Response z-RSVP Management No Response

Thank you for RSVPing for the Whiff@RCMI dinner

Thank you for RSVPing that you will be attending the next Toronto Whiff@RCMI meeting which starts at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, Mar 26th, 2024

To complete your RSVP: Please make a $110 (HST included) Interac Payment/pp to treasurer@whiff-of-grape.ca (add $100 (HST included) if you haven’t yet remitted annual dues) before 1pm, Thurs Mar 21st. [A PDF “cheat sheet” on how to make Interac e-Transfers to the Whiff may be downloaded from here.]

Once payment has been received, you will be sent a final confirmation along with details regarding the RCMI and meeting protocols. Cancel before Mar 21st as per cancellation policy.

Need to change any of your RSVP response? Click here.

The Whiff of Grape Social Club Inc. HST Number: 87931 0019 RT 0001 Toronto@Whiff-of-Grape.ca www.Whiff-of-grape.ca

Speakers: Provide details of your upcoming talk

Thank you for providing the Whiff’s Speakers Bureau with the following details regarding your upcoming talk to The Whiff of Grape. N.B., the fields labeled in this colour  are solely for the use of Whiff Board members and are not made public.
 


    6-10 P.M.
    (optional)







    Bio Photo:
    Other:       
                     
                     

    AV needed to accompany your talk::
    (A Windows laptop with PowerPoint and a laser pointer are available for your use. The venue’s projector connection is an HDMI port)



     




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    Submit a Speaker’s Bio

    Thank you for providing the Whiff’s Speakers Bureau with the following details regarding your upcoming talk to The Whiff of Grape. [Click here for the explanatory text for each piece of information requested below.] N.B., the fields labeled in this colour are solely for the use of Whiff Board members and are not made public.



      6-10 P.M.
      (optional)







      Bio Photo:
      Other:       
                       
                       

      AV needed to accompany your talk::
      (A Windows laptop with PowerPoint and a laser pointer are available for your use. The venue’s projector connection is an HDMI port)



       




      This form uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your data is processed.