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 September Whiff dinner @B&R

Thank you for RSVPing that you will be attending the next Toronto Whiff meeting 6:00 PM, Tuesday, Sep 30th, 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 Sep 25th.

[ 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 Sep 25th 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

September 30, 2025: Meeting Attendees & Notes

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

Yes: 70

No: 23

NameRSVP StatusAssociated AttendeesNote
Robert Adams Yes
Peter Baines Yes
Ted Boyd Yes Brian Westlake
William Broughton Yes
Ian Brown Yes
Jim Cairncross Yes
Brian Carter Yes
Michael Charles Yes Barbara Charles
Barbara Charles Yes Michael Charles
Mike Charles Yes
Roger Clarkson Yes
Ann Collombin Yes Bev Collombin
Bev Collombin Yes Ann Collombin
Douglas Davis Yes
George Denier Yes
Peter Douglas Yes
Terry Ellwood Yes
Paul Emond Yes
Ron Foreman Yes
John Gardner Yes Jaime Stafford
Gary Getson Yes
Chris Girard Yes Brian Westlake
Brian William Gray Yes
John Hackett Yes
Paul Henderson Yes
Gordon Henderson Yes
William Hewitt Yes
Patricia Hope Yes Willem (Wim) Kwant
Alan Hutton Yes
Robert Hyland Yes Cathie Hyland
Cathie Hyland Yes Robert Hyland
Tom Jamieson Yes
Dale Jeffries Yes Nelly Jeffries
Nelly Jeffries Yes Dale Jeffries
Christopher Jones Yes Dr. Bill Williams
Peter Ketchum Yes
Willem (Wim) Kwant Yes Patricia Hope
Tom Leverty Yes
Tim Macdonald Yes
Stuart McKay Yes
John McKernan Yes
Bill McNaughton Yes
Douglas McWhirter Yes
Colin Meredith Yes Mark Nesbitt
Robert Milnes Yes
Steven Moorhead Yes
Mark Nesbitt Yes Colin Meredith
John Paterson, Sr. Yes
Dave Pelletier Yes
Paul Potvin Yes
Ken Powell Yes
Maureen Quigley Yes Patrick Reid
Patrick Reid Yes Maureen Quigley
Burt Retter Yes
Peter Russel Yes Lee Watchorn
Tom Sanderson Yes
Peter Simmie Yes
John Smith Yes Trish Vakil
Jaime Stafford Yes John Gardner
Gordon Tamblyn Yes
Christopher Turney Yes
Trish Vakil Yes John Smith
Rudi Vezer Yes
Lee Watchorn Yes Peter Russel
Brian Westlake Yes Ted Boyd
Chris Girard
Ted White Yes
John Wildman Yes
Dr. Bill Williams Yes Christopher Jones
David A. Wilson Yes I don't eat meat or shellfish. Salmon, sole, haddock etc are fine, as is vegetarian food.
Norair Yeretsian Yes

Sept 30, 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: 70

No: 23

Check-In: 70

Check-InNameRSVP Status
Rudi Vezer Yes
Steven Moorhead Yes
Mike Charles Yes
Cathie Hyland Yes
Gordon Tamblyn Yes
Brian William Gray Yes
John Hackett Yes
Roger Clarkson Yes
Douglas McWhirter Yes
Tom Jamieson Yes
Tom Leverty Yes
Tom Sanderson Yes
Maureen Quigley Yes
Patrick Reid Yes
Christopher Turney Yes
Peter Douglas Yes
Christopher Jones Yes
Dr. Bill Williams Yes
John Paterson, Sr. Yes
John Wildman Yes
Ann Collombin Yes
Bev Collombin Yes
Paul Emond Yes
Tim Macdonald Yes
Robert Hyland Yes
Norair Yeretsian Yes
Ken Powell Yes
Ron Foreman Yes
Dave Pelletier Yes
Paul Potvin Yes
Ted White Yes
John McKernan Yes
Willem (Wim) Kwant Yes
Patricia Hope Yes
Lee Watchorn Yes
Peter Russel Yes
Douglas Davis Yes
John Gardner Yes
Robert Adams Yes
Peter Baines Yes
Jim Cairncross Yes
Jaime Stafford Yes
John Smith Yes
Trish Vakil Yes
Peter Ketchum Yes
Bill McNaughton Yes
Burt Retter Yes
Chris Girard Yes
Ted Boyd Yes
Brian Westlake Yes
George Denier Yes
Terry Ellwood Yes
Michael Charles Yes
Barbara Charles Yes
Stuart McKay Yes
Brian Carter Yes
Gary Getson Yes
Alan Hutton Yes
William Broughton Yes
Robert Milnes Yes
Peter Simmie Yes
Gordon Henderson Yes
Paul Henderson Yes
William Hewitt Yes
Colin Meredith Yes
Mark Nesbitt Yes
Nelly Jeffries Yes
Dale Jeffries Yes
Ian Brown Yes
David A. Wilson Yes

September 30, 2025 – Who’s Attending?

Professor David A Wilson
Click to read David’s bio and RSVP
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: 70

No: 23

NameRSVP StatusAssociated Attendees
Peter Russel Yes Lee Watchorn
Gary Getson Yes
George Denier Yes
Gordon Henderson Yes
Gordon Tamblyn Yes
Barbara Charles Yes Michael Charles
John Gardner Yes Jaime Stafford
John Smith Yes Trish Vakil
Tom Sanderson Yes
Tom Leverty Yes
Tim Macdonald Yes
Roger Clarkson Yes
Robert Milnes Yes
Dave Pelletier Yes
Norair Yeretsian Yes
David A. Wilson Yes
Christopher Jones Yes Dr. Bill Williams
Christopher Turney Yes
Brian Westlake Yes Ted Boyd
Chris Girard
Brian Carter Yes
Brian William Gray Yes
Burt Retter Yes
Patricia Hope Yes Willem (Wim) Kwant
Ted Boyd Yes Brian Westlake
Chris Girard Yes Brian Westlake
Trish Vakil Yes John Smith
Mark Nesbitt Yes Colin Meredith
John Wildman Yes
William Hewitt Yes
Willem (Wim) Kwant Yes Patricia Hope
Steven Moorhead Yes
Colin Meredith Yes Mark Nesbitt
John Hackett Yes
John Paterson, Sr. Yes
Jim Cairncross Yes
Ian Brown Yes
Bev Collombin Yes Ann Collombin
Bill McNaughton Yes
Ken Powell Yes
Ann Collombin Yes Bev Collombin
Jaime Stafford Yes John Gardner
Cathie Hyland Yes Robert Hyland
William Broughton Yes
Tom Jamieson Yes
Terry Ellwood Yes
Ted White Yes
Stuart McKay Yes
Nelly Jeffries Yes Dale Jeffries
Rudi Vezer Yes
Ron Foreman Yes
Douglas Davis Yes
Robert Hyland Yes Cathie Hyland
Robert Adams Yes
Peter Simmie Yes
Peter Baines Yes
Peter Ketchum Yes
Peter Douglas Yes
Paul Potvin Yes
Paul Henderson Yes
Paul Emond Yes
Patrick Reid Yes Maureen Quigley
Mike Charles Yes
Alan Hutton Yes
Michael Charles Yes Barbara Charles
Lee Watchorn Yes Peter Russel
John McKernan Yes
Douglas McWhirter Yes
Dale Jeffries Yes Nelly Jeffries
Dr. Bill Williams Yes Christopher Jones
Maureen Quigley Yes Patrick Reid
Tom Fischer No
Glenn Leslie No
Henry Borden No
Ken Bahen No
Don Johnson No
Doug Mills No
Jack Way No
Jean-Luc Major No
Clifford Lax No
John Fraser No
Bob Morrison No Toni Morrison
Bill Fleury No
Toni Morrison No Bob Morrison
Ian Farquharson No
Frank Palmay No
David Murray No
Rob Woodrooffe No
Peter Goring No
Paul Warrington No
Michael Willson No
Charles MacRae No
Bob Blair No
Bart MacDougall No
William Kinnear No Response
Gary German No Response
George Hayhurst No Response
Germán Morales No Response
Gil Lamothe No Response
Graeme Clark No Response
Hank Bulmash No Response
Warren Finlay No Response
Daniel Owen No Response
David G. Temple No Response
David Cameron No Response
Mike Miller No Response
Chris Portner No Response
Michael Butler No Response
Lake Trevelyan No Response
Ken Wiener No Response
Jon Allen No Response
Robin Labatt No Response
Robin Barstow No Response
Jim Matthews No Response
Bob Medland No Response
Bill Boughner No Response
Bill Barnett No Response
Bill Pashby No Response
Jock Fleming No Response
Ian Mackay No Response
Sarwar Kashmeri No Response
Gary Durno No Response
Garnet Watchorn No Response
Rod de Courcy Ireland No Response
Richard White No Response
Peter Sisam No Response
Norman Hardie No Response
Mike Mackey No Response
Mike Innes No Response
Michael Hasley No Response
Michael Gardiner No Response
Dan Sullivan No Response
Brett Flint No Response
Aubrey Baillie No Response
Anthony Miller No Response
Don Comish 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)



     




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

    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.