Phillip Crawley was born in Northumberland, England and graduated in English Language and Literature from  Manchester University. He has held a variety of senior executive positions with some of the world’s leading media companies in Europe, Asia and New Zealand. Before arriving in Canada in 1998, he was the Managing Director of The New Zealand Herald newspaper owned by Tony O’Reilly’s Independent Newspapers Group of Dublin. From 1988 to 1997 he worked for Rupert Murdoch, first as Editor of The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong (1988-1993) then as Managing Director of The Times Supplements in London (1993-1997). He worked for Conrad Black as Northern Editor, The Daily Telegraph, London in 1987-88. From 1979 to 1987 he was Editor of The Journal, Newcastle upon Tyne. Prior to 1979, Crawley worked in various editorial roles for Thomson Regional Newspapers.
Continue reading Phillip Crawley, Retired Publisher Globe and Mail, ‘Changing Times in the Media Business: Winners and Losers’, March 26, 2024 →

Jon last spoke to the Whiff at the January 2021 Whiff@Home meeting, when he talked about Values vs. Interests in Canadian foreign policy. Now, as a Whiff member, we are fortunate to have him share his deep insight of the issues behind the past and current relationships between Israelis and Palestinians at the institutional, professional, and grassroots levels. As the Chair of Project Rozana Canada, a not-for profit that has been building bridges between Palestinians and Israelis for over a decade, primarily via the health sector, Jon is eminently qualified to elucidate us on this humanitarian crisis.
Continue reading Jon Allen, Israel-Palestine: Oct. 7: How Did It Happen and Where Do We Go from Here? February 27, 2024 →

Terry was back for his 4th talk at the Whiff!  (Nov 2019, Nov 2015 & Mar 2009)

He introduced his latest novel  …
A New Season
A novel unlike any of his other 8, it’s a thoughtful exploration of aging, loss, family, friendship, and love, all with Terry’s trademark humour and heart.

“Terry Fallis writes just about the tidiest romantic comedic novels you can find on earth, let alone in Canada.” The Globe and Mail
Continue reading Terry Fallis, Beloved and Bestselling Author, January 30, 2024 →

Bob’s presentation was about the sinking of Monterey, a Farr 56, about 200 miles south of Bermuda, during the 2017 Antigua Bermuda Race and the safety lessons learned.
Continue reading Bob Medland, “May 17, 2017 – A Night to Remember”, November 28, 2023 →

Author of John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada’s 17th Prime Minister
“One of the most glamorous and successful politicians in Canadian history”

In this masterful and engaging biography, acclaimed journalist Steve Paikin brings to life John Turner (1929-2020), one of the most glamorous and successful politicians in Canadian history. Born in England and raised in B.C., Turner was a champion sprinter – setting the Canadian record in the 100-yard dash when he ran 9.8 seconds at a meet in 1947 – and a Rhodes Scholar who captured the national imagination as an escort for Princess Margaret on her 1959 Canadian tour.
Continue reading Steve Paikin, October 31, 2023, Author of John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada’s 17th Prime Minister →

Iain Dobson is an internationally recognized expert on city development, urban mobility and transit systems. He advocates for fact-based planning decisions. He currently publishes a bi-monthly report on how many office employees are back in the office. His talk will examine the lasting effects of the COVID pandemic, the new debate about work-from-home and the financial impact it is having on city centres.

Since 2000, when Iain retired from a successful 25-year career in commercial real estate development, he has focused on bringing the principles of evidence-based value planning in the private and public sectors to development and investment decisions. He co-founded the Strategic Regional Research Alliance, a research body which partners with all levels of government and the private sector to provide a better understanding of the components and complexities of making informed infrastructure investment decisions. He also co-founded The Value Planning Group and the Real Estate Search Corporation, which satisfies the ever-growing need for comprehensive, reliable, accurate independently collected data.
Continue reading Iain Dobson, The Impact of Remote Work on Cities, September 26, 2023 →

Fellow Whiffer, Chris Twigge-Molecey, has been asked to give us an update on his March 2019 talk on China. With the coronation of Xi Jinping for a third term as CCP General Secretary, have China’s global ambitions changed and what should we, as Canadians, really worry about?

Chris has been developing and leading businesses in China for over 20 years and brings to us a businessman’s perspective on opportunities during these times of troubled bi-lateral relations. Swamped with stories of Chinese IP theft and election interference, we have lost sight of the Belt and Road Initiative, (the BRI), China’s massive and largely successful geopolitical strategy.
Continue reading Dr. Chris Twigge-Molecey, Understanding China’s global ambitions and the Belt and Road Initiative, April 25, 2023 →

RSVP by Mar 22^nd to attend in person.
[N.B., this will not be a Whiff@Home meeting.]

Ken is a long time active member of the Toronto Whiff who now lives in Peterborough. Born and raised in North Toronto, his post-secondary education saw him attend Ridley College and then the University of Toronto, majoring in psychology. He then began a 30-year executive career with Imperial Oil Limited, Exxon Corporation and Esso Inter-America which meant moving 18 times to support his roles in marketing, strategic planning and human resources. In his 50s, he joined accounting giant Coopers and Lybrand as a management consultant and, on behalf of the Canadian Executive Services Organization, served as a company consultant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia until his dream job was offered to him – running Outward Bound Canada.
Continue reading Ken Powell, “Civilizations Collide in the Search For a Northwest Passage”, March 28, 2023 →

RSVP by Feb 23^rd to attend in person.
[N.B., this will not be a Whiff@Home meeting.]

Click here to jump to the RSVP below the speaker’s bio.

John Fraser is no stranger to the Whiff membership. John first spoke to us 12 years ago, when his topic was Through a glass darkly: Why academics (and journalists) should never try to predict anything. His most recent talk was at our November 2020 Whiff@Home meeting on What to do about China!. Following that meeting, he became a member of the Whiff.

John Fraser has been a reporter, columnist, editor, ombudsman and benefactor. (Click for more biographic details.)

With the passing of Elizabeth Regina and the upcoming coronation of our new King, John’s many years of being an ardent proponent and debater in defence of the Crown make him the ideal speaker to give us an Update on the Monarchy in Canada. He graciously acquiesced to the Speakers Bureau’s request to speak to us again, this time about how things have changed since his 2012 book The Secret of the Crown: Canada’s Affair with Royalty. Whiffers, family and friends will enjoy another thought provoking talk by a great Canadian journalist.

The meeting will be held at the Royal Canadian Military Institute, 426 University Ave. Unfortunately as our tech gurus are both travelling, there won’t be a Whiff@Home option for this meeting.

Join fellow Whiffers on Tuesday, February 28^th
The reception at the RCMI begins at 6:00 pm.