Critical Design

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** We have an amazing "Lecture on the Go" series for 2026. New topics and fascinating stories abound! Join us and learn about the world and keep active and warm during the winter months! I started this walking classroom when we were under that horrible cloud called Covid. This series was popular and helped people get out and back into society and life. The series is back for 2026 with 6 new topics for exploration over the winter and spring months. The "Lecture on the Go" Series is open only to members who have purchased the YEARLY MEMBERSHIP PASS, it's free for those members. If you wish to attend a lecture and you are not a yearly pass member then the price **per** lecture is $20.00. This second lecture is focussed on the search for world knowledge. In the mid 18th century putting together a compendium of the world's knowledge was a monumental task. But it was done and it still around today. Let's uncover some of the facts about this fascinating topic. Encyclopaedia Britannica got its start in 1768 in Edinburgh, when a group of very curious, ambitious people decided the world needed one big, reliable place to put all knowledge. This was the Enlightenment era, so everyone was obsessed with reason, learning, and explaining things properly. The early editions were bold, quirky, and packed with everything from science and philosophy to practical advice. Britannica grew into the champion of encyclopedias. It crossed over to North America, added volumes, and became the go-to reference set in libraries, schools, and living rooms. Having a full set on your shelf once meant you were serious about education—or at least wanted to look that way. The articles were written by experts, which gave Britannica its reputation for authority, even if some entries now feel dated. Then came the internet, and everything changed. In 2012, Britannica stopped printing its famous books and went digital, trading leather for google. Same mission as always—sharing trustworthy knowledge—just a lot lighter to carry and easier to dust. And I have three full sets, I should know. Topics upcoming in the 2026 series of lectures are as follows. We are a little behind but catching up. \*Dante; The Hidden Meaning Behind The Divine Comedy \*Hidden Wonders of Canada; Northern Ontario History and Guide \*Philosophy 1: Great Minds of the Western World: Goethe to Kant! \*Philosophy 2: Great Minds of the Eastern World: Chuang Tzu to Dalai Lama Hope to see you on this "Lecture on the Go!" So book your plans now! This event is for all levels and walkers, there are a few steps here and there to navigate, but mostly on one level. This event in a non walking event. The lecture begins on the steps of Old City Hall at the northeast corner of Bay Street and Queen Street West and head into the PATH. This lecture event has a ticket price of $20.00 per person, and is **free with the yearly membership pass**. Hope to see you there! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

**Well, it’s time to say goodbye to winter and welcome spring with another relaxed get-together.** We’re meeting again at the still new but also very familiar [Donegal Arms](https://www.instagram.com/thedonegalarms). But of course, the real purpose is the gathering, not the restaurant. Come join us, and share your thoughts on what you’d like our **Halton Peel Humanist** and **Café Scientifique** communities to do as we close in on the 2025-26 season; what you envisage the future of our communities to be, and especially what your role will be in that future.. We’re all ears. Curious about the brunch menu at the Donegal Arms? You can browse it here: *[Brunch Menu](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLLKR7vP9dB/)* (though no promises it’s fully up to date). **Parking tip:** Try the lot on Hurontario Street, just north of Donegal Arms and the two storefronts next to it.

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Toronto City Brunch Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new restaurants in your city, together. \* Curated lunch venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

We are now at **Yonge Sheppard Centre** in the **food court** near **Dazzle Mi**. We start a bit past 1pm, so if you're late, please find a seat and start writing -- we'd love to hear about your story or your day -- afterwards. :) **Coworking for writers in your area!** Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com) **Travel / Parking info:** Public Transit: 1. Take the TTC subway to Sheppard-Yonge Station. 2. Use the Yonge St. Sheppard Ave exit **Driving & Parking:** Parking Entrance to Yonge Sheppard Centre is located on Greenfield Avenue and Doris Avenue. Accessible parking is available on P1, P3 and Concourse. Be sure to check for parking limits or fees. **Location:** We gather around the tables in the food court near **Dazzel Mi**. If you spot a group of people with laptops out, that’s probably us! **RSVP:** Please do RSVP. But be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. **SCHEDULE:** 12:45 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in -- come in early if you want to get lunch. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about red-nosed reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Join us for an Open Mic Night filled with shayari, poetry, singing, and comedy! Whether you want to perform or just sit back and enjoy, this is the perfect place to express yourself and make new friends. 💥 Free entry for everyone! 🎙️ Want to perform? You’re more than welcome — the stage is yours! 🤝 Come as a group, cheer each other, and support local talent Let’s come together, share some amazing moments, and make it a night to remember! ✨

Archetypal Coaching — Activate Your Goals with Ancient Wisdom Ready to energize your goals and gain clear direction? In this weekly meetup, we work with powerful archetypes from ancient traditions to align your intention, sharpen your strategy, and ignite real momentum. 4 Sessions Per Month Tap into the power of 4 ancient traditions: • Egyptian — Strategic clarity & long-range vision • Scandinavian — Decisiveness & breakthrough energy • Greek — Harmony, inspiration & personal charisma • Sephirotic (Kabbalistic) — Deep integration & energetic anchoring. Each 90-Min Session Includes: • Group energy alignment (20 min) • Personal goal setting in the energy of the week’s tradition (20 min) • Group activation & anchoring (20 min) • Personal alanyses, archetypal insights & support circle (30 min). What You’ll Gain: ✓ Mental clarity & motivation ✓ Energetic support for your path ✓ Clear, inspired next steps ✓ A deeper connection to purpose. When: Every Sunday afternoon 4-6pm Fee: $50 CAD per session (Limited spots available) Facilitator: Andrey Litvinov — Business Coach, Psychotherapist, Grand Master of Reiki Yggdrasil To Reserve Your Spot: Pre-registration required via WhatsApp or Telegram Message: t.me/AndyTherapist WhatsApp: +1 437 606 6502

Let your creative juices flow freely in a judgment-free art session hosted by Kieran Hayes, volunteer at Wishbone (aka The Sunday Guy). BYOM \(bring your own materials\) or feel free to use what's available at The Lab \| Vegutainment & Business Centre \(sibling to Wishbone Animal Rights Lab\)\. All skill levels from zero to Picasso are welcome. We are a default-vegan centre, so if you're bringing food and/or drink, it must be plant-based only. Wishbone and The Lab are volunteer-run and largely self-funded. Donations permit us to host more community-building events, develop more programming, conduct more workshops, create more content, purchase more equipment & literature, and of course cover our operating costs.

This group is for badminton enthusiasts who are passionate about exploring the connections between metabolism, energy, and exercise. We are welcome beginner plus, intermediate and advance level players looking to improve your skill or a seasoned player seeking to optimize your performance on the court, this group is for you! Join us for friendly games. This badminton session is a weekly event and it is followed with dinner together but it is optional. Since we have 3 courts and allowed the maximum of 24 players so that everyone signs up for this event will be placed on waiting list FIRST then will be moved to the joining list on WEDNESDAY MORNING. Court fee: It will be informed at the comment section by 4pm. Cost per person is either $162 (for 3 courts) divided by the number of players attended OR $108 (for 2 courts) divided by the number of players attended. My email address will be provided at that time for etransfer.

*** 🎪🚗 **Sunday Road Trip to Niagara Falls: Le Grand Cirque – MAXIMUM VELOCITY!** 🚗🎪 **Sunday, March 22** Join us for a thrilling Sunday getaway to **Niagara Falls** to experience **Le Grand Cirque: MAXIMUM VELOCITY** — a high-octane, jaw-dropping spectacle at Fallsview Casino Resort! Travel together in a comfortable **Kia Soul**, complete with **snow tires** and **SiriusXM**, and enjoy a relaxed road trip with great company before an unforgettable afternoon show. Depending on traffic we may be able to sightsee a bit before the show *** ### ✨ **About the Show** **Le Grand Cirque: MAXIMUM VELOCITY** is an adrenaline-fueled cirque production packed with gravity-defying acrobatics, daring aerial acts, incredible strength performances, and breathtaking stunts performed by world-class artists. Fast-paced, visually stunning, and family-friendly, this show delivers nonstop excitement from start to finish. 🔗 **Event details:** [https://fallsviewcasinoresort.com/events-and-promotions/schedule-of-events/le-grand-cirque.html](https://fallsviewcasinoresort.com/events-and-promotions/schedule-of-events/le-grand-cirque.html) *** ### 🕛 **Schedule** * **12:00 PM (Noon)** – Depart Toronto * **3:00 PM** – Show starts * **\~7:00 PM** – Return to Toronto *** ### 🚗 **What’s Included** * 🎟️ Show ticket * 🚘 Round-trip transportation in a Kia Soul * 🎶 SiriusXM music for the drive *** ### 💲 **Cost** **$50 total** (includes ticket and transportation) 👉 **Payment required in advance** Please e-transfer $50 to: nicolasbello@yahoo.com Your spot is confirmed once payment is received. *** Space is limited, so please RSVP **only if you’re fully committed**, as tickets and transportation are arranged in advance. Let’s enjoy a fun Sunday road trip and an electrifying afternoon at the circus! 🎪✨

7.30pm-10.30pm Social Dance Usually more than 50 people join us for a fun Salsa/Bachata night. The best way to end the weekend! You don't need to have a partner or be an experienced dancer. We provide two classes for beginner level and intermediate level. ◾When You Arrive ◾ - Sanitize your hands before entering the dance studio & in between dances, please - Do not come to dance if you show any symptoms of cold/flu ◾ Drop in : $15 ◾ * Every Sunday * 📍39 Glen Cameron Road, unit #1 Thornhill, Ontario From: 7.30 - 10.30 pm Cover fee: $15 at the door We will also be hosting two free salsa lessons and a bachata lesson: (it's included) *6.30pm-7.30pm Bachata L1 by Estephan [small room] *6.30pm-7.30pm Salsa by David [large dance studio] *7.30pm-10.30pm Sunday Social Dancing [large dance studio] * Music: Mostly Salsa & Bachata, some Merengue and a few Cha Cha and Kizomba. Come out and enjoy the night away! * Usually, more than 50 people are attending this social, and people switch partners, so you don't need to bring a partner. 647-504-9876

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively. This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way. **YouTube Link** TBA

**Web Design Decoded: Tools, Practices, and Proven Processes:** **Semantic HTML** At WebDev Columbus, we are exploring some of the most important topics of professional high-end web design and page building. Primarily focused on site building in the WordPress environment, our group explores tools, tips, and techniques for building the best WordPress sites possible. Additionally, we focus on disciplines and technologies that take website design from visually appealing to optimized spaces for delivering you and/or your client's message effectively and with a nod towards extended reach. Each session combines practical demonstrations with real-world insights, giving you actionable knowledge you can apply immediately. Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to enhance your design skills or a newcomer wanting to understand design best practices, this series offers valuable insights for every skill level. **What to expect:** * Hands-on demonstrations of popular design tools * Best practices for design-to-development workflows * Tips for creating responsive, accessible designs * Real-world problem-solving scenarios * Interactive Q&A sessions * Networking opportunities with fellow developers **Each meetup features:** 60 minutes of focused presentation 30 minutes of live demonstrations 30 minutes for questions and discussion **See you there!** Our casual, collaborative environment encourages learning from both presenters and fellow attendees. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and connect with Central Ohio's web development community! **Stay tuned for specific session topics and dates.**

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

OpenClaw, NemoClaw, personal assistants, 24/7 agents. What does it all mean? How does it all work and what should we know about it? Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/