Peace in the Middle East

Since the beginning of recorded history, Iran/Persia has been one of the most important world civilizations. Iran remains a distinct civilization today despite its status as a major Islamic state with broad regional influence and its deep integration into the global economy through its vast energy reserves. Yet the close attention paid to Iran in recent decades stems from the impact of the 1979 revolution, which unleashed ideological shock waves throughout the Middle East that reverberate to this day. Many observers look at Iran through the prism of the Islamic Republic's adversarial relationship with the US, Israel, and Sunni nations in its region, yet as Michael Axworthy shows in *Iran: What Everyone Needs to Know*, there is much more to contemporary Iran than its fraught foreign relations. He begins with a concise account of Iranian history from ancient times to the late twentieth century and then follows that with sharp summaries of the key events since the 1979 revolution. The final section of the book focuses on Iran today--its culture, economy, politics, and people--and assesses the challenges that the nation will face in coming years. *Iran* will be an essential overview of a complex and important nation that has occupied world headlines for nearly four decades. ═════ Discussion questions: TBD Facilitator: Andrii ═════ $$ Refundable deposit: We'd like to make sure everyone on the RSVP actually intends to join us and enjoy the event. Please make a **refundable** deposit of $5 to hold your spot, via Paypal or Interac e-transfer to [toronto.nonfiction@gmail.com](mailto:toronto.nonfiction@gmail.com), when you RSVP or shortly thereafter. If you are waitlisted please wait until a spot opens up for you before making a transfer. You'll get your $5 back in cash if you join us at the event. If you decide to drop out later or not attend, consider this a donation to support our meetup and zoom subscriptions, which aren't cheap. Thank you! ═════ Meeting format: * We meet to discuss the book after having read it beforehand. * A facilitator guides the discussion ensuring that everyone has a chance to speak, one person at a time. * Warning: Participation in a book club is a dangerous activity. You may encounter opinions different from yours. By joining the group you agree to assume all risks.

Join us this week as a guest to overcome your fear of public speaking and speak with confidence! We hold weekly meetings on Thursday nights to facilitate impromptu speaking, debates, discussions, and prepared speeches to practice our skills and give each other constructive feedback. We are a friendly group of all ages and backgrounds in the GTA, where we help our members and guests in their personal and professional development. We typically meet at the Etobicoke Civic Centre with lots of free visitor parking. You can join us as a guest anytime you want, for as long as you would like, to see what Toastmasters is all about! Come and join us this Thursday to become the best version of you. The theme for this week's meeting is TBD! Join us to practice your improv. speaking skills, debating skills, and to improve your public speaking abilities. If you're interested in attending this meeting, please contact us through our "Contact Us" form on http://goodyeartoastmasters.com/ See you there! ABOUT GOODYEAR TOASTMASTERS \*NOTE\* We are now back in-person at the Etobicoke Civic Centre! Visitor Parking is free. Simply let the Security Person know you're here for a Toastmasters meeting. • Our meetings start at 6:45 PM and lasts for about 2-hours. We suggest you arrive earlier to settle in and network before we begin. • It's free to attend as a guest and you can join us as many times as you would like. For the full access to the Toastmasters Pathways Programme, however, you will need to join as a member and pay a membership fee. • Don't worry about the low attendance numbers on Meetup. Members do not RSVP here. We use the club website instead. Meetup is primarily a place for us to reach out to newcomers such as yourself!

Contact Alex for location and information.

At Eglinton-Yonge Toastmasters, we're more than just a club - we're a community. Please arrive by 6:00 p.m. to socialize. Guests are welcome. There is no fee to visit. We meet at: Northern District Library 40 Orchard View Blvd. Second Floor, RM# 200. Directions to the room can be viewed at the following link: [https://bit.ly/eytm-welcome](https://bit.ly/eytm-welcome) Members of Eglinton-Yonge Toastmasters learn and practice public speaking and leadership skills with a friendly, helpful, and encouraging group of people. As a year-round club, attendance varies depending on the season. A typical meeting involves 25-30 active members and 2-5 guests. Guests are able to: • Meet a great group of people • Participate in Table Topics • Share feedback at the end Members receive: • Learning materials • Monthly Toastmasters magazine • Access to Pathways • Online resources through Toastmasters International • An Easy-speak.org account to track speech progress We look forward to seeing you!

Please contact event host, Christopher, for the event location at christopher.tyrrell@ymail.com [Note: "ymail" is correct. This is not gmail]

Are you looking to enhance your public speaking skills and boost your confidence? If so, then join us for an exciting Public Speaking meeting! Get inspired by one of the prepared speeches, or be brave and participate in our fun table topics. The meetings at our club provide a save space for you to practice speaking in front of others, receive constructive feedback, and develop your public speaking skills. We believe that everyone can learn how to become a great speaker and we welcome everyone who want to join us in person for one of our meetings and improve their public speaking skills. Don't miss out on this chance to take your public speaking skills to the next level and meet other like-minded individuals. Join us at our next meeting and start building your confidence and leadership skills today! Please reach out to the Event Host if you have any questions. This event is not hosted by or sponsored by the Toronto Public Library

**Experience the coming together of Eastern and Western traditions as Anoushka Shankar makes her TSO début, performing her father Ravi Shankar’s captivating Sitar Concerto No. 2.** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf-yD9TWsxo The program also features Beethoven’s lively and playful Symphony No. 8, along with a selection from *Passages*, the groundbreaking collaboration between Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar, blending the vibrancy of Western and Indian classical music. https://www.anoushkashankar.com/ **Gustavo Gimeno**, conductor **Anoushka Shankar**, sitar Philip Glass: “Meetings Along the Edge” from *Passages* (Canadian Première) Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 R. Shankar: Sitar Concerto No. 2 “Raga-Mala” **Ticket link here:** Use this **promo code** for 15% discount: TORONTOISCULTURE https://my.tso.ca/3673/3780 Nice seats could be Main Floor (Section 6/green) or Centre Balcony or ANY where you would like. We last saw Anoushka Shankar at Massey Hall in April 2023. A bit more-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0doG7LpEK1w

✨ **Peace Starts With Me Afternoon – Family Day Edition** 🏡 Join us for a meaningful and heartwarming afternoon as we celebrate Family Day together with light snacks, heartfelt sharing, and creative activities! Family Day is all about building a happy family where we grow together by learning to love, respect, and solve conflicts peacefully. Let’s take some time today to appreciate our own families, so these little seeds of peace can bloom across the whole world! 🏡🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒💖 🗓️ Date: Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 🕒 Start Time: 3:00 PM\~ 📍 Location: 215 Mavety St Here’s what’s in store: 🍪 **Snack Time** – enjoy finger foods and connect with others in a warm and friendly atmosphere 🗣️ **Peace Sharing** – reflect on Family Day and your family’s value 🌸 **Carnation DIY** – let’s make a carnation together for our family as a symbol of love and appreciation **To confirm your spot and help us prepare materials, please fill out this short registration form:**[https://forms.gle/m3S61jzj8KSRD9XK8](https://forms.gle/NQmJ2YaXbb4QokRq6)

**Advanced Speakers on the Hill (ASotH)** is proud to be a ***premier club*** operating in the best Toastmasters tradition of providing a supportive and positive program that empowers its members to achieve greater self-confidence and personal growth. **To become a better communicator and leader,** you need warm and supportive people to help you along your way. This is where ASotH excels because we’re a club packed with committed and experienced Toastmasters. **One way in which we help each other to grow is by means of thorough speech evaluations.** In most Toastmasters clubs, each speech receives a 2-3 minute evaluation – end of story. Here your speech will be evaluated for fifteen minutes, which includes input and discussion from among *all* the members present. Imagine how much you can benefit, even when you are not the speech maker. You will hear a detailed evaluation and listen to what other members think. You will then have the opportunity to add your thoughts to the evaluation circle. And, since the speaker’s prime evaluator is also evaluated, you will learn how to improve your own evaluations. All this occurs in a typically supportive and fun atmosphere. **ASotH Club meetings are held on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Saturdays of each month.** Visitors are most welcome, so drop by and experience the **ASotH advantage** first-hand! ***Our meetings are now in-person at Bayview Hill Community Center. Details can be found [here](https://advancedspeakersonthehill.toastmastersclubs.org/directions.html).*** **Membership Eligibility:** You must have completed Level 2 in Pathways, or the first ten speeches in the Toastmasters Competent Communication Legacy manual in order to join our advanced club. Hope to see you soon!

**Note:** Online attendance for this event is expected from around the world, so register early to reserve your spot before the Zoom attendance capacity is reached. New to Eckankar? Register for a **Complimentary Pass** to the May 23-24 seminar! **WHAT IS AN ECKANKAR SOUL ADVENTURE SEMINAR?** An ECK Soul Adventure Seminar is always a spiritual occasion. A celebration of like-hearted people, each inspiring talk, workshop, and presentation offers secrets to spiritual living that can help you take another step on your individual journey home to God. Above all, the heart of the seminar experience is about discovering more about the divine love that already lies within you. **This is a hybrid (online AND in-person) 2-day seminar:** * Saturday, May 23rd from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET * Sunday, May 24th from 9:30 am -11:00 am ET * FREE for guests who are not formal students of Eckankar **To view the program and to register online or in person, [click here](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html)**[ ](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html) **THEME** ***HOW TO SURVIVE SPIRITUALLY IN OUR TIMES*** “Yet life is a mystery until we begin to understand that we can be the creators of our own world. In truth, what we are today is a creation of that which we have made from the past. There is a way to change the future. “ *\~ ECK Master Harold Klemp, Sound of Soul pg 37* **FEATURES** * **Interactive Spiritual Discussion, Talks, Panels, Youth and Young Adult Program,** * **​Music, Art, Fellowship!** * **Address: North York Central Library and Concourse Event Space, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M2N 5N9** * **To view the program and to register online or in person, [click here](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html)**[ ](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html) **FEATURED SPEAKER - DEBBIE BRYK-SERVA** Debbie Bryk-Serva has been a student of Eckankar for over 45 years and is a retired pediatric cardiologist, wife, mother, and grandmother. She has one adorable fur baby, a golden doodle named Georgia. She is grateful for the spiritual insights and inner guidance that have developed through her active practice of the spiritual exercises of Eckankar. She loves the ECK teachings and spiritual exercises because they work! Life has its challenges, but she looks for the silver lining and blessing that is waiting to be realized in each experience. Soul equals Soul, and you, too, can open your heart to the blessings of love all around. Join us at the Ontario ECK Regional Seminar to discover how to survive and thrive spiritually in our times! **To view the program and to register online or in person, [click here](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html)** **\*INTERNATIONAL GUESTS:** This event is not intended for anyone who is barred by the laws of their country from attending. Please follow the laws of your home country. Sponsored by Eckankar Canada in Ontario. Illustration Courtesy of [Eckankar, The Path of Spiritual Freedom](http://www.eckankar.org/)

We will be discussing how to do public showings of Leaving Neverland and how to lobby the government to ban media productions put out by the estate such as MJ The Musical and Cirque Du Soleil's Michael Jackson One and the Michael Biopic from Toronto, and how to publicize our organization. All Meetings are at 736 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario. Email roxstew5media@gmail.com

Welcome ! OM Chanting is a group practice that has multiple benefits, including calming the mind, feeling relaxed, activating one's self-healing potential. OM Chanting''s powerful vibration contributes to send Peace . A participation of 5$ minimum is strongly encouraged to sustain the rent of the studio . \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- EVENT DETAILS: address: 283 Spadina Avenue; 3rd floor. ( SE corner of Spadina and Dundas). We will start at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes earlier. We will be sitting on chairs; you can also sit on the floor if you prefer. You are encouraged to bring a bottle of water. Looking forward to seeing you ! For more information about Om Chanting, please visit: [https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/](https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/) Much Love, Veda Cell: 416-845-9375

It's a private session. Not a group event. Some sessions and diagnostics are done in chat text format, no live call is required needed. Advanced sessions are done with the help of personal video call. __ Egyptian Initiation – Level 1 10 days in a row! 10 Initiations into 10 Channels of the Egyptian Gods. Personal purification, activation of the financial flow, and correction in the Channels of the Egyptian Pantheon. Level 1 Initiation Includes correction through all 7 chakras in the Channels of: 1. The Egregore of Egyptian Priesthood 2. The Channel of Osiris /Clarity 3. The Channel of Horus /High Victory 4. The Channel of Amun-Ra /Power 5. The Channel of Min /Sexuality 6. The Channel of Hathor /Feninity 7. The Channel of Ma’at /Purity 8. The Channel of Isis /Smartness 9. The Channel of Thoth /Wisdom 10. The Channel of Tefnut /Healing This is a deep cleansing and transformation of energy. It removes stagnation, magical impacts, internal and external blocks that prevent you from walking your Path. You receive 10 Initiations at once into the Ancient Egyptian Channels a personalized audio practice to continue developing and activating these Channels independently. Additionally, you receive a personal diagnostic session, analysis, and activation of your main goal. In honor of the Egyptian Marathon, if you register before November 17, the price is reduced by half. Receive the energy of freedom from current limitations and a new impulse for growth and transformation in your life. And one more thing — the Level 1 Egyptian Initiation will help you anchor yourself in the Egyptian Tradition and, if desired, begin working independently with your own goals and the goals of others within these magnificent energies of Inner Power and Purity. Andy Li Grand Master of the Egyptian Pantheon Instructor and Teacher of the Reiki Yggdrasil System Center Asgard

Starting over can feel heavy—but it doesn’t have to be. This 6-week Pilates series is designed for women who want to: ✨ Rebuild their routine ✨ Feel stronger physically & mentally ✨ Meet new people in a relaxed, supportive space *** No pressure. No judgment. Just a space to show up for yourself. *** ## 💪 What You’ll Get * Beginner-friendly Pilates * Weekly progression (you’ll feel the difference) * Small, welcoming group * Post-class matcha + conversation * A chance to reconnect—with yourself and others *** ## 🗓️ Details Sundays \| 2:00–3:00 PM Scarborough (Free parking) 6-week program *** ## 💸 Pricing \~$30/class when booked as a package 🎟️ $20 OFF with code: **PILATESFRESH13** ⏳ Ends May 4th *** ⚠️ Limited spots- **[GET TICKETS HERE](https://www.halalharmonycanada.com/halalharmonyevents/p/pilates-for-muslim-sisters-toronto)** *** Whether you’re new to fitness, getting back into it, or simply want a better environment—you’ll feel at home here. *** 👉 Reserve your spot

At Unity of Columbus, our Youth and Family Ministry nurtures the spiritual growth of children and families through love, joy, and practical spiritual teachings. Each Sunday, children explore timeless spiritual principles through stories, creative activities, music, and group sharing in a safe and welcoming environment. Our program encourages children to discover their own inner light, express kindness, and develop a personal connection with God. Together, we celebrate diversity, cultivate understanding, and inspire each child to live with purpose and compassion. Parents and families are invited to join in this uplifting journey of learning, laughter, and spiritual connection.

The topic for May is "Ink" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

We are excited to host Guided Meditations on Sundays at 6 pm in our Ashram/Gallery/Home! !! !! Everyone wants to know what kind of God we worship and what kind of meditation we do. We worship the GOD that LOVES US! We understand that god is an energy and it lives in us as us. Our meditations guide others to actually experience that energy! xoxo We don't just talk about peace, love and affection, we experience it :) Also we are a home not a business, so we enjoy building community one friend at a time. We always build in time for people to mingle & develop friendships! xoxo Much Love, Frank Tennyson Namaste, Frank Tennyson http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/f/9/9/600_447824953.jpeg

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

Inspired by our successful events like "Saturday Mornings @ East Market" and other "Pot Luck in the Park" lunches, this gathering promises to be a blend of fun conversations, language exchange, and cultural insights, all while sharing wonderful foods with each other. **Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to drink.** We will provide plates, plastic silverware and napkins. So, come hungry and ready to chat!

Join us at Unity of Columbus for our Weekly Reiki Share, a peaceful and uplifting gathering for connection, healing, and growth. A Reiki Share is a time where Reiki practitioners and students come together to give and receive healing energy in a supportive and welcoming environment. These sessions will be moderated by Columbus Unity Reiki. Reiki is a hands-on energy healing method from Japan that first came to the United States in 1938. Since then, it has grown in popularity and is now widely practiced throughout the West. All levels are welcome, and you do not need to be a practitioner at Unity of Columbus to attend. If you are a Reiki practitioner, a Reiki student, or simply interested in becoming a Reiki student, we warmly invite you to join us. Come practice your healing techniques, learn new approaches, receive healing energy, and connect with a like-minded community in a space of relaxation, renewal, and positive energy.