Inspiring Talks: The Academy Showcase – Academy members reprise great presentations from their workshops

1. The Crash of ’29: A turning point in global economic history

Could our current economy be on the same path as the economy of 1929? Academy member Barry Arbus examines the causes of the 1929 stock market crash, the resulting Depression, and the rise of active government intervention in the economy. He also compares the economy in 1929 with our economy today.

Barry Arbus is a first-year member of the Academy. He is a retired corporate lawyer and currently practices as a business arbitrator and mediator. His hobbies include golf, skiing and travelling.

2. Scandalous! The Infamous Mitford Sisters

Alison Hayford doesn’t know just when or why she developed an interest in the six Mitford sisters, who were notorious in the early 20th century: one communist, two fascists, a writer, a duchess, and a quiet one. The fascinating members of this eccentric, annoying family continue to beguile.

After living in Regina for nearly 50 years, Alison Hayford moved to Toronto in 2021. Originally from the United States, she is a graduate of Barnard College and the University of Michigan. She was a member of the Department of Sociology and Social Studies at the University of Regina until her retirement in 2011. This is her second year as a member of the Academy.