A BIT OF OUR HISTORY

The Thomas More Institute was founded in Montreal 66 years ago-with 90 students enrolled in 6 courses-with the aim of providing opportunities for lifelong learning and liberal education for adults. Last year, over 500 students participated in 42 courses (55 sections) at 16 locations. More than 381 of our students have earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts: 271 from 1948 to 1974 within the context of an association with l'Université de Montréal and 116 since 1975 by virtue of an ongoing affiliation with Bishop's University. Other TMI students have chosen to inquire in depth into a particular area of interest, in a cluster of 6-7 carefully selected courses, and have earned a Comprehensive Certificate from the Institute. The majority of our students, though, have participated in courses uniquely on the basis of their curiosity about a specific question and their wish to expand the horizon of their understanding.

Thomas More (1478-1535) was one of the great Humanist scholars of the Renaissance. He contributed significantly to that critical shift from the medieval to the modern world by articulating and promoting, for men and women alike, a new conception of education based upon the priority of open inquiry and critical thought. In his view, learning occurs as individuals relate the formulations of the past to those further questions that point toward the future. This, of course, is an ongoing project.

RECIPIENTS OF THE R. ERIC O'CONNOR 25-YEAR TMI PIN (PDF)

TMI GRADUATES

To access the PDF document listing the recipients of Bachelor of Arts Degrees from 1948 - 2007, click here.
For an alphabetical list of graduates, please click here.

OUR WORKING COMMUNITY

2009-2010

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pauline Beauchamp, M.A.
Beverly Birkman-McKendy, M.A.
Andrew Byers, B.A.
Barry Cole, Mus. M.
Jim Cullen, M.A., President
David Dussault, B.A.
Anne Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.,
Alexander Highet, C.M.A., Treasurer
Clare Hallward, B.A. Chair
Christine Jamieson, Ph.D.
Anthony Joseph, B.A.
Pierrot Lambert, BA, BPh Secretary
Diane Moreau, B.A.
Gert Morgenstern, M.D., C.M.
Jennifer Patton, M.B.A.
Len Richman, M.A.
Daniel Schouela, M.A.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jim Cullen, Clare Hallward,(Chair) Alexander Highet, Pierrot Lambert

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Jim Cullen, Alexander Highet, Jennifer Patton (Chair)

ANNUAL APPEAL CAMPAIGN
Giovanna D’Alesio, Joseph Beaubien, Barry Cole (Chair), Jim Cullen, David Dussault, Sheila Horn-Bisaillon, Anthony Joseph, Elfride Kippen, Eric Poznansky, Anthony Rustin

ACADEMIC COMMITTEES
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Beverly Birkman-McKendy, Andrew Byers (Chair), Jim Cullen, Noga Emanuel, Anne Fitzpatrick, Irene Menear, Diane Moreau, Daniel Schouela. Heather Stephens, Associates: Judith Gray and Christine Jamieson

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE
Christine Jamieson (on sabbatical), Penny-Anne Soper, Heather Stephens

SPRING INTERVIEW SERIES 2010: Beginnings, the power and the promise
Andrew Byers and Irene Menear with members of the Curriculum Committee

COURSE DESIGNERS 2009-2010
Janet Boeckh, Andrew Byers, Eileen de Neeve, David Dussault, Ossama el Naggar, Devika Eifert, Noga Emanuel, Karen Etingin, Alexander Farrell, Anne Fitzpatrick, Kristian Gravenor, Clare Hallward, Anthony Joseph, Brian King, Pierrot Lambert, Kathe Lieber, Irene Menear, Diane Moreau, Gert Morgenstern, Francois Ouimet, Danuta Potworowski, Len Richman, Christian Roy, Robert Sauvé Daniel Schouela, Kate Sheckler, Heather Stephens

COURSE LEADERS 2009-2010:

1491:THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS: Hedwidge Asselin, Louis Balena, Janet Boeckh

ALEXANDRIA AND THE COSMOPOLITAN SPIRIT: Jim Cullen, Ossama el Naggar, Karen Kennedy

A “LOST” EPIC REDISCOVERED- THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO: Jerry Bures, Hannah Isganaitis, Christian Roy

CAESAR AND CICERO: Jerry Bures, Alexander Highet, Christian Roy

FOODS FOR THOUGHT: Andrew Byers, Sheila Horn Bisaillon, Suzanne Lawson, Penny-Anne Soper

FRIENDSHIP AND HUMAN EXCELLENCE: Robert Enright, Clare Godon, Margaret King Struthers

INEXHAUSTIBLE INDIA: Andrew Byers, Roland Major, Estifanos Terefe

LE CORPS HUMAIN POSSÈDE-T-IL UNE SAGESSE PROPRE : Marie Fortier, Nusia Matura, Sybil Murray-Denis; in Ottawa Monique Boivin, Pierrot Lambert

L’INTELLIGENCE AU FÉMININ:in Ottawa, Monique Boivin, Robert Czerny, Pierrot Lambert

LISTENING TO LONERGAN: Moira Carley, Eileen de Neeve, Christine Jamieson, Pierrot Lambert, William Mathews, Brian McDonough with Andrew Byers, Karen Courtland-Kelly, Michael Cullen, Heather Stephens

MINDING- A JOURNEY INTO WOMEN’S SELF-KNOWLEDGE: Pierrot Lambert, Diane Moreau, Heather Stephens

MOUNTAINS OF THE MIND: David Dussault, Jennifer Patton, Heather Stephens

ON BECOMING WHO YOU ARE , OR NOT: Jim Cullen (III), Mickey de Takacsy (III), David Dussault (I), Anne Fitzpatrick (II), Anne Kotiuga (II), Daniel Schouela (I,II), Olga Sher (III), Penny-Anne Soper (I)

POWER AND CORRUPTION (afternoon) Michael Dawson, Alex Farrell, Clare Godon ;(night) Pauline Beauchamp, Jennifer Patton, Heather Stephens; in Pointe Claire Louis Balena, John Ciaccia, Diane Moreau, Heather Stephens

PSYCHIATRY FOR THE LAYMAN: NEUROPARABLES OF RECOVERY OF MIND AND SPIRIT: Milton Dawes, Mickey de Takacsy (II), Judith Gray (I), Gert Morgenstern

RIDING THE ECONOMIC ROLLER COASTER: Andrew Byers, Eileen de Neeve, Alexander Highet

THE ALTRUISTIC IMPULSE: Devika Eifert, Hannah Isganaitis, Anthony Joseph

THE GLOBAL “SCALES’ OF JUSTICE: Russell Baker, Noga Emanuel, Irene Menear

THE HUMAN QUEST: Clare Hallward, Margaret King Struthers, Neil McKenty, Irene Menear; in Pointe Claire: Anne Kotiuga, Clifford Papke, Barbara Rolston

THE READING ADVENTURE: Ann Elbourne, Len Richman, Jacky Ross; in Pointe Claire: John Ciaccia, Kathie Keefer, Len Richman

THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR: Irene Menear, Diane Moreau, Olga Sher

THÉÂTRE MONTREAL THEATRE: Danuta Potworowski, Kristian Gravenor

WOMEN ON THE CASE: Alexander Highet, Nusia Matura, Temmy Rosen

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS:

BASIC ESSAY-WRITING: Alexander Farrell

CONQUERING FEAR/ SPEAKING CONFIDENTLY: Anthony Joseph

MILESTONES: EXPLORING THE MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS: François Ouimet

MORE ABOUT MUSIC: François Ouimet

SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT THE OPERA: Ossama el Naggar, Irene Menear

WORKSHOP ON WRITING SKILLS: David Dussault (II), Brian King (I), Kathe Lieber, Kate Sheckler (II)

RENEWAL WORKSHOPS FOR DISCUSSION LEADERS: Ron Smith and members of the Curriculum Committee

OUTREACH PROGRAMS
LEGACIES: Seniors courses coordinated by Danielle Dugas at 8 Residences & Meeting Places of Older Adults. Discussion leaders: Elke Attal, Ileana Cusiac, Eileen de Neeve, Kathleen Dunn, Anne Leonard, Thomasine Mawhood, Irene Menear, Lois Mumley, Jennifer Patton, Helen Raspin, Doris Rooney, Jacky Ross, Olga Sher, Estifanos Terefe with Martin Baenninger, Cassie Cohoon, Ann Lloyd, Olga Melikoff, Len Richman

THOMAS MORE INSTITUTE ASSOCIATES
Book Sale
Carmel Aucoin, Sally Cooper, Anthony Joseph, Kenneth Mackenzie, Irene Menear, Natalie Tranquilli, Jacky Ross, Amy Shulman

Feast of Lights
Anthony Joseph, Irene Menear, Jeri-Li Pitzel, Kate Richmond-Smith, Jacky Ross

Stratford Trip Committee- June 2009
Anna Bushell, Anita David, Mary McAsey, Gert Morgenstern, Gabrielle Pilot

THE STAFF OF THE THOMAS MORE INSTITUTE 2009-2010
Sally Cooper, Bursar & Advertising Coordinator
Jim Cullen, President
Danielle Dugas, Seniors Coordinator
David Faulkner, Accountant
Irene Menear, Curriculum Coordinator
Heather Stephens, Academic Vice-President, Registrar
Katia Toimil-Bramhall, Readings Coordinator
Volunteers assisting the office staff: Carmel Aucoin, Danielle Dugas, Mary Farrell, Mary Hughes, Olga Pubolz, Len Richman, Muriel Townsend