PROBUS Club of Port Perry
Interest Groups
NEW INTEREST GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
If you would like to coordinate a new remote group or shared experience, please let us know at interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com.
Our club has a corporate Zoom account should you wish to set up a virtual meeting, and it has no time restraints!
Just contact Jim Adamson at president.portperryprobus@gmail.com to use it.
We are here to help should you want to try a meeting virtually!
Potential NEW Interest Groups
Probus is always thinking of NEW interest groups to offer to meet the needs of our membership. New interest groups we've started recently are Mexican Train, Twists & Turns Book Club, Virtual Golf, Craft Workshops, Latin Line Dancing, Tai Chi, and Winter Sports like skiing & snowshoeing. We've also opened up our Poker group and a second Bid-Euchre group to another nearby Probus club hoping for a few additional members to get these two interest groups off the ground!
If you’re interested in joining one of these groups please contact the coordinator specified for that group. Or perhaps you’d be interested in another group that Probus isn’t offering at this time, please let the Interest Groups Co-Chair know about it and we’ll try to make it happen.
CURRENT INTEREST GROUPS
FEELING CREATIVE?
ART - PROBUS OPEN STUDIO
Margaret Adamson: 905-773-2878
Meetings are every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 1pm-4pm at the Hope Church. The members at the Open Studio sessions use acrylic, watercolour and oil paint, clay and wood as their medium to work on individual art projects.
CRAFT WORKSHOPS – NEW GROUP!
Catherine Whittle: 416-906-1546
Do you love to create? This group will participate in one-off workshops.
Current opportunity - Date TBD - DIY Dried Citrus Garland Making Workshop by Snippet of Spice! The workshop is approximately 2 hours, and the cost is $40 per person. Includes basic kit & instruction. These garlands are a fun, easy, no experience necessary, holiday craft that can last for years to come.
Here are some other examples of potential crafts the group can make: Charcuterie boards, Gnomes, Chunky blankets, Turkish lamps, Welcome/Xmas signs, etc. Anyone can bring forward prospective workshops/ideas. Contact the coordinator if you’re interested in joining this creative group!
IMPROV - NEW Group!
Jane Vollick: 905-317-0330
Our Improv group meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday from 2pm-4pm, at the Port Perry Villa. This is a super fun group - there is still room to join us, contact the coordinator.
LET'S PLAY!
BID EUCHRE – FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Ann Berube: 905-985-7102
Bid Euchre is played on alternate Friday afternoons. Each group member takes a turn hosting. We usually have two or three tables and play 6-7 games, then share a snack and socialize. This group is currently full.
BID EUCHRE – JOINT PROBUS CLUB FRIDAY AFTERNOON - NEW Group!
Donna Stevenson: 647-984-0846
Games are held on the second Friday of each month from 1pm to 4pm. This is a joint Interest Group with the Port Perry Probus and the Scugog-Uxbridge Probus clubs. Please contact the coordinator if you’re interested in joining us.
BILLIARDS & POOL
Tim Casey
The Billiards & Pool interest group holds games every month at the Port Perry Legion from 2pm-4pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday. Please contact Tim Casey for more details.
BRIDGE TUESDAY AFTERNOON
Linda Brooks: 416-451-9567
Bridge games are on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 1:00 pm to 4:30pm. Please email the coordinator if you are interested in playing as a spare.
CRIBBAGE
Jooles Blaney: 905-409-5171
DARTS FOR FUN
John Leahy: 905-982-2695 and Ken Crossley
jleahy6@gmail.com or magentis@checkmail.ca
Every Tuesday 2pm-4pm at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 419 at 484 Bay St. in Port Perry. This is not a league - we just play for fun. However, the dart group at present time is FULL. Anyone interested in joining, please contact the coordinator to be put on our waitlist.
EUCHRE – AFTERNOON
Ann Berube: 905-985-7102
Regular euchre is played on alternate Friday afternoons, group members taking turns hosting in their homes. We play 6-7 games and then enjoy refreshments and socializing. This group is currently full.
EUCHRE - BOWER POWER (4th Friday of the month)
Joanne Drury
This group meets once a month on the 4th Friday at 7 p.m. (except December)
We have room for a couple more regular players. And of course, we can always use more spares to help with coverage during high travel times. This is a joint interest group between the Port Perry Probus and the Scugog-Uxbridge Probus clubs. Please email the coordinator if you are interested in joining as a regular player and/or being a spare.
EUCHRE – EVENING (4th Tuesday of the month)
Margaret Adamson: 905-773-2878
This group meets at each other's homes on a rotating schedule (the Tuesday evening after the General Meeting). A pattern for the evening has evolved into lots of easy conversations, refreshments mixed in with euchre games. It's a relaxed group that loves getting together. Unfortunately, we are not able to add new members, but we welcome and appreciate subs when we are able.
EUCHRE – TUESDAY AFTERNOON - NEW Group!
Donna Stevenson: 647-984-0846
Games are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 1pm to 4pm. If you don’t know how to play, we’ll teach you! Note, this interest group is currently FULL, but we can add you to our waitlist if you are interested in playing the game occasionally. Please contact the coordinator.
HAND & FOOT CANASTA (card game) - NEW Group!
Donna Stevenson: 647-984-0846
Games are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 1pm to 4pm. Hand & Foot is a fun & challenging card game played in groups of four (similar to Canasta). If you don’t know how to play, we’ll teach you! Note, this interest group is currently FULL, but we can add you to our waitlist if you are interested in playing the game occasionally. Please contact the coordinator.
JIGSAW PUZZLERS
Denise Throp
We meet at break time at our monthly PROBUS meeting where we exchange puzzles, but if you cannot come to a meeting, please contact the coordinator to make alternate arrangements. You do not need to donate a puzzle in order to borrow one, or vice versa. New puzzles are always being added. FYI - you can now borrow puzzles from the Scugog library!
MAHJONG (AMERICAN) - THE JOKERS
Barb Rootham
We play bi-weekly on Mondays with a start time of 1pm. It is a tile-based game that originated in China in the 19th century. It is played by 4 players (with some variations for 2 and 3 players. If you’re interested in playing American Mahjong, please contact the coordinator for lessons or to be added to the spare list.
MAHJONG (AMERICAN) - Dragon Queens - NEW Group!
Catherine Whittle: 416-906-1546
This group meets twice a month on the 1st & 3rd Monday at 1pm.
Playing American Mahjong offers powerful benefits for brain health, social connection & emotional well-being. Research highlights key advantages including enhanced memory, strong social bonds, and improved mental sharpness. This group is almost full – we have room for 1 or 2 more players. We're offering lessons too! If you’re interested joining us, please contact Catherine.
MEXICAN TRAIN - NEW GROUP!
Catherine Whittle: 416-906-1546
Game day/time to be determined by the group. This is a dominoes-based game. Dominoes - a family of tile-based games played with rectangular pieces marked with dots, or pips, on each end. The goal is to get rid of all your tiles by building lines of matching dominoes (called trains) branching off a central hub. Contact the coordinator if you would like to join this group or for any questions.
PIG IT & HOG IT
Barb & Larry Rootham
Games are bi-weekly and played on Sunday afternoons with a start time of 1:00 pm. Pig-it & Hog-it is played with two teams at each table. This card game adds a twist to Euchre because there is a strategic aspect to it that gets you thinking. Please contact the coordinator if you are interested in playing.
POKER GROUP
Kim Lendvay/Catherine Whittle
interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com
This group meets each month on the 3rd Friday from 2pm – 4pm. This is a joint Interest Group with the Port Perry Probus and the Scugog-Uxbridge Probus clubs. Please contact the Port Perry Probus Interest Groups Co-chairs if you would like to join us.
BOOK CLUBS
BOOK CLUB - THE NEXT CHAPTER
Janet Border: 416-659-4491
The Next Chapter book club meets on the 4th Friday of the month. The Next Chapter Book Club discussed Laurie Frankel's Enormous Wings. At the beginning of the discussion, most people had a low opinion of the book, but after our discussion, almost everyone increased their rating. Yay for Book Clubs! Next month we will discuss Heather Marshall's Liberty Street.
BOOK CLUB – BETWEEN THE COVERS
Lynda Brown
At the October meeting we enjoyed a discussion about the book, Recipe for a Good Life
by Lesley Crewe. In November we will be discussing The Forgotten Midwife by Laura
Anthony. We have welcomed a new member to our group so at this time we are considered FULL and cannot invite any new members. The group meets at 1pm on the second Tuesday of the month.
BOOK CLUB – TWISTS & TURNS - NEW GROUP!
Catherine Whittle: 416-906-1546
We will meet once a month – the day & time will be determined by the members at our first meeting.
This is a book club with a few twists and turns! Each member chooses and presents their own book each month. We will determine specifics in our first meeting; we can talk about a different theme every month or perhaps the club is all murder mysteries and sci-fi. Not sure what direction we want to take this but we're open to ideas! Please contact the coordinator for more information or to confirm attendance.
FOOD & DRINK
THURSDAY BREAKFAST CLUB
Bill Morrison
The Thursday Breakfast group meets at 9:30a.m. on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Please contact Bill for more information.
COFFEE AND CHAT
Joyce Bagley: 905-985-8064
DINNER – GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (GWCTD)
Kim Lendvay
interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com
We meet on the third Friday of each month (except December). On October 16 we met at Corrado’s in Whitby – LOVE their food, always!
Our next GWCTD will be at Jester’s Court in Port Perry at 6pm on Friday November 20. Please contact the coordinator if you’d like to join us.
DINNER OUT – THURSDAYS
Marg Miller
We meet the 1st Thursday of the month. We are extending a warm invitation to any new probus members who would like to meet with us as our group is not full. Please contact the coordinator if you’d like to join us.
HAPPY HOUR ‘WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME’
Heather Jeffrey: 905-429-1556
If you’d like an afternoon libation – this is perfect! If you don’t indulge - no problem! This is simply an excuse to get together. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 4:30 pm at a local venue. Please contact Heather with any questions!
Please wear your PROBUS name tag so we can spot each other!
LUNCH GROUP
Ruth Cain: 905-410-6030
This group meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday but is at full capacity, please contact coordinator to be placed on a wait list. October’s lunch will be held at Haugen’s Chicken and Ribs, an old classic with some new improvements.
TASTES OF PourT - Food, Wine & Conversation
Barb Langer: 416-805-9223
Our group meets on the last Thursday of the month at 6pm.
Due to a conflict with another Probus activity, the next dinner will be on Nov 5. Harvest Festival will be the theme - We are looking forward to another delicious evening!
In this group, members take turns hosting and a theme is selected for appetizers or a potluck meal. Wines are purchased and all participants share the cost of the wines. We have room for 2 more members - singles and couples – all are welcome! Please contact Melodie if you would like to join us!
WINE TASTING I
Jim Adamson 905-773-2878
interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com
The theme of our group's latest tasting was "Off the Beaten Path", which was quite a trip! We began with a Sauvignon blanc from the Republic of Moldova that the group found quite tasty, especially when paired with Boursin cheese-stuffed dates and bruschetta on toasted crostini. Next we enjoyed a second Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, perfectly complemented with marinated shrimp antipasto and prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Then back to Europe, we sampled a Plavac Mali red from Croatia, which was paired alongside lamb and Tzatziki dip. Our path next headed to Chile for a Cabernet Sauvignon partnered with a charcuterie board of cheddar and Gouda cheese and crackers. The nearly final wine of the evening was a Malbec from Argentina, paired with roast beef and gravy on baguette slices.
Our imaginary trip off the beaten path included lots of geographic discussions and ended with a sweet red dessert wine from Greece that complemented the Baklava and chocolate tuxedo cake. Everyone definitely enjoyed our adventure!
LET'S GET PHYSICAL!
BIRDIES & BOGEYS – GOLF GROUP
Kim Lendvay
interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com
This group plays 9 holes weekly on Thursday or Friday morning 9am rotating between Sunnybrae, Foxbridge, Crestwood, Spring Creek & Golfers Dream. We are enjoying the game, the outdoors & the camaraderie of fellow Probus members. Let’s hope we can play into November!
The schedule for the season was emailed to group members in May. Note: if you can only join us biweekly or occasionally that's perfectly fine! Please ensure you respond to the weekly email from the coordinator stating whether you’ll be joining us that week.
This is not a league but simply an opportunity to play golf with other Probus members. This is a joint Interest Group with the Port Perry Probus and the Scugog-Uxbridge Probus clubs. If you want to be added to the email distribution list for the 2027 season, please email Kim.
HIKING
Bill Morrison
The group has hikes on the first and third Fridays of each month. Contact Bill for more information.
LAWN BOWLING
Lynn Tracey 905-985-5678
We look forward to seeing Probus members in spring 2027 – a schedule of events will be circulated at that time! Please contact the coordinator for more information and to get on the list for 2027.
LATIN DANCE LESSONS
Anne-Marie Sacco
interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
This group meets every Monday from 3pm-4pm in Uxbridge (except on Holiday Mondays). You do not need to be a couple to join, they pair us up at the lessons, as needed. Each member is required to pay the instructor $15/lesson.
This is a Joint Interest Group with the Uxbridge Probus Club. If you're interested in joining this group, please contact interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com. The coordinator is Anne-Marie Sacco.
LATIN LINE DANCING – NEW GROUP!
Scugog-Uxbridge Probus Interest Groups Co-Chairs
interestgr.scugoguxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
We have an enthusiastic Latin Line Dancing instructor offering classes for our Probus clubs. Classes will be held every 2nd Thursday of the month starting Thursday, October 8th from 7-8pm at Hope Church (14480 Old Simcoe St., Port Perry) in Room 8. Cost will be $5 per session. The preference is $30 for 6 sessions to secure the venue.
Men & women – singles & couples – all are welcome to join in the fun! Remember to wear comfortable shoes & bring a small towel & your favorite beverage. This is a joint Interest Group with the Scugog-Uxbridge Probus and the Port Perry Probus clubs. If interested in joining, please email the above noted contact.
LOVE TO SKI, SNOWSHOE, SKATE - NEW GROUP!
Catherine Whittle: 416-906-1546
Do you love to ski? Would it be nice to ski with someone with your ability & speed or perhaps its just nice to have someone to ski with? Maybe you prefer to snowshoe? Or skate? This group can meet virtually or in person to determine ski or other outing days. Contact the coordinator for more information or to join this Interest Group.
TAI CHI - NEW GROUP!
Kim Lendvay
interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com
Tai chi is a centuries-old Chinese martial art that uses slow, flowing movements, controlled breathing, and a meditative mindset to improve balance, strength, and overall wellbeing. It originated in China as a self-defence practice but is now widely used for health, stress reduction, and mobility enhancement.
This is a NEW GROUP we are starting & are looking forward to members signing up. If you would like to join this group or need more information, please contact Kim (Interest Groups Co-Chair).
VIRTUAL GOLF AT DUNNY'S DIVOTS
Catherine Whittle
Since the greens are closing shortly-ish - and we're still enjoying such lovely weather - this group will have its first day of game play November 5th at 1pm. This group can regularly play on Thursday afternoons.
All skill levels are welcome! They have a golf pro on staff for help with your swing through the winter. Besides using the driving range for practice, you can play one of over 700 courses! They are licensed & offer a charcuterie board. You can play as often as you like. Fees: 18 holes $43-$48 per round depends on day of the week – NO REGISTRATION FEE. All prices are listed per BAY not per person. Book your times on-line.
You can play the Dunny's Divots' House League or our own. If for any reason you are unable to attend at your scheduled time, you can still play your league round on another day/time that works for you. If you are interested in learning more about this fun opportunity, please contact Catherine.
OTHER NIFTY INTEREST GROUPS
BLOOMERS - GARDENING
Kim Lendvay
interest.portperryprobus@gmail.com
Sadly, the season for gardening is winding down. But the Bloomers are meeting on
November 6 for an end-of-season lunch at Piano Café where we will discuss ideas for 2027 & create a schedule so that we will enjoy the ‘peak’ of everything that blooms next year!
On November 17 some of us will be attending Hop Hill Stables for a self-guided tour followed by a visit to Goodwood Mercantile & then a stop for delicious coffee & sweet stuff at Annina’s Bakeshop – one of our favourites.
Bloomers will also be returning to Parkwood Estates on Dec 2 to enjoy their Christmas decorations tour followed by lunch (of course) in Oshawa!
We’ll slow down over the winter – although we’re always open to hearing about garden-related talks locally that we might attend. We enjoy all things garden! Please contact Kim if you wish to participate.
GIRLS (AND GUYS) JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
Denise and Cathy
Deniset1954@gmail.com or cjef@bell.net
Although this group is currently mostly women, we now have a man in the group who would be interested in attending either movies or other events, in a group or one on one. Perhaps there are other men who would like to join the fun?? The group is comprised of individuals, not couples – it provides an opportunity for both attached and unattached individuals to get together to share a fun activity.
Are you interested in an activity, but don’t want to go alone, or don’t mind going alone but want to find out if someone else would like to share your activity – then the group of Girls (and Guys) Just Wanna Have Fun is for you! Denise and Cathy maintain the group member list which is shared amongst all group members. Any member may suggest an activity and invite other members of the group to join them. The member proposing the activity would be responsible for coordinating with those who expressed an interest in joining them.
In September two members took a guided tour of the Ontario Legislative Building followed by a wonderful buffet lunch, and then they went on to tour an exhibition at the AGO entitled "The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse"
PROBUS SINGERS
Mary Morrison
Love to sing? Come and join us at 12:30 pm on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Hope Church. Please contact Mary if you’re interested in joining us; or you can sign up at our general meetings at the interest groups table. No need to have previous experience singing in a group.
TONE CHIME CHOIR
Peter Lauricella
Meeting on Thursday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00 noon, The Almost World-Famous Tone Chime Choir now has 6 members and is hoping to expand to 8 or even 10 members, which would allow us to play a wider variety of folk, hymn, or traditional songs. After taking the summer off, we are gathering again in early October. It is not necessary for new members to be able to read music, although it would help. If interested in joining our friendly group, please contact the coordinator for more information.
TRAVEL INFORMATION GROUP
Tim Casey
In October Tim Casey presented a travelogue on Venice and Northern Italy.
November's feature presentation will be by Judy Spring on a train trip to Canada's west coast. In addition, European travel has been changing rapidly over the last several years, so Tim Casey will be providing some quick current tips for travel to Europe.
Port Perry PROBUS Has Talent! Click on the photo below
