University of Quadra October 2025 Class Schedule

University of Quadra (UofQ) is back in session on October 14th! Join us Tuesday evenings in the Pub for island neighbours sharing ideas, innovation and knowledge!

October 14th: Quadra Stellers Year-round Open Water Swimming with Professor Alistair Jackson & Panel

Join Alistair plus a panel of eight experienced open water swimmers! Hear stories and see videos/photos from Quadra’s underwater world. Learn about open water swimming as lifestyle fitness and find out how to join. The Stellers inception stretches back almost 40 years on Quadra. The group includes former competitive swimmers and beginners alike, PhD scientists, marine enthusiasts, water safety nuts and fitness freaks.

October 21st: When The Body Becomes the Instrument: Breath, Pulse, & the Deep Soundscape with Professor Jason Sharp

Explore the convergence of cave diving physiology and embodied sound production, examining how pulse and breath can be translated into live electroacoustic performance. The discipline of measured breathing, heightened bodily awareness, and temporal perception central to diving provides a framework for understanding the practice of using biofeedback as a compositional tool. In merging these domains, the lecture highlights the body’s dual role as both a site of vulnerability and a generator of sonic material.

Jason Sharp is an electroacoustic composer, bass saxophonist, and producer. He has released three acclaimed solo albums on Constellation Records and recorded with artists including Leonard Cohen, Elisapie, Patrick Watson, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, and Matana Roberts. His work spans concert performance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and film scoring, including the soundtrack for Netflix’s The Decline and Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines. Now based on Quadra Island, he serves as the new Director of Quadra Concerts.

October 28th: Digital StoryWorks with Professor Jamie Black

Digital StoryWorks is powered by bright, tech-savvy youth (ages 15–30) guided by me, Jamie Black—a professional digital storyteller with 20+ years’ experience. Together, we designed a fail-proof system where we can take your story, polish it, and share it online with and for you, in a way that actually connects. This isn’t cookie-cutter marketing. It is taking your story, whatever that might be, and making it known through digital formats like video, images, images with words, or the written word. It’s a story-driven connection that feels good to share and good to read.

November 4th: The Wonders of Seaweed! with Professor Courtney den Elzen

An introduction to the awe inspiring, often overlooked, wonders that are our west coast seaweeds. Learn about the types of seaweed we have here on Quadra, their incredible biology, their crucial role in our environment, and ways to incorporate seaweed into your life – recipes, advocacy and more! Courtney den Elzen is a self-proclaimed seaweed super-nerd. A marine naturalist by trade, her greatest joy is geeking out over the wonders of our west coast seas and sharing that magic with others.