2025 Meeting Dates
A Midsummer Country Assembly
Jane Austen Society of North America Calgary Region request your
Attendance at the BALL, at The Hall of Scenic Acres,
on Saturday, 21st June, 2025
7p.m. - 11p.m.
The hall is located at 8825 Scurfield Drive NW
FOR the Modest Price of $15.00 those assembled shall enjoy an evening of
dance, partake in light refreshment, and delight in the services of skilled
musicians.
The favour of an answer is requested.
Tickets may be reserved through means of electronic message sent to
YYCregency at gmail.com or
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/a-midsummer-country-assembly
Costumes are Admired, but not Required.
In honour of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we shall collect donations for
the Food Bank. A suggested amount in $2.50
Warmest Regards,
M. Arbib, V. Jones, L. Sayles
Book Club
"I declare afterall there is no enjoyment like reading. How much sooner one tires of anything than a book!"
Below are a few details about the group. Please feel free to invite a friend!
We will meet the first Thursday of every month (next session Thursday September 4, 2025)
7:00 - 9:00 pm (reach out for location details)
Refreshments will be supplied by the attending members
March 15 Meeting Recap-Galbadan Begum, the Mughal Jane Austen
One was born a Mughal princess in 1575, the other the seventh child to a country clergyman in 1775. Both women, despite their vastly different upbringings and contexts, seemed to have an acute awareness of human nature and a talent for capturing the essence of their worlds. Gulbadan Begum, as a Mughal princess, had a unique perspective on the intricacies of the Mughal court, and her writings provided valuable insights into that era. She not only documented history but also painted a vivid picture of the everyday life of the people around her. It’s no surprise that the recommended books, *Portrait of a Rose Princess at the Mughal Court* by Rumor Godden Gulbadan, *The Great Adventures of Gulbadan Vagabond Princess* by Ruby Lal, and *The History of Humaanyun by Gul-Badan Begum offer fascinating glimpses into her world.
This intriguing talk explored how these two women, despite their different times and places, found common ground in the way they observed life. Their works remain timeless reflections of both personal and historical identity. Many thanks to our own Fatima Majorka for introducing us to Gulbadan!
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Treaty 7 Territory Land Acknowledgements
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we, the Jane Austen Society Calgary Region, live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
Join US
If you, like us, are interested in all things Jane consider becoming a member. We are a merry band of Austen fans who meet to enjoy talks, workshops, teas, galas and more several times throughout the year. We encourage those who are curious about joining to attend their first meeting for free to get to know us better. Whether you’re just discovering Jane for the first time or if you’ve loved her for years, you are most cordially welcome!
Member meetings are currently held in-person and via Zoom and 2023 -2024 membership is only $15.00 annually and provides admission to all meetings, access to the lending library, and supports speaker honorariums, hosting our website, technology fees, outreach ventures, and more…
Attend a Meeting
Held five times annually, JASNA Calgary meetings offer Jane fans an opportunity to discuss a variety of Austen related topics both literary and scholarly including Jane’s life, her novels, the Regency period and more.
When: the third Saturday in the months of January, March, May, September, and November
Time: from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: via Zoom until further notice and then at the Sunalta Community Association, located at 1627 10 Avenue SW (wheelchair accessible) when we can meet in person again.
We encourage those who are curious about joining to attend their first meeting for free to get to know us better.
“We are all hastening together to perfect felicity.”
— Narrator, Northanger Abbey
Are you attending the Annual Tea?
Although we all know Jane Austen's birthday is on December 16 (common knowledge is it not?), the Calgary Regional group holds its birthday celebration in January, when we can all appreciate a party and some good cheer in the face of our cold prairie winters.
To honour Jane we celebrate a delightful gathering including refreshments and afternoon tea, fun and scholarly talks, a dance presentation featuring the Regency Dance Group Sprigged Muslin, games, and more.
Borrow a Book
JASNA Calgary Region is proud to offer its members a well stocked library of Jane Austen novels and related works. Through the generous donation of past members, as well as select acquisitions by the group, we now feature over a hundred works both literary and scholarly to choose from including a complete set of Persuasions, JASNA’s annual, peer-reviewed print journal.
Members have access to the library during each Member Meeting and can borrow materials until the following meeting for the small sum of 25 cents per item. To plan your reading in advance, review the Library List and send an email to JASNA Calgary to request your particular books, as our library is now too large to bring all the books to each meeting. If you cannot wait until the next meeting, try the resources of the Calgary Public Library.
Attend Local Events
Join us for local events in and around Calgary that feature Jane Austen or Regency period or historical activities.
From Gala events at the Palliser to plays held by local theatre groups, there’s something for everyone.
Would you care to Dance?
Learn Regency dances and share good fun and laughter with the Sprigged Muslin Dance Group of Calgary. The group helps beginners and experts alike find the real spirit of dancing in the Regency period. Best of all, costumes are both welcome and encouraged.
Sprigged Muslin is always seeking new members and no previous experience of any kind is required. In fact, enjoying laughter and camaraderie are the only qualifications. We are currently seeking a new Dance Mistress or Master; if you have enough basic dance knowledge to make it easy for you to learn new dances and would like to try on this role, we would be happy to help you hone your skills. The group is very accepting and supportive of whatever others offer so this could be a great opportunity to stretch yourself by taking on a new role. Help and resources are readily available.
Practices are held monthly, in order to keep members on their toes, but if you are simply interested in the dances themselves, PDF descriptions are available as well.
“Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward.”
— Mr. Knightley, Emma
Stage and Screen
Over two centuries after her life, Jane still lives in the hearts and minds of the fans all over world. As part of her modern persona, she inspires us to create new media experiences from stage and screen through to digital adaptations, on-line courses, and more.
So what’s your favourite Austen film adaptation? Have you taken advantage of the free on-line course from the University of Southampton's Future Learn on her life and time? Or perhaps you’ve visited the virtual Regency world of “Ever, Jane” featuring a Jane inspired on-line role-playing game Or maybe you’ve snuck a peak through Lizzie Bennett’s Diary, a YouTube vlog based on Pride and Prejudice? There are simply so many adaptions of Austen’s work to choose from.
Visit Jane Country
Has your love of Jane Austen ever inspired you to take the trip to England and visit the world she so eloquently described? Many of our members have, and you can find their travel diaries and essays here, along with travel tips and tour suggestions.
If you’ve already made the journey, consider sharing your experiences with the group and adding to the richness of these travel stories by sharing them with others.
Are you a Friend of Jane?
As a JASNA Calgary Regional Member you belong to one of the many organizations around the world dedicated to the celebration and preservation of all things Jane.
Whether you choose to join the main JASNA organization based in the US and attend their AGM, or simply explore the plethora of global Jane societies, there is always an opportunity to meet and befriend new Jane friends.
To learn more about sister societies and fan groups in North America and beyond click the link below.
Learn more about us
Curious about who we are, or perhaps interested in volunteering your support and talent to the group. Look no further. Learn more about the JASNA Calgary Region group of volunteers dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Jane Austen.
“One man’s ways may be as good as another’s, but we all like our own best.”
— Admiral Croft, Persuasion
