Exchange of knowledge highlights conference on seniors' learning

KATIE SMITH
The Guardian - August 30, 2007

Ian Scott, left, of Seniors College P.E.I., Meddie Aikens of McGill Institute for Learning in Retirement, and Bruce Garrity, co-ordinator, chat at the Regional Conference 2007, Peer-Learning Opportunities for 21st Century Seniors. The conference was hosted by the seniors’ college promoting networking, sharing experiences and information and the expansion of seniors’ colleges. Guardian photo

Bruce Garrity of Centre for Life-Long Learning says gathering at UPEI drew about 40 people from seven provinces who shared their experiences with seniors' colleges across the country.

This week’s regional conference on seniors’ learning was better than could have been expected, says a representative from the Centre for Life-Long Learning.

Bruce Garrity said there are many seniors’ learning groups across the country and the different types of models were discussed at the conference held at UPEI from Aug. 26-28.

He said although a number of centres exist in Canada, he was surprised there wasn’t any discussion among them. That is, until this conference.

“It was about sharing our knowledge,” Garrity said. “I’m very happy with our exchange of information.”

Approximately 40 people attended the meetings representing seven Canadian provinces: Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and P.E.I.

Garrity said when the seniors’ college began on the Island nearly 10 years ago only a handful of courses was offered, and only about 25 people enrolled.

It’s now grown to nearly 100 courses, with more than 450 seniors taking part, he said, adding most of the courses are taught by retired teachers and professors.

“P.E.I. is a leader in community schools, life-long learning and seniors’ colleges,” said Garrity, a former member of Charlottetown City Council.

Although the Island seniors’ learning programs are growing, Garrity said he’d like to see even more seniors involved — particularly men.

“All of the associations in the country deal mostly with females. I know here, there’s close to 80 per cent females,” he said, adding the reason there are fewer men than women is men tend to be more involved with other activities.

Aside from different hobbies that might otherwise occupy a person’s time, one reason Garrity said seniors’ enrolment numbers are low because many people don’t want to take school courses.

“A lot of people who are 50-plus, when they hear of a seniors’ college, they think it’s too collegiate, too brainy. But it’s not. There are no tests, no term papers.”

It’s just a place to gather and hear people talk about different topics, he said. Garrity added that the seniors’ colleges are places to go for socializing and for intellectual stimulation, which is important for people of all ages.

While it’s necessary to exercise regularly and eat well, it’s also important for one’s health to exercise the mind, he said.

As the conference drew to a close, several participants stayed to discuss what happens next.
Some of the suggestions included making this conference an annual event to better keep in touch with other programs and learn from them.

It was also suggested to start up a website where each program can go for information.
One man said it would be a good idea to spread the word about seniors’ learning programs to municipal organizations.

Registration for fall courses will be held in Charlottetown, Summerside and Alberton in September. Specific times, dates and locations will appear in a Guardian ad on Sept. 4, Garrity said.

The cost is $125 per senior 50 years of age and older, per year.

Students can take as many courses as they like for this price.

Seniors College hosts Atlantic conference

TERESA WRIGHT CONSTABLE
The Guardian - August 27, 2007

The Seniors College of P.E.I. is hosting an Atlantic conference this week in the hopes of inspiring similar models of senior learning in other provinces.

Representatives from seven provinces are on the Island taking part in the conference activities and exploring the success of the Island Seniors College.

Bruce Garrity, Seniors College co-ordinator, said the conference was organized to get the word out about how well the idea has taken off on P.E.I.

“We thought we should tell people about us, because we think we have a good thing going here. Seniors College is a success story on P.E.I. and we think that many people should duplicate us, should they want to.”

In eight years, the Seniors College of P.E.I. has gone from 25 participants to 450 students, Garrity said.

“That may not be as big as a university, but it’s pretty good growth and we’re very proud that our students love Seniors College, keep coming back and our teachers love teaching.”

The courses are offered for a nominal fee of $125 per semester of eight to 10 weeks of class time.

The teachers are mostly retired professors and high school teachers, and get paid a small fee for their services.

The main reason they do it is because they love it, Garrity said.

“You can’t beat this. Students who want to learn and teachers who want to teach. This is a marriage made in heaven.”

Representatives from the universities of Regina, Toronto, St. Mary’s and Memorial University are taking part.

But despite their university affiliations, they will explore the practical steps in getting a seniors college started in a small community without a university or college. Garrity said this is because he believes seniors’ learning shouldn’t be too tied to post-secondary education.

“The key to seniors college is that it isn’t university- based. What we want is someone in the community who’s civic-minded and will work with the university but not for it. It has to be driven by somebody that it’s not their job to do it — but that they want to do it.”

This is exactly what Garrity has done, being the driving force behind the P.E.I. Seniors College.
Garrity, a former city councillor, works hard to secure teachers, classrooms and learning materials for the classes. But he said the work has been well worth it.

The conference takes place until Wednesday on the UPEI campus.

Some of the topics on the agenda include the history and development of the seniors’ college model, seniors learning models in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, and the work of the McGill Institute for Learning in Retirement.

There will be a panel discussion by representatives of the Community School, the Centre for Life-Long Learning, Holland College, and the P.E.I. Senior’s Federation.

The final conference session will be an open panel discussion on strategies for the future.