April 19, 2013 - 3:28am
Life-long learners in the Parksville-Qualicum and Nanaimo regions can take advantage of a new venture launched by Vancouver Island University’s ElderCollege program.
After much planning and a great deal of anticipation, the first ever ElderCollege spring semester is underway.
“Our spring program of short courses is being offered on an experimental basis to help the VIU ElderCollege Board of Management assess the desirability of extending the ElderCollege year,” says Elizabeth Marlsand, ElderCollege Programming Committee volunteer.
“Several courses offered in May have an outdoor focus, appropriately for early summer, and some involve one off-campus class. Most consist of three sessions, others two or four. We are very grateful to the volunteer instructors, some of them new to ElderCollege teaching, for this interesting array of topics.”
Most of the spring courses are based at the VIU Parksville-Qualicum Centre, with two being offered in Nanaimo.
“If the spring program is a success, more courses will be given in Nanaimo in future years,” adds Marlsand. “The Nanaimo courses are being offered at a new venue, the Longwood Origin Retirement Community, and are open to the general VIU ElderCollege membership as well as Origin residents.”
May courses include poetry, birding, photographing wildlife, painting, bridge and more.
The fee per course is $25 + tax. VIU ElderCollege membership is required but for new members there will be no membership charge since the ElderCollege year ends June 30, 2013.
Membership includes privilege of free admission to Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach and advance notice of upcoming courses and other events.
Meanwhile, in June, VIU ElderCollege will hold its annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea to say thank you to volunteer instructors and others who generously donate their time and energy.
The event will take place at VIU’s Milner Gardens and Woodland on June 12.
“It’s a fun time and a wonderful way to meet fellow volunteers, course instructors and ElderCollege board members,” says Regan McKeever, VIU ElderCollege Program Coordinator.
A full schedule of spring courses is available on the ElderCollege website at www.viu.ca/eldercollege
To register, please call 1-866-734-6252.
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About ElderCollege:
Established in 1996, VIU ElderCollege (VIU EC) is a group of volunteer members. Its purpose it to provide life-long learning opportunities for people who are 50 years or better in the communities served by VIU, namely the regions of Nanaimo and Parksville-Qualicum.
Lifelong learning is widely recognized as important to an enriched and stimulating lifestyle and good mental health in today's rapidly changing world. VIU EC is committed to offering learning opportunities to older adults who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge through self-directed learning and to contribute to the social and cultural development of their community. VIU EC is managed by its Board of Management elected annually by EC members. Its courses and program are carried out by instructors and other volunteers, with the support of VIU resources.
ABOUT VIU: Vancouver Island University is Canada’s west coast university. Known as a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and applied research, VIU offers a diverse range of certificate, diploma and undergraduate and master degree programs to more than 18,000 students on campuses in Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan, and at the Parksville-Qualicum Centre. For more information visit www.viu.ca
MEDIA CONTACT
Janina Stajic, Manager, Vancouver Island University
P: 250.740.6288 E: Communications@viu.ca Twitter: @VIUNews
Tags: In the Community
