Despite Vancouver Island University cutting ties, ElderCollege officials intend to soldier on and continue to offer courses for mature students on the central Island.
ElderCollege, providing continuing-education courses for students 50 years old and up, was a supplementary program at VIU, but due to financial issues at the institution, ceased to receive support at the end of 2023.
ElderCollege has since registered with the B.C. Societies Act as a non-profit organization, rebranding as Mid Vancouver Island ElderCollege Society, said Ross Peterson, society chairperson, adding that a number of things are in the works, including a potential soft launch in April or May.
“We think we have secured classrooms for our courses in both Nanaimo and Parksville, as well as an administrative office in Parksville,” he told the News Bulletin. “We are, at this time, planning to deliver several courses this spring in Parksville, just to make our presence known, and … we’re still eager to provide education.”
Potential spring time classes include emergency preparedness, history and arts courses. Tuition has not been determined, but Peterson did say officials think it “will be affordable for most seniors in the area.”
It is hoped that ElderCollege will fully return to operations in September, said Peterson, with courses to be taught in classrooms or via Zoom. Assistance will be sought to try to ensure financial stability.
“We’re going to try and be as close to self-sufficient as possible with our course fees, and our membership fees, but we obviously need some start-up money to get going before we can collect course fees, for example,” said Peterson. “So we will be applying to various grant organizations and we will be appealing for other private and corporate donations from the community as well.”
For more information, e-mail eldercollegenew@gmail.com.
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