A non-profit in the Regional District of Nanaimo area is seeking financial aid in order to assist with continuing education for seniors.
Robin Fisher, Mid Island ElderCollege president, made a presentation to the RDN board at its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, seeking yearly funding of $50,000. Vancouver Island University discontinued its support of ElderCollege at the end of 2023 and the group attained charitable organization status in 2024.
Fisher said ElderCollege had been providing classes to seniors for more than 30 years. With rented class space across the region, including Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, as well as online offerings, ElderCollege provided more than 60 courses this year for 1,000 students aged 50 years and older, numbers similar to when it was part of VIU, according to Fisher. Students take courses for the "simple joy of learning and learning with others," he said.
"It's the social aspect that's important because most of our students also understand, as the research indicates, that lifelong learning is a major contributor to preventative health," said Fisher. "Mid Island ElderCollege, I'm going to assert, is a social health-care system, it's an antidote … Individual well-being, of course, in turn, makes for healthy, vibrant communities."
The non-profit does charge membership fees and course fees, Fisher said, and it is hoped the RDN will help mitigate the programming deficit.
"There are no outstanding debts," said Fisher. "Rental of facilities is one of our big expenses. We also have one part-time staff member who's absolutely essential to what we do, so that's another part of the budget."
ElderCollege's business case suggests it could expand enrolment without "significantly expanding [its] costs," he said.
Regional directors did not make any motions related to the request.
