Nearly two years after Vancouver Island University was forced to pull the pin on supporting Elder College in 2023, learners over 50 in Cowichan Valley will once again have the chance to get their study on as Mid Island Elder College, which has been offering courses to seniors in mid Vancouver Island for more than 30 years, offers up 90 courses for their 2025 fall session.
"At over 80,000, our region has one of the largest populations of seniors in Canada," said college society president Robin Fisher. "As we age, it is important to keep the mind active and it is also clear that social interaction is a big factor in health and well-being.
"Elder College is a social health operation. Once we were informed that VIU was no longer able to support us, the board quickly decided to continue as a independent society as the work is too important to disappear."
Four courses will be offered at the Cowichan Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library in Duncan with 'Introduction to Mindful Stitch' being the first offered on Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., led by instructor and Saanich fibre artist Nora Ready.
Next up will be a workshop on 'Probate Bypass & Estate Planning Strategies' on Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon providing a practical introduction to estate planning, with a particular focus on strategies for avoiding probate. It will be taught by Nathina Financial Services co-owner Nathan Paisley as well as by co-instructor Len Paisley, who has more than 40 years of financial planning experience.
Jump ahead to Oct. 27 where seniors can learn about 'Exploring Life and the Afterlife' taught by Lynn Echevarria, a professor emerita in sociology. The course, which runs from 2 to 4:30 p.m., will explore what near-death experience accounts teach us about life as well as the afterlife through the juxtaposition of science and spiritual perspectives.
The final fall course in Duncan, which runs from Nov. 7 to Dec. 5, is 'Eye to the Ages: Viewing Humanity's Past, Present & Future' which will look at how humanity's journey across the ages has been portrayed along with what explanations have been offered by various religions and cultures and more taught by community interfaith educator Harold Rosen who has taught more than 200 community courses during the last 25 years.
"We made a start in Duncan last spring and are pleased that we have increased the number of courses to four this fall," said Fisher. "We will expand the offerings as interest and registrations grow. We are so grateful to the library staff for their support and making teaching space available."
All of the college's instructors and organizers are volunteers. An annual Elder College membership costs $25 and there is a tuition assistance program for those who are unable to afford course fees and/or membership. There are still 86 elder courses being offered on topics such as local history, AI, F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as some enticing course titles such as 'Age Proof Your Brain', and 'The Senior Brain: Staying Sharp at Any Age'. Fisher has been persuaded to repeat his workshop on Indigenous history: 'Overturning History in Nanaimo: The White and Bob Case' which is about the landmark Supreme Court challenge of Indigenous hunting rights heard in the Nanaimo Court House.
Those further north, in places such as Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, and Qualicum or those interested in learning more about the ZOOM courses being offered can view the full course catalogue, or register online at eldercollege.org. Registration can also be done over the phone at 250-797-9055. The college will offer more courses with some in Duncan come January, 2026.
"The mission of Mid Island Elder College is to drive the growth of a community of lifelong learning and well being," said Fisher. "Learners who take our courses will be better informed, will have active minds and will live healthy lives. Our courses are an antidote to loneliness and depression that some seniors experience. Vibrant individuals contribute to vibrant communities."
