Retirement is the perfect time to further your education

By Michele Cauch

So you’ve enjoyed retirement and are now looking to further your education, just for fun. You’ve looked at some university and college options, but it’s too much of a commitment or just too serious.

Perhaps you had something less mentally taxing and less of a time eater in mind. Fear not, fair knowledge seekers, there are lots of special-interest courses out that don’t require jostling shoulder-to-shoulder against freshmen while standing in line for a Timmy’s before your 8:30 a.m. psych class.

Behold, the easiest place to start might be the best well-kept secret – The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) offers continuing education courses after school lets out. 

With 33 sites across the city, you’re bound to find something that appeals to every taste – sewing, pottery, languages, real estate, cake decorating, ballroom dancing, start your own business and drawing for people who can’t draw (yes, that’s the actual name of the course).  Regular courses run for about two months and there are discounts for those 65 plus. 

York District School Board also offers continuing education classes and seniors get a 15 per cent discount. However, you’ll have to grapple with a non-user friendly website to see the course listing. 

Hidden educational gems

 

Two months too long still? Consider reconnecting with one of the oldest treasures in our city, The Toronto Public Library (TPL).  The TPL offers an impressive lecture series that covers an extensive list of subjects from culture, arts and entertainment, health and wellness, history and genealogy and hobbies, crafts and games. You can also join a modern salon and engage in conversation and debate with writers, artists and innovators that come together for conversation and debate. 

Ryerson’s Chang School of Continuing Education offers Ryerson LIFE Institute. LIFE provides opportunities for education, leadership, personal growth and social activities for people 50 plus. The institute offers courses and study groups on a range of topics such as current affairs, art, history, culture, music and film for the 50 plus group. There are also learning travel programs available also. Membership cost is $80 a year and you need to be a member to register for courses.

Fitness junkies can take their enthusiasm to whole new level. 

Transform yourself from gym rat to fitness instructor at the YMCA. The YMCA Fitness Leadership program offers a nationally accredited course to certify instructors as group fitness leader, individual conditioning leader and aquatics fitness leader. The program consists of five elements that lead to certification: basic theory, applied theory, apprenticeship , on-the-floor training and evaluation and certification. 

Be the talk of the town

 

Toastmasters International is a leader in communication and leadership development. Their members improve their skills by attending one of the 13,500 clubs in 116 countries.  Members engage in public speaking exercises and leadership development in a supportive environment. People are encouraged to drop in to a meeting and see if it’s your style before committing to join. 

Whatever your interests are, there’s a course or program that awaits you. You can invest as little as two hours to enjoy a one-off workshop on travel photography in the Arctic. Or you can commit to a program that will give you skills to share your interests with others and help them attain their educational goals.  

It might not be easy to find it, but if you have perseverance and do your sleuthing, you’ll find what you’re looking for. 

Visit http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/2502045-health-you-re-never-too-old-to-hit-the-books-and-go-back-to-school-says-age-well to read the first part of this series about continuing your education. 

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Original link from InsideToronto.com:  http://www.insidetoronto.com/blogs/post/2519069-health-retirement-is-the-perfect-time-to-further-your-education-says-age-well/