The conversion to online courses — due to the COVID pandemic — has been so successful for VIU ElderCollege that they are adding 23 more courses for spring.
Courses and the topics range from “Populism, Social Media, Elections and Fake News,” to “ Stimulate Your Creativity”.
There are also some high profile instructors such as Dr. Peter German who is offering a one-day afternoon seminar titled “The Money Laundering Threat”. German is the author of the dirty money report on money laundering in B.C. casinos which revealed how organized crime hides its profits.
Another popular instructor is Dave Klinger, who is a musician offering a six-week course on “The New York Jazz Scene, 1900 to 1960”. He will perform some of the music on the piano and feature recordings of various styles of jazz.
VIU ElderCollege is also taking the Friday Forum into seniors care facilities in a pilot project that is being launched in spring 2021. The Friday Forum is a series of afternoon seminars based on one theme: “Attaining and Maintaining Mental Health”. This pilot project aims to make online learning available to residents of seniors facilities.
In spring 2021 the VIU ElderCollege Saturday Speakers Series focuses on climate change. The titles of the Saturday morning presentations are “Scientific Basis for Climate Change and Its Causes”, “Climate Change and BC Forestry” and “The Effects of Climate Change on Vancouver Island Freshwater Resources”. During the COVID-19 restrictions the Saturday Speakers Series will be offered as a membership perk to VIU ElderCollege participants.
Membership in VIU ElderCollege is $20 and the course fees range from $10 to $94 depending on the length of the course.
VIU ElderCollege has a toll free line 1-866-734-6252 for registration, information, membership sign-up and saving a spot in the Saturday Speakers Series. All the VIU ElderCollege courses and presentations will be offered through Zoom, an online communications tool which is free to all participants.
The course calendar is available online at viu.ca/eldercollege. Facebook users can also use facebook.com/ElderCollegeVancouverIsland University. A facebook account is not required to view VIU ElderCollege information and posts on Facebook.
More information: viu.ca/eldercollege or by calling 1-866-734-6252.