December 2024 Newsletter
The Best Part of Winter is Joining Another Academy Workshop
Workshops begin the week of January 7, 2025
The winter term at the Academy for Lifelong Learning Toronto is about to begin. Some workshops have space available, and members are invited to join for the second term.
Remember, winter workshops are FREE to all full Academy members. Choose from the workshops listed to the right and sign up for a winter workshop anytime. Just register by clicking the Join/Renew button at allto.ca. No fees will apply.
Not an Academy Member Yet?
Join the Academy and sign up for the workshops listed here. You’ll find friends, and an opportunity to be engaged in these interesting topics.
To join the Academy, click the Join/Renew button at allto.ca.
Choose from these Workshops:
- Assassinations in History
- The Blues
- Celebration of Song (hybrid)
- Contemporary Film B
- For the Love of Poetry
- Genealogy
- Immigrant Experiences in Canada
- Jazz Appreciation
Descriptions of all workshops are available at allto.ca/workshops
Academy President’s Message
We’ve got great memories from 2024 and new adventures in 2025
by Thea Herman
Dear friends,
As we approach the holiday season, I look back on our fall term and ahead to the new year.
Academy members have been busy this fall, welcoming new members, and getting together in person and on Zoom. We’re participating in stimulating workshops, busy in clubs, experiencing invigorating walks and attending inspiring forums. There are so many volunteers to thank for making all this possible.
I look ahead to our upcoming holiday luncheon, the Academy web refresh early in the New Year and, of course, a full winter term program of workshops and events. While we are enjoying our winter program, Academy committees and the Board will be busy planning for 2025/2026.
I thank all of you for being part of what makes the Academy such a special place and wish you and your families all the best for the holiday season. Have a happy and healthy New Year.
Do you wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the Academy?
By Barrie Wilson, Academy VP
- How are Workshops chosen & developed?
- Who arranges the Talks?
- Who promotes the Academy with all its educational & social activities?
- Who looks after the Membership database?
- Who develops surveys?
- Who manages the Academy website?
In each case the answer is the same: Volunteers.
The Academy runs only on volunteers. There are no paid staff members, or offices. The Workshop facilitators, and Committee and Board members are all volunteers. This is impressive for an organization of some 300 members who enjoy talking, socializing and keeping fit intellectually.
About 40 per cent of Academy members are volunteers. Active peer learning goes well beyond the Workshop environment. Our leaders, on committees, on the Board and as workshop facilitators, play a vital role in making the Academy a huge success as a proud educational and social institution. Along with peer-to-peer learning, peer management makes the Academy unique.
Some of the great joys of being an Academy member lies in sharing ideas in a safe, welcoming environment, and helping to make things happen. So, if you are a creative thinker and like teamwork, the Academy welcomes your active participation. At the Academy, everyone is a volunteer.
allto.ca Is Getting a New Look, and Some New Functions
In January, Academy members will see a refreshed allto.ca web site. For the past three months, a crew of volunteers from the Communications and Marketing Committee have been working with an outside supplier to revamp the current site for a better user experience. Led by Kevin Conway, along with Chantal Clement and Helen Prislinger, and representatives from each Academy committee, the team is working to make the transition.
Kevin’s background in IT systems management and library sciences will ensure that the site is user friendly, information-focused and easy to navigate. Of course, it’s important to note that this refresh is built on the excellent work done by the previous web team, as much of the set-up and organization has already been established in a way that works.
Now, we are adding some of the newest technology to make program registration and member interaction easier. With these upgrades, much of the site management that users don’t see will be automated, which frees up volunteer hours. Also, the new structure will allow leaders to update their own information in real time, with no delays. As a result, web site visitors will have current and timely information.
Academy Forums – Inspiring Talks This Winter
Get ready for the Winter 2025 Forums!
All Forums are held at Tartu College, starting at 1:15 pm.
Jan. 15 – Jake Pyne
Transgender issues dominate the news these days, and they even swing election results. they even swing election results. Jake Pyne, assistant professor at York University’s School of Social Work, professor at York University’s School of Social Work, will outline the transgender story.
Jan. 29 – Presenting the Presenters
This is an Academy favourite, when two Academy members share their workshop presentation. Tony Key will present Max Planck and Quantum Mechanics, and Carol Perry will present Emily Carr.
Feb. 12 – Rosemary Sullivan
As an author of 15 books Rosemary Sullivan has told stories the of many famous people. Now she tells her own story, of how she came to be a biographer.
Feb. 26 – The Academy Debate
Our final Forum will tackle this year’s resolution:
“Be it resolved that STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) courses must push Humanities aside in our education system to adequately prepare students for the challenges of the 21st Century.”
The Pro team: Sheila McCook and Daryl Landau
The Opposition: Linda Tu and Paul Marmion
Bring a Friend
Guests are welcome at the Academy Forums. Share the speakers list with your friends. They will appreciate the chance to experience, firsthand, what YOU have been experiencing, learning and enjoying.
Enjoy Lunch Before the Forums Begin
When you attend our popular Forum series, enjoy lunch beforehand in the convivial atmosphere of the Lounge at Tartu College, starting at 12 noon
Attendees can buy delicious sandwiches, catered by Masters Café, for only $5 each.
Alternatively, bring your own lunch and enjoy the free coffee, tea and cookies.
The Annual Academy Survey is Now Complete
Thank you to the Academy members who completed our annual questionnare/survey.
We are delighted that 46 per cent of the membership responded, which is well above average for a customer service survey. The Board will review the survey results in January, and share the details with Academy members shortly after. Your opinions, suggestions and ideas are important to future planning, and to ensure the continued success of the Academy.
In Memoriam
Wilhelmina ‘Wil’ Tijssen-Kortenaar October 20, 2024
Brigid M. O’Reilly October 24, 2024
Workshop Spotlight
By John Weatherburn
This year the Academy offered a new and different workshop – Genealogy. This involves collecting and analyzing information about the ancestors of a particular person, or family.
There are so many resources available, it can be challenging. This is why it’s great for us to share our experiences and ideas. There are 19 people registered, with a good mix of those who have done a lot of personal research, and others who want to be educated/inspired on the process.
To date we have focused largely on people sharing their experiences with research and documentation. Participants have written a book, created photo albums, created family trees and started family blogs. We have also shared ideas about specific research tools, such as ancestry websites, historic records, government databases and had a Toronto Reference Library records tour.
More stories will come, and there are more resources to discuss such as Military records, newspapers, specific professions (e.g. Nurses), and DNA testing, etc. Through member’s stories from around the world, we are learning from each other.
Help Wanted
Are You a Leader?
Make the most of your Academy membership by becoming a leader. Help to shape Academy services, programs, policies and practices.
Volunteer Team: a generalist is needed to help source volunteers from within the Academy. We also assist with the recruitment of members for specific positions.
Intriguing Talks Committee: an Assistant Chair will help plan Academy Forums and the spring Distinguished Speakers series.
If interested, please contact use the contact form below to send a message.
Volunteer Interest Contact Form