We Have a New Home!

The Academy has a new home! Message from our President, W. Douglas Wilson.

It was with great pleasure that I made the eagerly awaited announcement at our Holiday Luncheon today.

An agreement has been signed and we will move into our new home in September. The location is Tartu College, 310 Bloor West, most conveniently located between St George and Spadina Stations which, as you know, both connect with the main subway lines. We shall be using the entrance off Madison Avenue, which is closer to the Spadina station and is being adapted to ensure full accessibility and vehicle drop-off points.

Facilities include two spacious classrooms that can be configured in several ways to meet our needs, and ample social space including a fully equipped kitchenette. Washrooms are close by, on the same floor. We also have access to a large multi-purpose hall for Forums and other events and, on the main floor, there is an excellent cafeteria where renovations are currently underway. Most importantly, Tartu’s Board and Management are warmly welcoming and eagerly await the Academy’s arrival in September.

My thanks are due to Past President Sharon Harris who has worked tirelessly with me to achieve this most satisfactory agreement.

Sincere thanks also to Brian Gaston and his Search committee for working so hard to locate our new home.

Some photos by John Weatherburn will shortly be available on our newspage.

With very best wishes for the holidays,

W. Douglas Wilson
President, Academy for Lifelong Learning

FYI - for those interested in architecture!

The Estonian-Canadian community owns Tartu College. It was built in 1970, two years after its sister building, the David A. Croll Apartments (originally Rochdale College), Both were designed by architects Elmar Tampõld and John Wells (who had earlier constructed the Charles Street apartments at Bay Street and Bloor Street). Like the Rochdale building, it is an example of brutalist architectural principles, and serves as a nostalgic reminder of the 1960s culture during which both buildings emerged.