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Cariboo Chilcotin Elder College registration slated for Jan. 25

'We are looking to expand our membership and it would be great if we had more diversity in that,' said Elder College Society president Bev Atkins.

Learning opportunities are expanding through the Cariboo Chilcotin Elders College in Williams Lake. 

With a $10 membership, affordable courses are offered during two different sessions a year, said Bev Atkins who has been the society's president since September 2023. 

Sometimes there is confusion about the term 'elder,' meaning for Indigenous people only, but Atkins said that is not the case as courses are open to anyone 50-years-old and up. 

"We are looking to expand our membership and it would be great if we had more diversity in that," she said.

There are some unique opportunities through courses, such as Sikhism - a cultural experience, which will be offered this spring, she added. 

"We are looking at different cultures and last semester started doing land acknowledgement in all of our courses." 

Another course this spring is archeology with Williams Lake First Nation and in the fall there will be an introduction to Islam course, Atkins said, noting they are trying to work with more groups. 

"We are trying to work more with businesses and acknowledge businesses. Ryan Brink of Harbourfront Wealth is coming back to do another session on estate planning. Mark Savard from Red Shred's has done disc golfing with us more than once." 

About 32 people signed up for a tour of Barkerville at Christmas and were able to travel together on a chartered bus. 

"It was a great opportunity because many of us don't want to drive in winter. We had Adventure Charters takes us to Barkerville," Atkins said. 

Quilting, which is always popular, will be offered again too. 

Elder College is also a member Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, she said, adding it's part of a concerted effort to do more outreach into the community. 

There are 16 members on the executive and many of them are on the curriculum committee with 18 members who search out ideas and opportunities. 

"They find the instructors and put together what a course will look like," Atkins said, noting they try to offer a minimum of 20 courses per semester. 

Executive member Deb Radolla is also excited about the spring 2025 term. 

"We have new instructors and new venues. One is a Cariboo Wagon Road tour from one of Barry Sale's Haphazard History pieces. It will be offered by Lloyd Csizmadia in June," Radolla said. 

A cooking course offered by Alison Sutherland-Mann will cover small quantity cooking, there is a tour of the Historic Chilcotin Lodge and another session on fire-proofing your home. 

Two different genealogy courses are being offered - one on getting started and the other an introduction to doing family searches. 

"We have a great board of directors," Radolla said. "There is lots of keenness and energy. We've gone through lots of changes in the last little while but are on the cusp of getting better all the time." 

All of the courses are listed on the website www.wleldercollege.com.

Class numbers range on average from six to eight people up to 20 to 28, depending on bus or room capacities. 

"There is something for everybody. Some of our courses are on weekends and some are later in the day so we can cater to some of the people who may still be working." 

Registration for the spring session takes place Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Seniors Activity Centre.

Memberships will be available at the registration, Radolla said. 

There will be late registration on Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

 

 



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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