Baby boomers, now starting to retire, are looking for courses that interest them such as painting, music, languages, exercise, dance, digital photography, crafts—anything from the arts to yoga. For a full listing of creative courses, see the December 2010 issue of Learning Curves at www.learning-curves.ca.

People study the “fun stuff” for a variety of reasons. You might want to meet people with the same interests. Of course, any of these courses can be taken for work related purposes.

School boards, Parks and Recreation Centres, Libraries

The Toronto District School Board lists these courses on www.learn4life.ca. The Parks and Recreation Centres list these courses in a booklet called Toronto Fun. Libraries are not just a place to borrow books; they also have general interest programs. Ask for the What’s On guide. All these programs are low cost or free. At the schools and recreation centres there is a reduced rate if you are on social assistance.

Colleges

Part-time studies calendars for the colleges list similar programs in subjects like computers, photography, languages, lifestyle, and special interest. However, each college has programs specific to it like: George Brown’s Culinary Arts, Fashion and Jewellery, Dance; Humber’s Arts and Performance, Horticulture, Fitness and Recreation; Sheidan’s Art and Design has drawing and painting, art using ceramics, wood and glass; Centennial’s lifestyle and leisure program has eight courses on home renovations; Durham’s has home sewing under Life and Leisure.

Universities

Continuing education programs at universities have open admission courses for general interest. For instance, the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto offers a Creative Writing program and the G.Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson has a photography section for the serious amateur, among many others.

The Ontario College of Art and Design offers numerous workshops through continuing education, like sculpting.

The science centre, art gallery and museum

All three of these cultural centres — the Ontario Science Centre, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Art Gallery of Ontario — offer courses or workshops. PROVIDE LINKS

from: overview of adult education in Adult Education Options

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