We are “Elder” College
And we’re proud of it. That’s because we stand for the wisdom that comes with age. Learning starts the day we are born but wisdom takes a lifetime. We reject ageism and the fear-based notion that the word “Elder” is something to hide away.
In defiance of our youth-obsessed culture, we believe that elderhood is something to be proud of. We are not alone. We know that the indigenous people of our mid Island area value and honour their Elders. So do the many cultures and organizations that appreciate the value of experience. Going back in time, the Roman Senate took its name from the Latin “senatus” or council of elders. Now there are many other Elder Colleges across Canada.
In our own time and place, as people live longer, the number of elders is growing fast. In the Oceanside region, over 53% of the population, or more than 88,000 people, are over 50 years.
Given that we are the majority in our region it is surprising that ageism still runs rampant. Whether through language, dismissive behaviour, being passed over, or the media’s emphasis on youth, we can feel the impact of ageism. Some have described ageism as the last acceptable prejudice.
Ageism breeds loneliness and isolation among older people, and this has harmful consequences for individual and community health.
At Elder College we have an antidote, and it’s based on research. Studies show that learning and social connection in later life positively impact individual and community health in a major way. The United Nations recognized this when it declared 2021-2023 as the decade of healthy aging.
We are your learning community. You come first as we work to enhance your well-being and wisdom by offering opportunities for learning and social connection. And, speaking of wisdom, we follow the advice attributed to King Solomon, who wrote in his old age, “miss not the discourse of the elders.”
As we get older many solutions are in our hands, but denying that we are elders is not one them. We at “Elder” College celebrate who we are.