The Seniors College has touched the lives of many since its beginnings in 1997. Now, almost 20 years later it's still going strong and continuing to improve! Take a look at our timeline below to see how we've elvolved.
1997
Formal Steering Committee Meeting to plan the formation of Seniors College
1998
July
First Memorandum of Understanding signed with UPEI
September
First classes begin
Genealogy, Getting to Know Your Brain, Beginners Computer
Five courses in the first year with 70 students
May
First AGM held and a 12 member board elected
Olive Bryanton elected President
By-Laws developed
Facilitators Handbook developed
Rita Saunders, the first coordinator
The First Seniors College Board.
Front Row: Dale Mattock, Ron Irving, Olive Bryanton, Bruce Garrity. Middle Row: Bernice Bell, Mary Gallant, Inge Blackett, Mary Lou Harris, Bruce Barrett, Libby Smith. Back Row: Rita Saunders, Bill Robertson, Thomy Nilsson, Greg Hughes, Connie Auld.
Olive Bryanton, The First Seniors College President.
1999
September
Single membership fee introduced for as many courses over 3 semesters
2000
Ron Irving President
140 members registered
Seniors College Website created with access through UPEI
2001
October
2nd Memorandum of Agreement signed with UPEI
2003
October
Ivan Dowling becomes President
2004
September
First Courses in Summerside
2005
October
Kinsey Smith becomes President
Bruce Garrity takes over as coordinator
2007
August
Seniors College Conference on ‘Future of Adult Learning’
40 delegates from as far away as Winnipeg
September
Registration results in close to 500 members in 93 courses
including 3 courses offered in Alberton:
Lives of Famous Film Actors(f), Computer I(w), Beginning Bridge(s)
October
Ian Scott becomes President
Registration in 2005
The 2006 Board
The 2006 Annual General Meeting
2008
September
First courses in Montague
October
Bruce Garrity retires as coordinator, Winkie Park takes over as interim
Presentation to Deputy Minister of Social Services and Seniors
2009
January
Future Planning Exercise facilitated by Verna Bruce
May
Bob Gibson becomes Coordinator
September
Registration results in close to 500 members
October
Julie Dowling becomes President
2010
New Horizon Grant received for a ‘Celebration of the Arts’
Requests for information about Seniors College of PEI concept continues
from places such as Memorial and Simon Fraser universities.
September
Registration tops the 500 mark
December
Buzz advertisement for Seniors College Gift certificate as a Christmas Gift
2011
February
‘Planning for the Future’ session held
September
Registration again results in more than 500 members in 72 courses
October
Dave McCabe becomes President
November
Celebration of the Arts event held at the Confederation Centre
Celebration in Song (CD of Choral Singing Choir)
Celebrating in Word (Anthology of Senior College Writers)
Arts Happening (Display of Paintings, Drawings and Photography)
What’s Next - a New Play directed by Ron Irving
2012
April
Bob Gibson resigns as coordinator due to move to Nova Scotia
July
Seniors College Art Friends meet for 1st Summer of Plein Air
Ron Kelly becomes coordinator
September
Registration goes well with about 550 members in 78 courses
October
Seniors College AGM in Summerside
2013
January
Work begins on the new Computerized Registration System
February
Dee Davis becomes coordinator
March
Incorporation as a ‘not for profit’ approved
September
Computerized registration system used for first time
October
Georgina Clow becomes President
The 2013 Board
2014 Founders Day
2014
March
The Guild hosts a week ‘Art Show’ for students in the art courses
July
Martha Ellis becomes coordinator
August
Memorandum of Understanding re-signed with UPEI and
Seniors College purchases its own Liability Insurance
September
2nd year of computerized registration (more than 80% use)
September
Seniors College recognized at the UPEI ‘Founders Day’ ceremony
November
Organization restructures to five working committees (Program,
Promotion and Communication, Technology, Financial Management, and
Organizational Development) from two larger committees
2015
January
Strategic Planning session for 3 years held in January
March
Business Plan developed with the help of an ACOA grant
April
“The Times of Our Lives” Art Show hosted by the Guild for art classes
May
The Strategic Plan and Business Plan are combined into a single Action
Plan with identified steps for the next 3 years
June
A Financial Review by an outside person is approved and conducted
resulting in a number of operational improvements including new software
and reporting style. The budget year was changed to July 1- June 30 to better reflect the activity of the College.
August
Seniors College receives ‘Wellness Grant’ from the PEI Department of
Health and Wellness to offer a physical activity initiative in each of the 3
centers
September
3rd year of Computerized Registration held with more than 90% of
members using the system
October
AGM held, the budget year change approved and Barb Mullaly becomes
President
The 2014 Board
The 2015 Board
2016
March
Seniors College receives New Horizon grant to improve communication and to implement tools to assist decision making. A Facebook page was developed and data retrieval was added to the registration system.
April
Time of Our Lives art Show again hosted by the Guild for the art classes.
September
Seniors College becomes a member of the Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce.
December
President Barb Mullaly passes away. Georgina Clow takes over as President.
2017
April
Upgrades to the Registration system completed as a result of the New Horizons grant including a new public page and the ability to add news items.
May
Financial Policy approved.
September
For the first time Online Registration opens mid-week and 3 days before walk-in.
November
Barb Trainor becomes President.
The 2017 Board
The 2019 Board
2018
April
Kin Consulting lead a Strategic Planning session with 20 attendees.
May
Time of Our Lives art Show again hosted by the Guild for the art classes.
June
4 year Strategic Plan document finalized.
September
Ann Ramsay becomes the interim Provincial Coordinator.
November
Janet Ellis becomes President.
2019
January
Charley Scott becomes Provincial Coordinator.
The 2020 Board