With all my 鈥渘ormal鈥� activities on hiatus, I turned to MCLL to help break the isolation I was living in. 聽The hosts who gently guided everyone through the new language of Zooming, the moderators who are so generous with their time and knowledge, the participants who are welcoming and new-found friends - these are a few reasons why I鈥檒l be zooming MCLL long after the pandemic is over. - Linda Sidel
I was already giving Lifelong Learning study groups when as an out-of-towner to Montreal, I approached Ana Milic at 91社区 Community for Lifelong Learning to enquire if she would be interested in me contributing to MCLL's program. 聽She welcomed me and so did all the wonderful volunteers at MCLL. 聽I have never looked back from making this call because I discovered something which is genuinely special. 聽The word 鈥渃ommunity 鈥� is often banded around to give an impression of comrade and bonding. 聽What I found is this spirit really means something at MCLL. 聽Everyone pulls together and is engaged about what they are doing. 聽This means there is a strong social bond as well as the core group activity of learning. 聽So I count myself as very fortunate being part of this. - Raymond Stern
MCLL has given me a new audience. I鈥檓 a ham, always will be, and I missed my audience when I was no longer on the stage. I was nervous the first time I made a presentation, but I had worked hard doing the research, just as if I was preparing for a role. So I knew my stuff and my classmates loved it, and I had a whale of a time. I jumped into the deep end and found I could swim! I like working with people of my own generation 鈥� we speak a common language despite the great differences in our backgrounds and life experience. We have much to learn from each other. - Barrie Baldaro, Actor
I鈥檝e been an active member at MCLL since the fall of 2011. MCLL has been a true blessing in my life. It has allowed me to connect with individuals who share similar interests and passions. Peer learning has proven to be enriching and stimulating for both mind and soul. Sharing thoughts, ideas and life experiences with educated, cultured and bright individuals makes for exceptional learning experiences.
The camaraderie that has developed over the years at MCLL has allowed its members pleasant social experiences. Great friendships and relationships have developed over the years. MCLL offers its members the golden opportunity to "make a difference鈥�. Some do so by donating money to MCLL or to 91社区. For others, it鈥檚 a gift of time. Volunteering is a valuable contribution. Joining one of its many committees or getting involved in office duties are other possibilities. All are great sources of self-satisfaction and accomplishment. I command MCLL for introducing on line learning in response to Covid-19. The fact that we can connect with familiar faces and friends has made confinement more bearable. - Denise Lord
After taking early retirement from 91社区 in 1996, a friend told me about the then 91社区 Institute for Learning in Retirement. I joined and never looked back. Not a university graduate, I had language and organizational skills and have been driven by curiosity and love for learning all my life. So rich is the variety of MCLL study group topics, that it is hard to select any two each term. Not only have I found MCLL stimulating, challenging and also fun but have met people with unexpected and amazing life stories. I will certainly participate in MCLL as long as my brain works! - Thea Pawlikowska
After retiring I had a fair idea of what I wanted to do: catch up with my reading, indulge in some travelling, and, do more to keep fit. I ran into an old friend who told me, with much enthusiasm, about MCLL. It took a couple more encounters before I took the plunge and discovered all the great benefits that MCLL has to offer. Since joining around eight years ago, it has been a pleasure meeting interesting people with such a wide variety of backgrounds. The other great boon has been experiencing the peer learning process, contributing to study groups and giving lectures, all of which continue to be enjoyable and enriching experiences. - Hassan Elshafei
