The document summarizes learning opportunities for seniors at the Overland Learning Centre, which offers popular art and academic courses. It profiles Jean Rodak's popular watercolor painting class for seniors, which has grown from 10 to 20 students under her teaching. It also discusses seniors taking academic courses at the University of Toronto to pursue lifelong learning goals.

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CLASS INSESSION: Jean Rodak surrounded by
classof enthusiastic budding artistsat the
Overland Learning Centre.
NEWS May23rd,2006
ByPedroDaCunha
Manylearningoptionsavailableforseniors
Retirement opens up new avenues in arts and academics
Whether it’s the arts or academic subjects, learning something new is enjoyable to many
seniors, now that they have the time to do so.
The Overland Learning Centre, located on Overland Dr., near Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave.
East, gives seniors the chance to do just that by offering courses such as drawing, painting,
creative writing, computers, just to name a few. Courses such as these give seniors a chance
to rediscover their interests and passions.
The nine-week watercolour class for seniors, taught by Jean Rodak, has always been a
popular choice.
Rodak has seen the class grow every season since she began teaching there four years ago.
"When I began teaching the class there were about 10 students, but now we’re at
maximum capacity," she said."This season we have 20 students taking the class."
In each class, Rodak introduces new methods and techniques that all her students can learn and easily apply. She said the best part of teaching
seniors to paint is seeing how proud they are of their work.
"When they tell me how much they love it, for me it’s a payback," she said.
Linda Torney, 61, says she loves Rodak’s class because it allows her to express her creativity through painting. Torney has been taking the class
for about a year and a half. While she dabbled in painting before, she has never taken any actual lessons until now.
Her success is due to the teacher, she said, who comes to class each day loving what she does.
"I think that’s the key. If you don’t like teaching, then you’re not going to be a good teacher —and she very much loves what she does."
Torney was president of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council for 13 years. However, she had to take an early retirement because of her
arthritis, which she continues to struggle with today. For the foreseeable future, she said she’ll continue taking Rodak’s class because she loves
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the freedom that painting gives her.
Her classmate, Colin Needham, has been taking the watercolour class for eight years, four of those with Rodak.
Needham, 78, has always been involved in the arts. As a young man in England he started painting landscapes of beaches, hills and walks he
took along the countryside. He said Rodak’s methods and techniques are stimulating and enable him to express his work in different ways.
"I learn something new every time I come to class, and for me that’s the most ful lling part," Needham said.
He said he has made many friends who are similarly interested in painting.
"Just seeing each other’s work is stimulating because we learn off each other," he said."I nd that my work improves when I can learn how they
approach and handle their subject."
Needham said he wants to continue taking Rodak’s class until his health won’t allow it anymore.
But art isn’t for everybody.
Instead of honing up on their artistic abilities, many seniors prefer to enroll in academic courses. Between working and raising families many
seniors just didn’t have the time or opportunity to do so when they were young.
Anne Steeves, 73, is one of many seniors doing just that. She is currently taking two English courses at the University of Toronto and next year
she would like to take a few philosophy courses.
Steeves decided to go back to school because she loved writing, but was not that good at it, and decided to take a few English courses to
improve her writing.
"It’s been a great experience so far because I have learned so much about the writing process from the professor and the rest of the students,"
she said.
She plans to continue her education at the University of Toronto because she wants to learn new things as long as she is able to do so. She said
the experience has been very rewarding.
"If you have the time, energy and passion to learn new things, then go back to school and take some courses —that will keep you thinking and
active."
Judith Kidd, 66, is another senior who is taking the opportunity to nish her degree. She is currently enrolled at Woodsworth College at UofT.
Kidd is hoping to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in English by 2009.
Since the early 1980s, Kidd has been striving to complete her English degree, but her work didn’t permit her to obtain that goal.
"The reason for me doing this is to complete something that I started a long time ago," Kidd said."That for me was the main reason of going
back to school."
During these past couple of years Kidd has been impressed with the young students’ knowledge and enthusiasm.
"It gives me a great sense of security knowing young people coming behind me are so bright and articulate," she said.
Kidd said she would encourage other seniors to hit the books.
"If seniors go into it with a positive attitude of‘I’m here to learn,’ then they will improve themselves as human beings," Kidd said.
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