Ontario Tech recognizes Seniors Month

Each June during Seniors Month, Canadians celebrate and honour the immense contributions of older adults who have shaped our communities. Seniors are our friends and family, neighbours, coworkers and role models, and they have laid the foundation for a better life for all of us.

Ontario Tech is dedicated to making its campus more welcoming and inclusive for older adults (55 and up). The university offers a variety of programs, events, initiatives and resources geared towards seniors:

Age-friendly university designation

In 2019, Ontario Tech became one of a handful of Canadian universities to receive the Age-Friendly University (AFU) designation from the AFU Global Network. Being age-friendly means the university is committed to endorsing AFU’s 10 principles, one of which is to include the voices of older adults in all teaching and research operations at the university.

Age-friendly committee

The university created a committee to support an Age-Friendly University. The committee focuses on encouraging and supporting older adults in their lifelong learning goals. In addition to engaging older adults in research projects, committee work, and use of campus resources such as the Campus Library, the university offers multiple options for formal learning that cater to different types of learners with varying levels of availability.

Formal learning

The university offers skills-based microcredential courses as an opportunity to focus on a topic and accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time. Participants learn skills such as active listening, building positive habits, digital literacy, and grit.

Continuous Learning courses and programs: Through short certificate programs, open-enrolment courses and workshops, participants gain exposure to and/or an understanding of certain topics. These non-credit programs taught by industry experts are short-term commitments that are delivered in-class, online, or in hybrid format to accommodate personal schedules, and to be inclusive.

Undergraduate course audit: For those interested in taking some courses who don’t want to worry about grades and deadlines, Ontario Tech undergraduate courses can be audited for 50 per cent off the cost of regular tuition. Check out the undergraduate calendar for information on courses.

Graduate programs: It’s never too late to become a graduate student. If someone has an idea, a passion, and the drive, they can reach out to work with one of the university’s internationally recognized researchers. They can also visit the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website to learn more.

Learn by teaching and mentoring: The university provides opportunities for older adults to mentor students or present guest lectures in university courses. For more information, contact individual faculties, or email agefriendly@ontariotechu.ca.

Age-Friendly Speaker Series: Can you out-exercise all of that sitting?

On Wednesday, June 9 join the Age-Friendly Committee for a virtual conversation that will define sedentary time and identify daily activities that might need to be modified. The discussion will focus on simple solutions to overcome the negative effects of sitting and the volume of exercise needed to counteract it.

To learn more or sign up, visit the Age-Friendly University Speaker Series web page. 

Campus Community Connect event

On Wednesday, August 11, the Age-Friendly University Committee will welcome older adults to campus for an in-person outdoor event (pending public-health directives).

Participants will:

• Tour the campus, meet with students and chat with researchers and staff.
• Chat with students who will host a ‘living library’ with community members to engage in conversations and listen to life stories.
• Join the Senior Ridgebacks community for drop-in games and activities.

To participate, register on the Age-Friendly University Experience web page.

Digital campaigns

Throughout the month, Ridgeback student-athletes are sharing photos of their grandparents and how they have inspired them. Check out the Ridgebacks on Instagram and Twitter.