The Thomas More Institute will offer an 18-week series of courses for senior members of the Dawson Centre this autumn. Staff will hold an information session about the program at 666 Woodland Avenue, Verdun on Wednesday, September 19 at 10 a.m. The course itself is scheduled to begin two weeks later.
“The way Thomas More works is that we have discussion leaders for courses,” says Laura Grunberg, the seniors outreach program coordinator. “Because it’s a new group in Verdun, I’m hoping to be one of the leaders at the Dawson Centre but there will be two trained people leading discussions every week.”
Besides Dawson, new groups this year also include Hudson and St. Bruno. New groups are always pilot projects, says Grunberg. Some don’t attract enough people to be permanently viable, but many of the established locations have been active for years. St. Patrick Square in NDG has existed since 1979. The Teapot in Lachine has been going since 1982. The Contactivity Group in Westmount has had seniors’ courses since 1988. Benny Farm has been active since 1998.
This year, a dozen discussion groups will spend 18 weeks looking at how self identity relates to place by examining literature, poetry, film and other cultural works. Each term usually includes at least one guest speaker. Participants pay $20 for the full series or $10 for a single term. Fees include study materials, such as reading selections in large print.
The Verdun collaboration is the latest attempt by the Thomas Moore Institute to cater to groups beyond its traditional north of Sherbrooke clientele. (The organization operates from its main location at 3405 Atwater Avenue.) Last year, Thomas More instructors offered 42 different courses to more than 500 students at 16 locations around Montreal.
For more information about the Thomas More Institute, visit its website at www.thomasmore.qc.ca or attend the annual open house on either Friday, September 7th from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. or Saturday, September 8 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Live music, coffee and munchies will be on offer and instructors will be available to present their courses or answer questions.
