Elder Academy
In October 2014, after more than a year of preparation, the University of Victoria Retirees Association (UVRA) introduced Elder Academy for the purpose of providing the public with “Better mental and physical health for seniors through stimulating educational experiences”. This goal was achieved through presentations on topics of timely and high general interest, such as cutting-edge research on wellbeing, science, and medicine.
In the years following the inauguration of Elder Academy, over 100 lectures have been presented. These are listed on this website below with, when possible, their accompanying slides.
All good things often come to an end and that has been the case with the UVRA Elder Academy events: its last event was held on June 2022.
For the present time, UVRA will be offering educational events under its own name. (See "UVRA EVENTS" on this website for a list of offering.)
ARCHIVED EVENTS STORED BY CALENDAR YEAR
2022
Series: Ocean Webinar Series
Jan 29: “Ocean Responses to Climate Change”
Presenter: Richard Dewey, Associate Director, Science
Feb 05: “Solid Carbon: a Gigaton-scale Climate Solution”
Presenter: Martin Scherwath, Senior Staff Scientist
Feb 12: “Community Fishers: A Citizen Science approach to understanding ocean change”
Presenters: Lucianne Marshall, Community Support Specialist & Ryan Flagg, Community Based Monitoring manager
Feb 19: “Ocean Science, Ocean Art”
Presenter: Dwight Owens, User Engagement Officer
Series: The Body Works?
Mar 05: “The Heart of the Matter!”
Mar 12: “What’s a bad joint like this doing in a nice person like you?”
Mar 19: “The Control Centre”
Mar 26: “The War Against Invaders!”
Series: Aging Well: The Brain - Body Connection
May 7: “Exercise is Cerebrovascular Medicine for All Ages”
Presenter: Dr. Kurt Smith, Associate Professor, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria
Presenter: Dr. Yoah Sui, Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria
Presenters: Dr. Mauricio Garcia-Barrera, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria and Ms. Stacey Horton, Actor, Dancer and Choreographer
June 4: “Interactions Between Physical Activity and Mental and Cognitive Health: What Do We Know and What Next?”
Presenter: Dr. Theone Paterson, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria
2021
Feb 6: “Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD): What’s old and what’s new?”
Presenter: Rosanne Beuthin, PhD, RN, CNS, End of Life, Island Health.
Feb 13: “LONG Term Care: a definite misnomer”
Presenter: Patricia Gunton, MD, Family General Practitioner and Hospitalist.
Feb 20: “Navigating Palliative Care Services in Island Health”
Presenter: Shelley Tysick, RN, BSN, BSW, South Island Palliative Care Coordinator.
Feb 27: “Recognizing your Journey as a Caregiver”
Presenters: Laurie De Cross & Glenda Kopperson,
Support and Education Coordinators for the Alzheimer Society of BC.
Series: POLAR OPPOSITES: Why are our polar regions so different?
Mar 6: “Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: Politics and Transformation in the Global Arctic.”
Presenter: Dr. Wilfrid Greaves, Assistant Professor, UVic Dept of Political Science.
Presenter: Dr. Jim Gardner, Adjunct Professor, UVic Dept of Geography.
Mar 20: “The Rapidly Changing Arctic Marine Environment and Potential Impacts.”
Presenter: Dr. Randy Scharien, Associate Professor, UVic Dept of Geography.
Mar 27: “Antarctica: The 7th Continent.”
Presenter: Dr. John Gunton, Retired Geologist/Geochemist.
Series: Modern Day Democracy: Current Perspectives
May 1: “Truth, Reason and Democracy”
Presenter: Colin Macleod, PhD, UVic Dept. of Philosophy.
May 8: “Restoring Democracy in an Age of Populists and Pestilence”
Presenter: Jonathan Manthorpe, Author and Journalist.
May 15: “Democracy and Colonialism in Canada: A Long-term Perspective”
Presenter: Peter Cook, PhD, UVic Dept. of History.
May 22: “Extremist Politics, the “Culture War”, and the Annihilation of History”
Presenter: Edwin Hodge, PhD, UVic Dept. of Sociology.
Series: Nutrition 2: Are we what we eat?
June 1: “Understanding Human Metabolism: What is a Calorie?”
Presenter: Greg Mulligan, PhD
June 8: “Fads & Facts: What are effective diets?”
Presenter: Greg Mulligan, PhD
June 15: “Farm to Table & Food to Human Cells: Eating to Support Healthful Aging”
Presenter: Greg Mulligan, PhD
June 22: “Dietary Choices: How Your Food Environment Shapes Your Eating”
Presenter: Greg Mulligan, PhD
Series: Understanding China
Oct 2: “China and Global Green Prosperity”
Presenter: Art Hanson, Officer of the Order of Canada (OC), and Advisor
Oct 9: “China As A Global Neighbor: Towards A Rethinking Of Canada-China Relations"
Presenter: Senator Yuen Pau Woo, Senator- Senate of Canada (public policy issues – Asian affairs)
Note: The slides from the presentation are not available .
Oct 16: “Learning About China: Sipping Through a Firehose”
Presenter: Joann Pittman, Senior Associate ChinaSource and Author
Oct 20*: “China’s 14th Five Year Plan: New Policy Directions”
Presenter: Mark Kruger, Opinion Editor Yicai Global
(*NB: Wednesday 7pm – presentation from Shanghai )
Oct 23: “Claws Of The Panda, Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada"
Presenter: Jonathan Manthorpe, Political Commentator, Journalist and Author
Oct 30: “The Dragon and the Snow Lion: China’s Relationship with Tibet”
Presenter: Dr. Tsering Shakya, Professor UBC (Institute of Asian Research)
Series: Understanding the EU
Nov 6: “Evolution of the EU, how it functions and Canada-EU relations”
Presenter: Dr. Valerie D’Erman, Instructor in the Department of Political Science, UVic.
Nov 13: “European Border Issues”
Presenter: Professor & Jean Monnet Chair Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, UVic School of Public Admin.
Nov 20: “Understanding Fiscal Solidarity in the EU”
Presenter: Associate Professor Paul Schure, Department of Economics, UVic.
Nov 27: “European Law and National Sovereignty: Exploring Europe’s ‘Constitutional Pluralism”
Presenter: Dr Keith Cherry, Instructor, University of Victoria; Associate Faculty, Royal Roads.
Dec 4: “COVID-19 and the EU: a game changer or same old?”
Presenter: Professor Amy Verdun, Pol. Science and founding Director of the European Studies Program, UVic.
Keynote Address
Dec 18: “All Over The Map”
Presenter: UVic President Dr. Kevin Hall
2020
Series: Sex, Drugs & Alcohol – Use and Overuse
Jan 11, Sex Trafficking vs. Prostitution: The Need for Evidence-Based Laws and Policies, with Dr. Cecilia Benoit.
Jan 18, Cannabis, alcohol and other drugs: Science behind laws for impaired driving and the workplace, with Dr. Scott MacDonald.
Jan 25, heART Space: Compassion Building Around Overdose, with Marion Selfridge.
Series: Living Without Oil
Jan 30, Keynote Address: Making the case for “Living Without Oil”, with Dr. John Gunton
YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe2Sfe2VKIk&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=2&t=0s
Part 1
Feb 8, The Role of Hydrogen and the Fuel Cell in Future Energy Supply, with Nicolas Pocard
YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXROLtUmFVA&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=3&t=0s
Feb 15, Nuclear Revisited – Canadian SMRs (Small Modular Reactors), with John Stewart.
YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8sjBi4sScc&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=4&t=0s
Feb 22, Developments in Wind Turbines: Offshore vs Terrestrial, with Dr. Curran Crawford.
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxh_s7iAsSU&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=5&t=0s
Feb 29, Cleaning BC:Wave Supplied Power in a Low-Carbon Energy System, with Dr. B. Buckham
YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhjgVin6KxA&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=6&t=0s
Part 2
Note: Change in the first speaker of part 2
Mar 7, Low Carbon Electrification, the Clean BC Plan and BC Hydro, with Thomas Hackney (BCSEA)
Youtube Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x0V2I0r1j0&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=7&t=0s
Mar 7, Solar on Strata, with Bruce Mackenzie (BCSEA)
YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RERl5uKQ6xg&list=PLcFXogPfBbBYEjUlWqbjpKBKg0W8hyf-N&index=8&t=0s
Living Without Oil Part 2 Series presentations re-scheduled to October
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic and closing of on-campus facilities, the remainder of the 2020 program was re-scheduled and presented as per the schedule below using a Zoom platform
Series: Staying Active While Staying Home!
Aug 15, Don’t give a squat? Maybe you should! with Dr. David Docherty
Aug 22, Theraband exercises to work every muscle in your body, with Dr. David Docherty.
Series: Two Newsworthy Biomedical Advances that you Should Understand
Sep 12, An Introduction to Stem Cells, with Dr. Edward E. Ishiguro
Sep 19, An Introduction to Gene Editing, with Dr. Edward E. Ishiguro
Series: Living Without Oil Part re-scheduled
Oct 3, Series Recap – Fuel Cell/Hydrogen, Nuclear, Wind, Waves, Hydro, with Dr. John Gunton.
Oct 17, Energy Storage and Electrification, with Dr. Andrew Rowe.
Oct 24, Solar: Cost and limiting Efficiency of Silicon Solar Panels, with Dr. Tom Tiedje.
Oct 31, Impact on Society of Life Without Oil, with David Yager.
Series: Climate change Anxiety: Causes, Consequences, Solutions and Costs
Nov 7, Key Climate Research Activities in the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CCCma), with Dr. Ellie Farahani.
Nov 14, Climate Change a Geologist’s Perspective, with Tom Gallagher.
Nov 21, The Importance of Oceans to Climate Change, with Dwight Owens.
Nov 28, Is Geoengineering the Naloxone for our Fossil Fuel Addiction? with Dr. Hadi Dowlatabadi.
Dec 5, Tackling the Adaptation Imperative: International Best Practices, with Dr. Hannah Teicher
2019
Jan 19, Robert Bateman: Visit to the RB Centre and Presentation
Series: Our Changing Ocean
Feb 9, Thunderbird And Whale: BC's Next Big Earthquake and Tsunami, with Dr. Martin Scherwath.
Feb 16, An Introduction To Sound In The Sea And How It Impacts Marine Life, with Dr. T. Dakin.
Feb 23, Life Below Water: The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14, with Dwight Owens.
Mar 2, Seeing In the Deep, with Dr. Maia Heoberechts.
Series: Artificial Intelligence: the Promise and the Perils
Mar, Learning from Data: Charting the Course for AI, with Derek Jacoby.
Mar, Will Artificial Intelligence Learn to do Everything? If not, why not? with Hugh Cartwright.
Mar, The Real World of Artificial Intelligence, with Arthur Kroker.
Series: Activities to Enhance Your Enhancing Quality of Life as You Age
Sep 7, Factors that Influence Quality of Life in Older People, with Dr. Anastasia Mallidou.
Sep 14, Sex and Seniors: A Physician 's View, with Dr. Patricia Gunton.
Sep 21, Exercise as Medicine, with Dr. David Docherty.
Sep 28, The Benefits of Volunteering, with Dr. Neena Chappell.
Series: Canadian Politics: Past, Present & Future
Oct 5, The 2019 Election So Far…, with Dr. Michael Prince.
Oct 12, Who is the State For? Communities & Justice in Political Philosophy, with Dr. Cindy Holder.
Oct 19, Scandals & the Shaping of Canadian Elections: From Macdonald to Trudeau, with Dr. Penny Bryden.
Oct 26 Booth & Consequences: Aftermath of the 2019 Canadian Election, with Dr. Michael Prince.
Series: Complementary Medicine – Expanding Your Choices
Nov 2, "Complementary Medicine” in Context: where does it come from – and where is it going? with Peter
Conway.
Nov 9, Ayurvedic Medicine and Wisdom Traditions for Practical Day-to-day Healing, with Elham Ansari.
Nov 16, Medical Qigong: The Taoist Art of Nurturing Life to promote Healing, Transformation and Optimum
Wellness, with Syliva Fockler.
Nov 23, The Role of Cannabis in Seniors Health, with David Hutchinson.
Nov 30, Healthy Aging: A Naturopathic Perspective, with Dr. Jasmine Wong & Dr. Natasha Montroy.
2018
Series: Becoming an Artist
(Presenters: Jenny Waelti Waters, Fran Baskerville, Agnes Aninichuk, April Caverhill)
Held: Saturdays, January 6, 13,20 and 27 - 10am to noon in UVic MacLaurin Building room D114
Cost was $20.00
Jan 6, Session#1, Jenny Waelti Waters.
Jan 13, Session #2, Fran Baskerville
Jan 20, Session #3, Agnes Ananichuk
Jan 27, Session #4, April Caverhill
Series: Are You Prepared for the Inevitable?
Feb 3, Ethics of Medical Assistance in Dying, with Dr. Eike Kluge.
Feb 10, Scanning the Landscape of End of Life Care: What Can Support Me and My Family? with Deanna
Hutchings.
Feb 24, Living Well-Dying Well: An Introduction, with Bill Israel and Penny Allport.
Mar 3, Let’s Talk about Dying and Why It’s Crucial to Your Quality of Life, with Dr. K. Stadjuhar.
Series: The Theory and Practice of Getting Fitter and Stronger
(presenter: Dr. David Docherty)
Mar 3, Aerobic (cardiovascular) Fitness.
Mar 17, Developing the Core or Protecting the Back.
Mar10, Developing Strength and Muscular Endurance.
Mar 24 Developing Flexibility.
Apr 17 & 24 Visit to Maarnada Studios Gallery and Garden.
Visit to Maarnada Studios Gallery and Garden
\Maarten Schaddelee (Sculptor)
That took place on April 17 and April 24, 2018
It was a free event and donating to "ChoirKids" - a non-auditioned choir program - were suggested.
Series: Nutrition - How Food Can Affect Your Health
(presenter: Greg Mulligan)
June NO DETAILS
Oct 15 Visit to UVic Observatory, led by Dr. Karun Thanjavur.
2017
Series: Mini Med School
Jan 14, (Un)healthy hearts – basic cardiology, heart attacks & strokes, with Sam Harder.
Jan 21, An apple a day keeps the doctor away – disease prevention & intervention, with Sergiy Shantenko.
Jan 28, A beautiful mind - mental health, with Sergiy Shantenko.
Feb 4, The war on drugs – prescriptions, with Sam Harder.
Feb 11, How to pass the test – testing, screening, scanning, with Sergiy Shantenko.
Feb 18, The health care odyssey – discussion of health care system, with Sam Harder.
Series: The German Lied: Big Emotions in Small Packages
(presenters: pianist Harald Krebs and soprano Sharon Krebs)
Mar 4 – Apr 2, A Genre of 19 Century Music, (4 Sessions): A Feast of Song, hosted by Michael Best.
Series: Astronomy: Exploring New Frontiers
Apr 13, Journey to the Edge of the Solar System, with JJ. Kavelaars.
Apr 20, Search For Extraterrestrial Life, with Jon Willis.
Apr 27, The Birth of Stars, with Helen Kirk.
May 4, ALMA and the Art of Planet Formation, with James Di Francesco.
Series: Can We really Blame It All on Our Genes?
(presenter Dr. Jane Gair in conjunction with Yakimovich Wellness Centre)
May 10, An Introduction to Genetics.
May 17, How is Genetics Important for your Health?
May 24, Understanding the Genetics of some Common Diseases and Disorders.
Jun 7, How Medicine can work with your Genetics to Improve your Care.
Series: Bacterial Colonists of the Human Gut Current Views: the Impact of Bacteria on Human Health,
(presenter: Dr. Edward Ishiguro)
Sep 16, Introduction to the Gut Microbiota.
Sep 23, Interaction of the Gut Microbiota with the Immune and Nervous Systems.
Sep 30 & Oct 7, Impact of the Gut Microbiota on Human Health 7 the Promise of Interventions.
Series: How Physical Activity Can Improve your Health and Life
(presenters: Dr. David Docherty & Dr. Jochen Bocksnick in collaboration with Yakimovitch Wellness entre).
Oct 2, Heart health
Oct 16, Pumping up!
Oct 23, Brain health through physical activity! Really!
Oct 30, Keeping balance in life
Series: Our Changing Ocean
Nov 4, An Introduction to Ocean Networks Canada, with Maia Hoeberechts.
Nov 18 Earthquake Early Warning for BC, with Bob Crosby.
Nov 25, Hot, Sour and Breathless: Oceans Under Stress, with Dwight Owens.
Dec 2, Tangled up in Blue: The Impacts of Marine Debris, with Dave Riddell.
2016
Series: “The Body Works? Function and Dysfunction” Part 1
(presenters Dr. David Docherty & Dr. Mike Bassett)
Feb 27, The heart and cardiovascular system.
Mar 5, Joints or articulations.
Mar 12, The digestive system.
Mar 19, The back, how to protect it and what can be done when things go really wrong.
Special Presentation
Mar 7, Research on the Raincoast: Applied Conservation Science in Bear-Salmon-People Systems of Coastal BC,
with Dr. Chris Darimont.
Series: Can We really Blame It All on Our Genes?
(presenter Dr. Jane Gair.)
Apr 28, An Introduction to Genetics.
May 5, How is Genetics Important for your Health?
May 12, Understanding the Genetics of some Common Diseases and Disorders.
May 19, How Medicine can work with your Genetics to Improve your Care.
Series: Technology Series: Embracing The Digital Age?
(presenter Jennifer Cairns & eGurus Tech Tutor)
Oct 15, Going Mobile With Tablets and Smartphone.
Oct 22, Staying Safe Online.
Oct 29, Photography In A Digital World.
Nov 5, Travel In A Digital World.
Series : Physical Activity Courses
Oct 17 - Dec 5, 55+ Strength, Stretch & Stamina, (8 sessions) with Megan Frazier.
Oct 17 – Dec 5, 55+ Circuit Training, (8 sessions) with Megan Frazier.
Series : “The Body Works? Function and Dysfunction” Part 2
Nov 12, The Brain (and Nervous System), with Dr. Michael Bassett.
Nov 26, The Respiratory System, with Dr. Chris Pengilly.
Nov 19, The Endocrine System, with Dr. Chris Pengilly.
Dec 3, Special Senses: Vision, with Dr. Helen Martindale.
2015
Series: Election 2015: Everything you need to know to vote!
Sep 23, All You Ever Wanted to Know About the Canadian Electoral Process But Were Afraid to Ask! with Dr.
Michael Prince.
Sep 30, Platforms: What Is Each Party Promising and What Are the Implications for BC Voters? with Dr. James
Lawson.
Oct 7, Changing role of Social/Media in the Contemporary Electoral Process. with Dr. Janni Aragon.
Oct 21, Election Results Are In … Now What? with Dr. Michael Prince.
Series: Who am I? What do I want? What is preventing me from achieving what I want? What are my choices?
(presented by Bernard Turgeon)
Oct 23, Environment: Present state and desired state. External constraints/when and where?
Oct 30, Behaviour: Self behaviours, side effects and stress, making a choice.
Nov 6, Capabilities: Expanding one’s awareness of resources. Strategies and state of mind.
Nov 1, Beliefs and values: Permission and motivation. What makes me think this way?
Series: The Immune System: Function and Dysfunction
(presented by Dr. Ed Ishiguro)
Nov 24, Vaccination.
Dec 1, Dysfunction in the immune system.
Dec 8, Cancer and its interactions with the immune system.
2014
Elder Academy formed Fall of 2014
Inaugural Address
Oct 31, What is Elder Academy?, with Dr. David Docherty & Dr. Jane Milliken
Series: Scientific Advances in Aging and Longevity
(presenter Dr. Edward Ishiguro)
Oct 6 – Nov 3, The following topics were discussed. (4) sessions
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A summary of key research findings that have led to the identification of some of the major root causes of aging;
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The influence of diet on the aging process and a critical evaluation of other anti-aging strategies;
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The genetics of aging and longevity;
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The basis of age-related diseases;
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The latest on the role of the human gut microbiome, the 100 trillion bacteria that inhabit the human digestive tract, in the aging process;
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The consensus recommendations for healthy aging.
Series: Physical Activity: The Elixir of Life!
Nov 10 – Dec 1, (4 sessions) with Dr. David Docherty
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The effects of physical activity on the cardiovascular system.
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The effects of physical activity on strength.
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The effects of physical activity on retaining memory and cognition.
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The effects of physical activity on back health.
Focus: The theory, rationale (research), and practices to achieve positive outcomes.
Series: Engaging in Healthy Aging (In association with Yakimovich Wellness Centre)
Nov 14, The New Science of Aging Well, with Dr. Debra Sheets
Nov 21, Deliberate Death: Some Ethical Considerations, with Dr. Eike-Henner Kluge
Nov 28, What Makes a Community Age-Friendly? Lessons Learned, with Dr. Elaine Gallagher,
Dec 5, Nurse Practitioners: Who are They and What Can They Do for Me? with Dr. Sangster-Gormley