50+ Festival: Celebrate how aging is changing

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education announces line up for annual festival with a focus on healthy aging and reinvention for older adults.

TORONTO, May 25, 2015 /CNW/ - As a kickoff to Senior's Month, The 50+ Festival, presented by Programs for 50+ at The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University, will once again celebrate how aging is changing. Running from Monday, June 1, through Thursday, June 4, the festival engages older adults interested in personal growth and continued learning.

"The 50+ Festival was developed to provide a forum to better understand what aging means today and to highlight the continuous learning of older adults," says Sandra Kerr, Program Director for the Programs for 50+ at The Chang School. "We have more options and different challenges than we did 10 or 15 years ago, so it is important that we consider the economic, social, and cultural ripples of these changes."

The Honourable Mario Sergio, Ontario's Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs, will officially open the festival on Monday, June 1, by announcing Senior's Month in Ontario. The festival will host a dynamic series of events that will invite participants to examine vibrant aging and reinvention. From a presentation on finding purpose, passion and perspective in aging to workshops on mindfulness and psychology, to a play about sexual awakening in later life, the festival will cover a wide variety of topics related to healthy aging for older adults.

"Lifelong learning is the cornerstone of our programming," says Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Dean, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. "The 50+ Festival is the truest version of this, with a vibrant community who celebrates aging and all of the learning opportunities that it has to offer."

The Festival will be held on the Ryerson campus. For more festival information, visit fiftyplusfestival.ca. Most sessions are free of charge, but participants must register in advance.

About Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education (ryerson.ca/ce)

With approximately 70,000 annual enrollments, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. There are over 1500 courses, workshops and seminars and 88 career-related certificate programs and numerous course series in which 23 certificate programs can be completed entirely at a distance. The school's mission is to be a leader in innovative, quality, lifelong learning that empowers adults to reach their life and career goals.

About Programs for 50+
At Programs for 50+, those 50 years and older can access academic tools and opportunities for personal enrichment, self actualization, and engagement in society with their peers and as part of an intergenerational campus dynamic through The Chang School.

SOURCE Ryerson University

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