by Gerri Barrer

The McGill Community for Lifelong Learning in the heart of the McGill Campus is a diverse population with one thing in common: a passion for learning. Study groups, lectures and workshops are peer-led and peer-moderated so members can share what they know and broaden their horizons in Art, Science, History, Literature, Music, and Travel.

The McGill Community for Lifelong Learning began in 1989 under the banner of MILR (McGill Institute for Learning in Retirement.) The visionary founder was Fiona Clark. In tribute to her philosophy that learning never ceases, MCLL is establishing a fund in the name of Fiona Clark to support mature students at the McGill School of Continuing Studies.

Fiona believed if mature students could continue to learn, why not people even older? She got the green light from McGill to set up MCLL in 1989. Since then it’s grown from a program of 180 participants to a membership of 1,200 strong.

MCLL is a place to meet, mingle and socialize, and be introduced to disciplines many would not have tried as young students, such as physics and architecture and opera. “MCLL has absolutely changed my life.” says one avid member. That’s a sentiment you hear over and over in the corridors
of the MCLL building on Sherbrooke corner Robert-Bourassa. There, you’ll find spacious classrooms, state-of-the-art audio visual equipment including live streaming plus a welcoming lounge.

Members have access to the network of McGill University Libraries as well as a designated McGill Librarian. Research is part of the learning process but equally so are discussions among peers, listening and absorbing. The McGill Community for Lifelong Learning pays tribute to its founder Fiona Clarke with the new fund and a 30^th Anniversary Gala Luncheon at the McGill Faculty Club.