Retired but not retiring

Professor Emeritus Ben Schlesinger from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work is deeply committed to the importance of family in its many forms – and retirement is offering him new opportunities to share his expertise.

Schlesinger, who recently earned a Certificate in Voluntary Chaplaincy from Baycrest, is a member of the University of Toronto’s Academic Retiree Centre (ARC) Speakers Bureau. (Read about the Retiree Centre.)

“All these years I’ve studied the family and written about it, and so I feel very comfortable talking about it,” says Schlesinger. “Plus, I learn all the time I’m talking to people."

Recently, Schlesinger presented a talk, Canadian Families in the 21st Century, to a group of older adults at Toronto’s Fairlawn Neighbourhood Centre as part of their Meet the Profs Speakers Series.

“When I talk to seniors, I am talking to people who have lived a rich life, who know all about family life, who have issues, and who connect with some of the stuff that I try to share with them,” he said.

In the fall of 2012, Naomi Schafler, executive director at The Fairlawn Neighbourhood Centre, contacted the ARC Speakers Bureau to book speakers. The quality, content and delivery of their presentations led Schafler to feature ARC speakers exclusively in her Meet the Profs Series.

“The mandate of the ARC Speakers Bureau fits well with Fairlawn’s mission to offer wellness and education programming to all ages in the community,” says Schafler. “The speakers from the bureau are skilled in presenting to a non-specialist audience with varying levels of background knowledge of a subject.”

Asked why he liked to present to community audiences such as the Fairlawn group Schlesinger says, “After retirement I didn’t want to lie down and give up: I can use my skills.”

Canadians are living longer than ever before and the Fairlawn speaker series points to the increasing demand for lifelong learning, says Suzanne Cook, a research associate at the Institute for Life Course and Aging at the University.

“Offering this kind of program geared toward older adults at a bustling community centre like Fairlawn is a form of social inclusion,” said Cook. “Having seniors visibly engaged in the community benefits all age groups and facilitates intergenerational connection.”

Margaret Deeth, aged 88, a retired teacher and former coordinator of early childhood programs for the Toronto School Board came to the Centre especially to hear Schlesinger. Deeth remembered his workshops from early in her career.

“He could just work a group and he was so warm with everybody,” says Deeth.

Cook, an expert on lifelong learning and later life career and transition, said the Fairlawn program is mutually beneficial for the older adults in the community and the older scholars.

“Beyond the knowledge sharing that occurs, lifelong learning programs serve an important role related to healthy aging,” added Cook. “These programs are intellectually stimulating as well as social in nature. Getting individuals out of the house and into the community can also help keep people active physically. Individuals within the community who are keeping active and engaged. This is healthy aging.”

The ARC Speakers Bureau, which began operating in 2010, represents over 40 speakers, and has served a variety of groups from Annex Retirement Residence to MENSA. Drawing from volunteer retired faculty, librarians and senior administrators willing to give talks or lead discussions, Speakers Bureau services are available free of charge to schools, seniors’ homes, service clubs and other organizations in the GTA community.