Third Age Learning Kitchener-Waterloo has existed since 1988, when Ruth Clark spearheaded a group to form Third Age Learning in Kitchener-Waterloo. Other founding members were John Boulden, Miriam Butler, Bea Fleischauer, Florence Hayes, Jean and Carl Hennigar, Sally Jefferson, Trudy Motz and Vera Wood.
Originally, lectures were held in the Kitchener Auditorium. In the fall of 2002, because of increased membership, Third Age Learning moved to the Century Room at the Manulife Sportsplex, RIM Park, Waterloo.
Fall 2013 saw a further expansion into the Forbes Family Hall at RIM Park in order to accommodate increasing demand (maximum 650 seats).
When the Covid 19 pandemic struck in 2020, a no-charge online lecture series was organized for the Fall of that year. That experience laid the groundwork for a switch to fully online lectures, with one major lecture series offered in the Fall and one in the Winter. The online-only format continued through to the Winter 2023 lecture series. With the return to more in-person activities post-pandemic, TAL-KW pivoted again to offer a hybrid format lecture series in Spring 2023, with some patrons attending lectures in person at RIM Park and others attending the lectures at home via Zoom Webinar. By 2025, the TAL-KW Fall lectures had returned to fully in-person events at RIM Park, with Winter lectures presented fully online and frequently presenting guest speakers from outside Waterloo Region or even outside of Canada.
TAL-KW was incorporated in 2021 as a not-for-profit corporation (Third Age Learning Kitchener-Waterloo) to succeed its prior status as an association. Today the organization is still led and run by volunteers, and continues to encourage lifelong learning.
Our vision: mature learners pursuing knowledge, exchanging ideas and embracing innovation.
Our mission: TAL-KW enriches the lives of its patrons by providing intellectually stimulating programs.
Our values:
· Respect for all perspectives
· Accessible and affordable learning
· Connection with our community
In 2010, an endowment fund was established at Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning. Beginning in 2012, an annual bursary has been awarded to a full-time student who is enrolled in a School of Health and Life Sciences and Community Services program which contains a gerontology component. Students must demonstrate their financial need as well as an interest in working with seniors.
In 2014, TAL-KW established the Third Age Learning Kitchener-Waterloo Graduate Student Bursary in Gerontology and Movement Disorders Research at Wilfrid Laurier University. An annual bursary may be awarded to a full-time graduate student who is conducting research related to gerontology and/or movement disorders. The recipient will have a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.0 and proven financial need. First preference for these funds will be given to graduate students who are conducting research at the Movement Disorders Research & Rehabilitation Centre (MDRC).