Bridges program offers free community workshops

The Bridges program, right now in its pilot phase, is hoping to bring our multicultural communities even closer.

University of Waterloo Associate Professor John Lewis says he is hoping that the Bridges project will change the value and role of older adults in our communities.

“When older adults from various parts of the world come to and immigrate to Canada and settle in places like Waterloo Region, there's a chance or risk that they themselves will become socially isolated, because they may not be familiar with the language or the way things work here,” he says.

The Bridges program will help those older adults engage with other members of the community — such as the youth, in a constructive way.

Lewis says the project has been created after a number of community assessments done over the last ten years.

“One of the things that Waterloo older adults have said to us very clearly is that they wish there were more opportunities for different generations to come together and exchange knowledge and skills,” he says.

“Intergenerational learning came across as a very strong desire. We thought we would fulfil that and add another twist to it and reach out to older adults who are new to the community as well.”

All the workshops offered through the Bridges program are free to attend.

Lewis says anyone who is interested in teaching a skill or hosting a workshop, should email him at j7lewis@uwaterloo.ca, or you can call him at 519-502-8833.

Alternatively, you can also send in a request through the Bridges project's website.