Calling Senior Volunteers

Sybil Geller (BA 1951 UC) feels as much a part of the U of T community today as she did more than 50 years ago when she was a student here. “I’m on campus at least one day a week, sometimes two or three, and it’s always a positive experience,” says Geller, chair of the Senior Alumni Association’s volunteer committee. “At 73, I feel as though I’m young again.”

The Senior Alumni Association is looking for graduates aged 55 and older to fill volunteer opportunities across the university. Volunteering offers a chance to renew old friendships and make new friends, while making a valuable contribution to your alma mater, says Geller. The biannual Canadian Perspectives lecture series, which features talks by U of T faculty on subjects running the gamut of academic disciplines, is the senior volunteers’ longest-running project and requires the most human resources. But there are many other short- and long-term assignments to choose from. Senior alumni give tours of the John P. Robarts Research Library, provide visitor information at the Art Centre and take on projects in university divisions where there is a staff or funding shortage.

Myra Krangle (BA 1944 UC) has been volunteering at U of T since the early 1970s and says that no matter what the task, she thrives on the camaraderie. “It’s wonderful sitting around a table with a group of mature, educated people sharing stories and viewpoints. By reaching out to help the university, you enrich your own life.” For more information about volunteering for the Senior Alumni Association, please call (416) 978-0544 or e-mail: senior.alumni@utoronto.ca