Back to School, for the Joy of it

Mimi Caouette

Mimi says “learning has always been the motor in my life, and art the path to follow.” After acquiring her degree at Université du Québec à Montréal in Muséologie, she continued her studies at the Université de Montréal and Masaryk University’s Moravian Museum, Czechoslovakia. To challenge herself, Mimi applied to teach Art History and Museology at China’s Dalian University. She shares her passion for art and Asia with fellow lifelong learners at MCLL. A contributor to several art publications and exhibition catalogs, Mimi has given talks at museums and institutions in Québec, France, Czechoslovakia and China.

(photo credit: Gordon Campey. Excerpted from Zest for Learning, Portraits of Broadening Horizons, by Gordon Campey and Nicole de Rochemont.)

The McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL) is proof that you can head back to school at any age.

Part of the McGill School of Continuing Studies, MCLL is for those who want to continue learning for the joy of it. Currently celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, the organization’s programming includes informal daytime study groups, a Friday lecture series, as well as outings and tech-savvy workshops.

The first lecture in MCLL’s Fall 2014 Calendar was ‘Launch of Zest for Learning,’ a photo project undertaken by MCLL members Gordon Campey and Nicole de Rochemont.

An amateur portrait artist and retiree, Campey came up with the idea of capturing his fellow MCLL members in a personal photo project. That expanded to 30 individual portraits, which have been compiled into a book and accompanied by text by de Rochemont, a published author and fellow MCLL member. The collection is also available as a website, and 10 portraits are on currently display as a photo exhibition.

For Campey, it was a natural progression. “I enjoy taking portraits, and I enjoy doing projects.” He’s been a MCLL member for 15 years, and it’s the people that he enjoys most. “I love listening to the stories of others. When people talk about their life experiences, you can’t get that out of a book.” One example was hearing a Jewish woman’s personal account of visiting the Anne Frank Museum for the first time; she and her family had also been in hiding during World War II.

With Dr. Judith Potter, Dean of Continuing Studies, and several of their subjects in attendance, de Rochemont conducted a Q-and-A session with Campey, followed by a digital photo presentation and excerpts from the book.

For those who are curious and enthusiastic about learning, MCLL can be a great outlet. “For me, it really filled the gap after my retirement,” says Campey. “Some are scared to retire, but it can be a great journey.” He left no doubt that his fellow MCLL members have played a big part of that journey. “I had fun taking pictures of you,” he told the audience. “I hope you had fun taking part as well.”

All 30 photos will be on rotational display at the McGill Community for Lifelong Learning, located at 688 Sherbrooke St. W.

Hardcover and softcover photo books are available for purchase.

The project can also be viewed online.