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2026 Winter Session Is Now On!  Spring Session runs April 27 – May 15
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Volunteer

ELLA provides rewarding volunteer opportunities!

ELLA Volunteers

ELLA is always looking for volunteers in all of its operational areas.

Do you have expertise in planning and implementing programs? Promoting organizations? Celebrating volunteers? Working with computers or financials?  We need your ideas and skills to provide exciting programs in future sessions.

Current Openings

Join the ELLA Board of Directors

The ELLA Board is made up of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about planning, promoting, and supporting ELLA’s annual online and in-person educational programs.

The Board of Directors includes 10–16 members elected at the ELLA Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Past President, Treasurer, and Secretary), along with Committee Chairs, meet monthly to oversee all aspects of ELLA’s operations. Together, Board members collaborate to develop and implement innovative ideas as ELLA continues to grow.

Why Serve on the Board?

Serving on the Board of Directors is a rewarding opportunity to:

  • Learn more about how ELLA operates
  • Contribute your skills and experience in meaningful ways
  • Collaborate in a supportive and engaging environment
  • Help shape the future of our volunteer association

If you’re not ready to step into a Committee Chair role, consider becoming a Member-at-Large. This position offers the opportunity to “learn the ropes,” explore where your interests and strengths align, and prepare for future leadership. It also supports succession planning and allows new members to learn alongside experienced Board members.

Current Opportunities

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for the following positions:

  • Contributions Committee
  • Marketing
  • Treasurer

We would be delighted to speak with you about these opportunities.

Please contact:
Brian Sawyer, President – president@my-ella.com
Vivian Mattia, Vice President – vice.president@my-ella.com

Join us and help continue building a vibrant and innovative ELLA community.

Volunteer Areas

These are the areas that offer volunteer opportunities with ELLA.
Get Involved! Volunteer with ELLA! Contact volunteer.chair@my-ella.com

The ELLA Board consists of volunteers who are interested in planning, promoting and supporting ELLA’s annual online and in-person educational offerings.  The Board of Directors consists of 10-16 members elected at the ELLA  AGM.  The Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Past President, Treasurer and Secretary) and the Chairs of ELLA Committees meet monthly to oversee all aspects of ELLA operations.  Board members collaborate in planning and implementing innovative ideas as we grow ELLA. 

ELLA Committees are groups of dedicated, committed individuals who undertake their work with energetic enthusiasm in developing our excellent programs. The Committee Chair coordinates the activities of the committee and provides liaison between the Committee and Board.  We have three opportunities for new Chairs this year

Program Implementation Committee which provides the mechanics to run all ELLA sessions has been well organized by Lynne Moulton and her Committee.  Whether it is the online or in-person program, this committee organizes the classrooms, timings of classes and scheduling of online experiences and coordinates Zoom operations. Lynne and her committee will support the transition of the incoming Chair.

Operations Committee develops and maintains the information and technology platforms to support ELLA functions.  Whether it is assisting members, or dealing with registration and memberships or consulting with our excellent website service provider, Dianne Eustace has been supported by a capable team who are ready to fully support and transition the incoming Chair.

Contributions Committee is an exciting new opportunity to help ELLA acquire and retain new funding sources.  A draft strategy is in place that involves attracting new financial contributions, recognizing donors, making application for grants, disbursing grants and scholarships.  By getting in on the ground floor of this initiative, you will help build the ELLA “value case” to attract sponsors and donors which will be an important part of growing our community visibility/impact and ensuring our long term viability.

For more information on these opportunities, or to informally explore options for future involvement on the Board, contact any of the Board Recruitment and Development members: Brian Sawyer, vice.president@my-ella.com  Fran Galbraith, volunteer.chair@my-ella.com  or Walter Archer, pic.online2@my-ella.com.

Board

Operations

Program Development

Program Implementation

Marketing and Communications

Finance

Volunteer Recruitment and Recognition

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Winter 2026 Online Session

Course List

Course Number Course Name Instructor
Science
26-S101 Alberta Birds: Stories from the front lines Geoff Holroyd
26-S102 Good intentions, mixed outcomes : A look at Psychiatry's hits and misses from a historical and cultural perspective Suniti Pande
26-S103 All the Light We Cannot See - Exploring Medical Imaging John Mercer
Wellness & Leisure
26-W101 Find Clarity and Calm with Mindful Breathing Suseela Rev Kotawaye
26-W102 Getting More Out of Google Shawn Gramiak
26-W103 AI for Everyone Shawn Gramiak
26-W104 Fall Prevention: Stay Strong, Stay Safe! Tonia Leske
26-W105 Zumba Gold--Exercise in Disguise! Sheela Hota-Mitchell
26-W106 Finding Our Happiness Kim Silverthorn
Humanities
26-H101 Economics of Religion Jahangir Junaid
26-H102 Swing, Poetry and Prose: How Jazz and Literature Impacted Each Other Mboya Nicholson
26-H103 Searching for a Meaningful Life: How Philosophers have Navigated Times of Personal Crisis Daniel Greenways
26-H104 Civic Politics in the Age of Incoherence Keith Gerein
Fine Art & Instruction
26-A101 Exotic Splendour: Collections from Italy to Persia Kimberly Johnson
26-A102 The ABCs of Writing for Kids Marty Chan
26-A103 Colour Planes & Brush Strokes: A Cezanne Gouache Journey Susanne Lamoureux
26-A104 Strange New Sounds: Exploring Modern and Contemporary Music Morteza Abedinifard

Welcome Back Lifelong Learner!