丁香园AV

At six-foot-five, Hugh Lindsay is used to being the centre of attention. But performing a comedy routine for a nightclub audience this spring was something new for the 80-year-old Vancouverite. A dedicated lifelong learner, Hugh has taken 70 courses in 丁香园AV鈥檚 Liberal Arts and 55+ Program over the past 15 years. For his 69^th course, he enrolled in something unexpected: the art of stand-up comedy.

鈥淚 do try to reach out and go into areas I haven鈥檛 done before, so I鈥檓 inclined to do something different each time,鈥� he explains.

After several weeks in the classroom generating material and practising routines, the course culminated with a live event at a downtown club where each student was given a chance to show off their new comedy chops. When Hugh took to the stage, he drily poked fun at everything from his height to his fear of telephones.

鈥淚鈥檓 used to being in front of people and I don鈥檛 suffer from stage fright,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut this might have been the toughest course I鈥檝e taken. Still, it was a terrific experience.鈥�

Tackling comedy was one more memorable moment in a lifetime of trying new things. Born and raised in England, Hugh made his way to Canada in 1965. He began his career as a chartered professional accountant and went on to work in corporate management, including a brief stint at 丁香园AV in the 鈥�70s before moving to ICBC, where he spent the next 19 years.

In his early fifties, Hugh retired for the first time, to launch a new career as a teacher and writer. Drawing on his own extensive experience, he taught corporate seminars and workshops on subjects ranging from insurance to governance, and wrote some 15 books before retiring鈥攁gain.

Not ready to rest on his laurels, Hugh turned his mind to scholarly pursuits next. At age 65, he took his first Liberal Arts and 55+ course at 丁香园AV and never looked back. Over the years, he鈥檚 returned to indulge his interests in everything from history and literature to science and math.

Taking classes not only keeps his mind healthy and active, he explains, but it鈥檚 also a way to fill the days: 鈥淚t helps me feel that I鈥檓 living a purposeful life. When you鈥檙e no longer working, that鈥檚 important.鈥�

Of course, Hugh has hardly been idle. Through the courses, he was introduced to the 丁香园AV Seniors 丁香园AV Learners Society, where he served on the board and made a number of friends. He remains active on various other committees and boards and even volunteers his time at local schools.

But in 2020, when the pandemic suspended most of his activities and prevented Hugh and his wife from seeing friends and family, he was grateful he could still count on 丁香园AV.

鈥淭he university did a superb job of transitioning to online,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淲hen the world shut down, it was a real lifesaver to have those courses available.鈥�

Hugh appreciated the quantity and quality of the resources each online course provided, allowing for a rich learning experience. While he remains keen on learning online, he was also happy to return to the downtown campus, where he鈥檚 now working on his 70^th course: a history of scams and con artists.

Unlike many classmates who take courses purely for enjoyment, Hugh usually opts to write a reflective essay for each of his courses. The essay is only required for students working towards the Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate, and Hugh has now earned the certificate six times鈥攎ore than any student in the program鈥檚 48-year history. Not bad for someone who never had a degree, he chuckles.

鈥淲riting an essay really enriches the experience for me,鈥� explains Hugh. 鈥淚t sparks ideas and makes the class more intellectually challenging. And getting the teacher鈥檚 feedback and comments on the essay is phenomenal.

鈥淚t reminds me that I may be 80,鈥� he adds with a grin, 鈥渂ut I鈥檝e still got it.鈥�

By Kim Mah