When Kate Lindsay’s husband died suddenly in 2006, she was raising two teenage children and had two international exchange students under her roof.
Overwhelmed and looking for ways to focus her mind, she stumbled on a newspaper ad for a bridging course at Carleton University offered through the Centre for Initiatives in Education (CIE).
The Bridging Program, which introduced the university system, its supports, and academic skill-building, set the foundation for Kate to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, all while working and supporting her family.
“When I was in class and working on course material, I was engaged with what I was learning rather than spending all my waking hours thinking about how my life had changed,” says Kate.
“I was also very motivated to do well because I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable, that I was ‘university material,’ and that I wasn't too old to learn new things,” she says.
This week, at the CIE’s 25th anniversary celebration, Kate and her child Court Lindsay were invited to speak to gathered guests of the Centre – alumni, past and present instructors, faculty, and friends.
Before pursuing a university education, Court struggled with high school and says those struggles resulted in a lack of confidence about their place in the education system.
For Court, following in their mother’s footsteps through the CIE’s programming felt like a natural pathway towards a university education, so in 2008 Court entered into the Centre’s Enriched Support Program (ESP).
“Learning course material in a deeper way in my courses and workshops made me feel more engaged and connected and helped me build the skills I needed in order to succeed,” says Court.
“I came to realize that there was a place for me at university.”
In 2013, Court’s academic journey came full circle when they began working as an ESP Workshop Facilitator, then an ESP Facilitator Team Leader, and finally, as an ESP Program Advisor.
“I learned more about the process of learning, which not only gave me the opportunity to support other students in the same way I had been supported, but also made me an even stronger student and more confident in myself and my abilities in and outside of the classroom,” they say.
As avid learners, both Kate and Court have also taken part in the CIE’s Lifelong Learning Program (formerly Learning in Retirement).
Remarkably, Kate says she’s taken about 30 Lifelong Learning courses, and has a particular fondness for musicology courses with instructor Keith McCuaig. To attend the CIE anniversary event, she happened to be missing one of his lectures – an admission that had the crowd laughing.
“Learning really isn't just for the young, and that drive that I feel to learn more continues to this day. It's the reason I continue taking courses with the Lifelong Learning Program and I look forward to their future offerings,” says Kate.
Since 1997, the CIE has offered a community of care and support at Carleton University, building learners’ confidence and capacity through evidence-based, student-centred pedagogy and practices.
Director of the CIE, Janet Mantler, welcomed event attendees and spoke about the Centre’s long-standing mission.
“What really stands out to me about the CIE is everyone’s commitment to the cause,” she says. “Each day, the people of CIE are changing the lives of others by providing supported access to learning. This sense of purpose has remained steadfast throughout the past twenty five years.”
“So many of our Enriched Support Program students come back as mentors, coaches, and facilitators, and through these experiences, they gain leadership skills that uniquely qualify them for jobs after university,” adds Mantler.
The 25th anniversary event was held in person and livestreamed on April 14, 2023, at Carleton University. It included a Plenary session, a student showcase, and an opportunity for the extended CIE community to unite, share reflections, and celebrate the Centre’s countless success stories.