CALL: More Than Lifelong Learning - A Community of Curious Minds

The word 'community' has become a very broad term frequently used for marketing. What does 'community' mean for members of CALL? Gail Kingwell, long-time CALL member and volunteer, explores some of the confusion around the term and gives examples of the ways in which CALL (Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners) provides the opportunity for a meaningful sense of community for its members.

CALL - More Than Lifelong Learning

Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners (CALL) offers lifelong learning through a unique model. CALL is a member-led organization that uses peer learning to deliver a wide range of programming;  arts & culture, society & politics and health & science. Its mandate is to provide innovative and affordable learning opportunities, both in-person and online. But CALL is more than that; it also offers the possibility of community for its members. While lifelong learning is the mandate of CALL, members strongly believe that programs should take place in ways that support social connection.

Does 'Community' Mean What You Think it Means?

In his article, "What does 'community' even mean? A definition attempt & conversation starter" Fabian Pfortmüller describes the confusion about the term 'community'.

“The term [community] is used as a catch-all phrase for anything that has to do with a collection of human beings, from the very tangible to the very abstract.” Fabian Pfortmüller

Here are some examples where the term is used mainly for advertising or marketing.

Today the idea of community has changed and reflects something more intimate: one's identity. In her article, What Does Community Mean  Megan Garber writes:

“For much of the 20th century, if you asked someone to define the term community, they’d very likely give you an answer that involved a physical location. One’s community derived from one’s place—one’s literal place—in the world: one’s school, one’s neighborhood, one’s town."

"Community, in this sense, is not merely something that one fits into; it is also something one chooses for oneself, through a process of self-discovery. It is based on shared circumstances, certainly, but offers a transcendent kind of togetherness."

So Really, What Does Community Mean?

Let’s look at the Middle French meaning, rooted in the word communité, – a community is a group of people with a sense of joint ownership, of belonging and connection with others in a world where individuals often feel isolated. Those feelings are fostered in a social community where there are opportunities for people to interact, share ideas and interests and participate together in activities.

Being part of this kind of community involves more than simply being there. Think of the 1979 film Being There  where the main character Chance the gardener becomes the presidential nominee Chauncey Gardiner by virtue of being, by chance, in the right place at the right time. True community, however, doesn't happen just by accident.

In the past, people often belonged to communities by birth - through place, faith or culture. Today, joining a community is usually an intentional choice.

Like Chauncey, who says, ‘Life is a state of mind’, a community is “as much defined by the mind frame of its members as it is by its outside characteristics.”  Michael Jeffrey

Similarly, writer Megan Garber observes: “We have shifted from, traditionally, being born into a community to, now, choosing our own communities and expressing our identities through them.” 

Those who choose to join a community bring a diversity of backgrounds and experiences in addition to some shared interests.

Humans Wither Outside of Community

Robert Putnam’s 1995 book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, highlighted how North Americans had become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbours and social structures, impoverishing lives and communities. In 2024, as the major implications of COVID-19 were becoming apparent, a documentary based on Putnam’s work, Join or Die, began streaming on Netflix. The central message was that a healthy democracy depends on citizens’ sense of connection to each other, and that sense depends on participation in organizations of all kinds, from churches to bowling leagues.

COVID-19 both highlighted our need for connection to others and restricted our ability to connect face-to-face. Many organizations and groups learned by necessity how to connect virtually; in-person communities shifted to online social communities. As a result, the nature of these groups shifted but the connections remained a crucial support for people during policies that physically separated people from each other. And in some cases, virtual connections enabled communities to expand beyond geographical boundaries.

The Impact of Community and Belonging

Community and belonging play an essential role throughout life but particularly for seniors who are at risk for social isolation and loneliness.

When seniors choose or are given the opportunity to belong to a community, they can experience many benefits that impact their well-being. These include:

Source:  The Importance of Community & Belonging for Seniors: 
Thriving in the Golden Years

What Type of Community is CALL?

CALL offers more than courses and activities - it offers the possibility of community. As highlighted in the June 2025 CALL Blog, Brains Don’t Retire: Lifelong Learning with Peers  CALL's peer learning model brings people together through active participation and shared engagement.

"Peer learning at CALL involves members learning with and from each other rather than relying solely on traditional top-down instruction."

This approach transforms learning into connection - where ideas are exchanged, friendships are formed, and a sense of belonging grows.

Have you always wanted to learn how to play Mah Jong or wondered about the 1000 kilometers of Calgary walking paths? There are groups for that. And if there isn't, CALL's committees will help you create one. For those newly arrived in Calgary or newly retired from a busy career, CALL offers connection with others who are curious about the world.

Most importantly, CALL's peer learning model fosters community. It's where people with diverse experiences come together around common interests - a retired anesthesiologist discovering astronomy, a former lawyer sharing insights into the common law – creating a network of engaged, supportive peers who learn, grow, and connect together.

The structure of CALL allows members to choose a level of engagement as time and interests permit. Members find many opportunities to foster their sense of belonging, such as:

Each of these activities provides opportunities to meet others and to deepen the sense of connection to the CALL community.

CALL in the Wider Community

CALL members also participate in and contribute to the wider community:

Summary

In summary, CALL is more than an organization—it offers the real possibility of being part of a meaningful community. By choosing to actively participate, members foster a sense of joint ownership and belonging that defines true community.

Participation deepens that sense of joint ownership and belonging – as rooted in the Middle French word communité. So, yes. CALL offers the possibility of being part of a community of curious minds. The choice is yours.

Guest Author Gail Kingwell

I retired from a career with the Calgary Board of Education as an English as a Second Language teacher. I taught high school students and worked with teachers, administrators, community organizations and others to develop and provide programs to the thousands of students and their families who come from all over the world to establish new lives in Canada. It was a privilege to meet new immigrant and refugee families and to work with so many others dedicated to providing pathways to successful and fulfilling lives in Canada.

In the course of that career I was involved with provincial and national organizations and government departments to professionalize services and programs that had often been left to dedicated volunteers working with little support. We worked to develop curriculum and resources that had sound educational bases in research and to provide professional development opportunities for teachers and others.

I have been a member of CALL since the first organizational explorations were being discussed. What interested me were the proposed ideas for a grassroots, peer led organization that would enable members to explore ideas and share skills and knowledge with others. As an educator, I know that active engagement with others is the basis for an ideal learning environment. CALL has grown from an idea to a dynamic community of the curious and it certainly is an ideal learning environment for those who choose to engage!

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References

These articles are cited in the post.

Fabian Pfortmüller. What does "community" even mean? A definition attempt & conversation starter.   Medium, Sep 20, 2017

Megan Garber. What Does 'Community' Mean? The Atlantic, July 3, 2017.

Michael Jeffrey. What makes a community? Characteristics and examples of community. Pluss Communities. 

The Importance of Community & Belonging for Seniors: Thriving in the Golden Years. Spectrum, Jun 20, 2023

Wikipedia. Being There

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