Meeting of the mentors
Retirees strategize plan to help youth, young professionals
This week 15 people from completely different backgrounds sat together in a room at Glasgow Square Theatre in New Glasgow with a common goal – figuring out ways to pass on the knowledge and wisdom of retirees like themselves to younger generations of students and young professionals.
The Mentoring Plus Strategy is a four-year project that has been financially supported to the tune of $3 million federal government dollars through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The strategy is one of 19 projects approved by the federal government aimed at ensuring seniors are healthy and happy and involved in their communities. The program uses an intergenerational approach to connect knowledgeable seniors with individuals in need of mentorship to help them succeed in their lives, their careers and, in some cases, as entrepreneurs.
The Mentoring Plus Strategy is being piloted in the regions of Pictou, Colchester, and Kings and it's being supported by Dalhousie's College of Continuing Education as the backbone organization.
Gordon Michael is the executive director of the Mentoring Plus Strategy and is excited to have involvement from various sectors including agriculture, arts, health and education, etc.
He believes the relationship is mutually beneficial. For retirees it gives them a real way to help others and also get out of the house.
“The other part is to help out the younger population to be able to make a living in the changing world,” he said.
In Pictou County Geralyn MacDonald is the mentoring plus co-ordinator.
She said there’s already a business to business mentorship pilot underway with the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce, and she hopes that some of the ideas talked about at the mentorship session will help influence that as well.
Betsy Keay is a retired bank manager and took part in the session. She is particularly passionate about reaching students.
“They have no idea what different fields are out there, and their biggest thing is getting their confidence built,” she said. “Hopefully we can help them with that and show them the different areas they can go into.”
She said she’s thankful for the mentors she’s had in her own life including a bookstore owner she worked for who helped her get her foot in the door at a bank and then for people at the bank who encouraged her in her career.
She said it’s been exciting to talk to other mentors about what they know can help others.
“This is an excellent group. There’s a lot of talent in here.”
Bill Skinner is a retired pharmacist and also took part in the event. He’s participated in some mentoring at the high school in the past as part of the Mentoring Plus program.
“I found that very rewarding,” he said. “Presently we’re in a phase where we’re trying to expand. I don’t know where this is going to end up but it’s been interesting to be involved with the planning and trying to take the experience the group has and share it with the community.”
Michael encourages anyone who would like to become involved to reach out to MacDonald at: Geralyn.MacDonald@newglasgow.ca.