Take time for yourself in the heart of the West Shore. We're excited to expand our reach to the John Horgan Campus in Langford.
Whether you're looking to explore a new interest, gain professional skills, or connect with your community, our engaging courses will be available evenings and weekends.
Schedules are subject to change.
Let go of perfection and dive into six weeks of playful, pressure-free drawing.
This fun and expressive art course is all about experimenting, exploring, and finding joy in the creative process. Each week, we will shake things up with creative sketching prompts like drawing to music, using emotional lines, and playing with colour in unexpected ways.
Whether you are a beginner or looking to break out of a creative rut, this loose and imaginative drawing class offers a space to explore freely, loosen up, and reconnect with your creativity. All skill levels welcome. Curiosity encouraged.
Do you love photography, but aren't always happy with your photographs?
This course—for those new to photography or their camera—will cover the basics of camera use and composition. You'll learn how to operate your camera, take part in creative exercises and create new images!
Please bring your camera, which should have a manual control setting, and a notebook and pen to each class.
Get ready to discover the hidden architecture of story as we try our hand at writing different genres such as fairytales, mystery, realism, and more. Each genre offers distinct techniques that reveal how stories are shaped and why they resonate.
Through short excerpts from classic authors like the Brothers Grimm, Edgar Allan Poe, and Agatha Christie, we’ll study the craft behind the page and how to construct your own with greater clarity and purpose.
Learn how to connect with readers through the power of well-crafted stories.
This is a course for novice watercolour painters.
You will learn about watercolour paper, brush techniques and care, colour mixing and some surprisingly easy colour theory. We will do a variety of wash techniques using mixed and pure colours, dry brush and wet-on-wet. Expect to have fun and learn through still life and abstract painting exercises.
A supply list will be attached to your receipt.
Do you know of an unsung hero from the past? Is your family history ripe for a fictional retelling? Are you a fan of historical fiction and long to create your own narratives?
In this course, we will focus on finding stories from the past that are destined to become compelling historical fiction. We will learn about the challenges and joys of research, the creation of world-views, the development of believable dialogue, and the role of setting and writing style in creating your own unique vision of the past.
For inspiration we will look at the various genres of historical fiction: thrillers, mysteries, literary novels, YA, supernatural and even steampunk.
Change management is about motivating people and managing behaviours and the work environment to introduce, stabilize and normalize organizational changes. It addresses the emotional, situational and contextual requirements of the change process.
The focus of this leadership course is on successfully leading people-centered and job-centered changes in a constructive and effective way, to maximize the benefits of change.
Explores the ethical and security considerations in data management, with a special emphasis on Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
Students will learn about the principles of data ethics, privacy, and security, and how these apply to the collection, storage, and use of data. The course will delve into the unique challenges and opportunities related to Indigenous data, including the importance of respecting Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural values, and governance structures.
Through case studies and practical exercises, students will gain a deep understanding of how to ethically manage data in a way that supports the rights and interests of Indigenous communities.
The science of pain has grown in the past 20 years to the point where our understanding in the scientific community and what is generally known is at odds and may be a cause of greater suffering.
In this course we will explore the complexity of pain in plain terms with a goal to gain insights that could lead to the easing of our suffering when we experience pain.
You’re invited on a joyful exploration to rediscover what makes you feel truly alive and vibrant. Join us in a supportive community where your authentic spark is celebrated and nurtured.
Through lively group discussions, playful self-discovery exercises, and inspirational journaling prompts, you’ll reconnect with your unique sources of joy and vitality. Each session is designed to uplift, energize, and guide you back to your most radiant self.
Many of us have a tendency to be excessively self-critical, self doubting and lacking in confidence. These debilitating thoughts can affect our relationships, our work and our ability to realize our full potential in life.
In this course, we will learn how to use Buddhist insights and wisdom to free ourselves from self-critical thoughts and attitudes and recognize our potential for limitless inner peace and mental freedom. We can prove to ourselves that this “inner critic” is a mental distortion coming from our misconception about who we really are and so it can be eliminated completely.
President Trump has stated that the border drawn on a map between Canada and America is artificial.
Tariffs on a traditional ally and the rhetoric of the 51st state are making widespread headlines. What makes Canada unique in its sovereignty, politics, institutions and values? With their geographic proximity, the two political regimes are both liberal democracies, but institutional arrangements are different. Canadian sovereignty is a result of those differences of values.
This course examines the history, institutions and political cultures of Canada and America to understand why Canada cannot be subsumed into the United States.
This introductory level course is intended for complete beginners and is normally only taken once.
In this class, you will become familiar with the sounds of French and gain confidence in pronunciation. You'll also acquire basic “survival” skills in French, such as greetings and thanks.
This course is for beginners to practice oral French. It can be taken multiple times, as themes will vary each term.
This course will not prepare you for the next level. Students who wish to progress to an advanced level should register in Comprehensive French.
Register for this course if you have taken Level 1 or if you know how to: count up 20, spell your name, give your address and phone number, identify basic shapes and colours, ask/answer basic yes or no questions and speak about; yourself; your family; your work; the weather; time and date.
This introductory level course is designed for those who have no previous knowledge of Japanese and are eager to take up a new challenge.
In addition to learning “survival” words and phrases, you’ll be introduced to the “hiragana” and “katakana” characters, as well as the basics of Japanese grammar. You’ll also focus on developing practical conversation skills and will be introduced to cultural aspects of life in Japan.
This introduction to Spanish is designed for those who have no previous knowledge of the language.
Here, you will acquire basic pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, as well as conversation skills through practice in pairs and small groups. Videos and audiovisual materials will enrich the content of your classes and teach important aspects of culture.
This course is for those who have completed Spanish - Level 1, or have a basic knowledge of the language and wish to improve their written and speaking skills.
This course gives you the opportunity to participate in class and strengthen your oral skills in a friendly atmosphere. Essential grammar points will also be covered.
Four seasons and a total of ten plants in each season can be the foundation for a marvelous garden, with excitement in every season.
Trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs and vines—the choices seem endless and at times cause confusion rather than joy. Jeff de Jong will help you discover some unusual and exciting plants, along with some exceptional new cultivars of old favourites. He has recently created a new garden and is excited to share what plants a year-round garden should have.
This class welcomes curious questions and will help you grow a better and healthier landscape!
This is an advanced field study course involving ecosystem mapping and detailed site evaluation (prescription). The first two mornings will be spent in the classroom, but the course will largely be taught in the field at sites on Royal Roads/DND lands.
The course involves: identifying standard plant species cover; creating physical site descriptions recognizing natural boundaries on air photos and on the ground; identifying features related to slope stability; recognizing critical clues to ecological processes that either limit or are critical to the functioning of an ecosystem (e.g. wildlife trees).
An important focus is to observe and recognize successional patterns as clues to restoration strategies.
We offer a wide range of programs that will meet your learning goals and open your professional or academic interests to a new perspective.
With more than 200 adult education courses—from visual arts to health, web design to neuroscience, or politics to psychology—we can help you rekindle that feeling of fun and the joy of new knowledge.
Parking will be free of charge from July 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no overnight parking (11 pm to 6 am)
