About

The Creative Age Network (Ontario, Canada) is a creative community established in 2010 with a mission to promote, increase and support the number of high quality professionally-led creative arts education programs available to older adults in Ontario communities.


Network members are arts educators, program coordinators, retired librarians, retired teachers, community developers and partnership developers. We share our knowledge, skills and programming experiences with municipalities, libraries, arts organizations and individuals who have similar goals. Kathy Smith of London Ontario is founder and Lead Facilitator.

Our training programs provide proven tools and helpful practices based on 20 years of experience and reserch. Our community developers, speakers and workshop leaders offer highly acclaimed presentations to community organizations, public libraries and professional development associations.


The Creative Arts Studio is sponsored by the Municipality of Thames Centre, the Dorchester Active Living Centre (OACAO) and managed by volunteer facilitators and coordinators who design, develop and deliver creative aging programs and other arts-related activities. Funding is provided by New Horizons for Seniors, Ontario Seniors Community Grant Program, the Dorchester Lions Club and private donations. Volunteers open and close the studio, purchase and manage supplies, greet potential new members and provide art studio members with quality program opportunities and free art supplies to improve their quality of life through creative self expression in a peer-led social learning environment.

The 50+ Creative Club is part of the recreation and wellness programming at the London Ontario Horton Street 50+ Centre (OACAO). Art skills workshops are held on Thursdays 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Open Studio Sessions are held on the first Monday of each month, holidays excluded. The building features two pools (one full size and one warm therapy pool), a full service cafe with frozen take home meals available for purchase and transportation service is available to and from the centre. For more information and registration please phone 519 434-9114

The 2024-25 Creative Aging and Wellness Project is co-sponsored by the London Arts Council and the London Public Library and funded by New Horizons for Seniors Canada. Programs and Activities are offered by trained instructors at neighbourhood library branches around the city. Participants register through Eventbrite. For more information about registratio

Creative Age Online Project is offered during the winter months in partnership with the London Public Library. The 2025 Online Schedule will be released in January 2025

Creative Age Network Ontario Outreach Initiative

For the past 5 years, Creative Age Awareness Week has been held during the last week of May. A series of free virtual networking meetings and events are scheduled to share information and helpful practices during that week Get involved using #creativeaging2025 2025 Creative Age Awareness Week

Lead Facilitators

Penny Wearne is the Volunteer Coordinator of the Creative Arts Studio located in Middlesex County. The studio draws participants (50+) from London and surrounding counties.

Kathy Smith is the founder and Lead Facilitator of the 50+ Creative Club and the Creative Age Network Outreach Initiative.

Both Penny and Kathy design, develop and deliver Creative Age Facilitator and Instructor Training sessions.