Barbara Britto

Date : 30-06-21

Barbara Britto immigrated to Canada from Kuwait in 1989. She travelled alone and was determined to build a beautiful life for herself in the new country she would call home.

Early Days in Canada

Shortly after arriving in Canada, Barbara went back to school to continue her education and to obtain her CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designation. Her CPA designation allowed her to start her own accounting business.

In 2019, she started working from home and found that she had more flexibility in her schedule. She was interested in attending lectures, taking courses, contributing to her community and meeting new people. These interests prompted her to research older adult programs in Toronto, Ontario.

Coming to LIFE

A straightforward Google search introduced Barbara to The LIFE Institute at Ryerson University. She was attracted to the variety of lecture topics, the affordable course offerings, and the opportunities to get involved in the LIFE community.

After becoming a LIFE member, Barbara completed a course on Egyptian history and joined the Photo Club. The prospect of joining other older adults on LIFE Walks was exciting too, but the pandemic resulted in the walks temporarily placed on hold. She looks forward to participating in upcoming Grey Walks and Green Walks in the future.

Barbara is thankful to be able to stay socially active during a time in history that has been very isolating for many people, especially older adults. Having embraced online learning, she enjoys learning about new possibilities. To actively pursue her interest in writing, she is taking English courses at York University.

Living LIFE

With a keen interest in volunteering, Barbara enjoys contributing her time to the LIFE community. She is a regular volunteer as a Zoom Host since March 2020 and feels that her role is essential for supporting the LIFE instructors. To put it in her own words, she finds that her involvement in LIFE is “very beneficial to my mental health and overall well-being.”

In addition to having a thriving CPA career, contributing her time to the LIFE Institute and pursuing lifelong learning opportunities, Barbara stays physically and socially active through yoga and dance. She is a certified yoga instructor with plans to start a yoga club in the future with a small group of LIFE members.

Barbara is an inspirational LIFE member with an incredible story to tell! We thank her for taking the time to speak with us, and we are grateful for her contributions to our growing community!

If you would like to have your story featured on our blog or in the Living LIFE newsletter, please reach out to us! We love learning about how The LIFE Institute enriches our members’ lives!