Learning & Lectures
Online Learning for Free
Love learning or have a specific skill or knowledge area you would like to develop? There are several websites that offer free online courses.
FutureLearn
Courses vary in length. Most are six to ten weeks long but they also have some shorter two and three week courses. Most are delivered by universities. Free course membership gets you access to the course for its duration + 14 days, regardless of when you join.
Sample courses:
Food and Mood: Improving Mental Health Through Diet and Nutrition https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/food-and-mood
Thrive at Home: Better understand work-life balance, mental health and motivation so that you can thrive at home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Using FutureLearn
Coursera
Free courses from universities and companies. Learn at your own pace, 100% online. Duration of courses vary enormously, from a couple of weeks to 6 months or more.
Sample courses/ specializations:
Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialization
The Science of Well-Being
Check out Coursera; view the topics drop-down menu under ‘Explore’
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more.
Sample courses:
Pixar in a Box: The Art of Storytelling
Other learning:
Interviews with Entrepreneurs
Personal Finance
Check out Khan Academy - view the drop-down menu under 'Courses'.
FutureLearn
Courses vary in length. Most are six to ten weeks long but they also have some shorter two and three week courses. Most are delivered by universities. Free course membership gets you access to the course for its duration + 14 days, regardless of when you join.
Sample courses:
Food and Mood: Improving Mental Health Through Diet and Nutrition https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/food-and-mood
Thrive at Home: Better understand work-life balance, mental health and motivation so that you can thrive at home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Using FutureLearn
Coursera
Free courses from universities and companies. Learn at your own pace, 100% online. Duration of courses vary enormously, from a couple of weeks to 6 months or more.
Sample courses/ specializations:
Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialization
The Science of Well-Being
Check out Coursera; view the topics drop-down menu under ‘Explore’
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more.
Sample courses:
Pixar in a Box: The Art of Storytelling
Other learning:
Interviews with Entrepreneurs
Personal Finance
Check out Khan Academy - view the drop-down menu under 'Courses'.
Some activities below may be on hold or may be changing how they're being run during the Covid-19 pandemic. Be sure to check with each organization for most recent news.
Thursday Lunch Time Art Tours
When: First Thursday of every month
Time: 12:30-1pm Where: Contemporary Art Gallery 555 Nelson Street, Vancouver Cost: Free First Thursday of every month with Julia Lamare Join CAG Assistant Curator Julia Lamare for a lunch time tour of the current exhibitions: Jeneen Frei Njootli: my auntie bought all her skidoos with bead money Channa Horwitz: Progressions and Rhythms in Eight Andi Icaza-Largaespada: (untitled) a mountain bought but not yet named No reservation required. Simply just turn up! |
Earthquake Preparedness: Apartment Living
Scientists say that Vancouver is at a high-risk of having an earthquake. Be prepared, and learn what you can do, and what we are doing to keep us safe during and after an earthquake.
There are free, informative NEPP Earthquake Preparedness workshops all over the city. They're popular, so it's strongly recommended that you register to attend one. They're also available in Mandarin, some are specific to apartment living, and some are even specific to what to do with your pets in an earthquake. Find the full list of all city earthquake workshops here. You need a City of Vancouver account first, and you sign up for that here. Here is some more detailed information about how to protect yourself from an earthquake, here. |
Creative Mornings Vancouver
Creative Mornings started in New York, and now runs in cities around the world. The idea is for an ongoing, accessible event for creative communities... breakfast and a short talk one Friday morning a month. Every event is free of charge and open to anyone.
'We bring together people who are driven by passion and purpose, confident that they will inspire one another, and inspire change in neighborhoods and cities around the world.' Location: SFU Woodward's - Goldcorp Centre for the Arts 149 West Hastings Street Dates: Vary, but it's a monthly series Time: 8:30am - 10am (be there by 8:45 or you forfeit your ticket) Cost: Free Due to popularity in Vancouver causing tickets to immediately sell out, they use a waitlist as a registration system and they randomly award tickets using a lottery system. Lucky ticket winners are informed by email. |
Philosopher's Cafe
Thinking the unthinkable, imagining the impossible, and discussing the improbable
SFU’s Philosophers’ Café is a series of informal public discussions in the heart of our communities. Since 1998, this award-winning program has engaged the interests of scholars, seniors, students, philosophers, and non-philosophers through stimulating dialogue and the passionate exchange of ideas. |
Open Coffee - Pixelcrafters
Open Coffee Club is a casual gathering of people involved in founding, operating or funding startups. The format is similar to Startup Drinks, but in the morning and with coffee.
The first Open Coffee Club was formed in 2007 by Saul Klein, an investor in London, UK. The idea quickly spread to dozens of cities around the world. Saul explains the Open Coffee idea in depth within a blog post: “Open Coffee Club is an attempt to establish recognized, open and regular meeting places where entrepreneurs can meet with investors (and anyone else who fanices coming along) in a totally informal setting.” The vibe is more hangout than event and provides people with a regular time and location to talk shop, discuss news, ask questions and and meet others in the startup community they may only see occasionally at more formal events. |
Decentral
We are a Collaborative Community inspired by the ideas behind Bitcoin, Decentralization, and the Open Source movement.
This is a meetup where forward thinking people can hangout with like-minded individuals. We believe Cryptocurrency will fund the Open Source movement and create economically sustainable systems for communities globally and locally. This is a shared meetup, if you are interested in hosting an event please make a request to info@decentral.network |
Computer Lessons / Drop in Internet Access in Kitsilano
Computer Access
Public access computers are available at these two Kitilano locations. Some other neighbourhood houses offer similar computer access and tutorials - check the one near you!
NOTE: no printer availability at either site One-on-One Computer Tutorials Book an appointment to spend an hour with a volunteer computer tutor and learn the basics for operating your computer, laptop, or tablet! Learn skills for using email, accessing the internet, social media, common software programs, and more! FREE with a current KNH membership or by donation. Tutorial appointment days & times vary depending on volunteer availability. To book an appointment call Kits House Front Desk at 604-736-3588 |
Tech Café @ Vancouver Public Library

Address:
350 West Georgia St.
Vancouver V6B 6B1
Phone: (604) 331-3603
Location Details:
Training Zone, Level 3
Time: 2-3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Practice basic computer skills, email and internet searching, find ebooks and online newspapers with help from library staff. Drop in any time during café hours.
350 West Georgia St.
Vancouver V6B 6B1
Phone: (604) 331-3603
Location Details:
Training Zone, Level 3
Time: 2-3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Practice basic computer skills, email and internet searching, find ebooks and online newspapers with help from library staff. Drop in any time during café hours.
Free Geek Vancouver: Open Help Night
Location: 1820 Pandora St., Vancouver -
Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking available. Date: Wednesdays, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Free Geek is a learning centric environment. In addition to many volunteer training opportunities, we offer free tech-support workshops. Join us for a free drop-in night of skill-sharing, problem-solving, and education. Want to try free and open source software, install GNU/Linux on your computer, or have a more complex question? Drop in & write your name and question on the whiteboard; a volunteer helper will come find you and lend a hand. We assist folks who have open source software issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, this is the perfect opportunity! If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your computer down so we can work together to solve your difficulties. We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you've come to help. |
EDX.org - Free On-line Classes
EdX offers free online courses and classes [free to audit... certificates do cost]. Find the latest MOOC from the world's best universities including MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, UT and others.
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London Drugs In-store Workshops
Attend an in-store event, workshop, clinic, or demo today!
Sometimes they have demos on how to use the camera and such. |
One to One Computer Training
Every Monday, 2016 (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Mount Pleasant Branch Library Need help getting started with eBooks, free online courses, or finding what you need at the library? We can help! Join us for a 45 minute session available between 2 and 4 p.m.on Mondays. REGISTRATION REQUIRED Please call 604.665.3962 or drop by the branch to register. |
Lecture Series from UBC Green College
Green College is a graduate residential college at the University of British Columbia where interdisciplinary conversations and ideas thrive. Every year, about 80 graduate students, 15 postdoctoral scholars and visiting scholars call the College home and create a unique, vibrant academic community.
Whether attending a free public lecture, becoming involved in resident life, or enjoying warm hospitality, College members develop a global network that reaches beyond the College's spectacular view of ocean and mountains. No matter what happens at the College, one thing remains constant — the founding philosophy of "Ideas and Friendship." |