The Nova Scotia Centre on Aging is hosting a free public event at the Mount which is part of the “Our Future is Aging conference” this Monday, June 2, 2025 at 6:30-8:30 pm.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion about the realities facing today’s and tomorrow’s generation of older adults – the fact that we are living longer. This is a good news story as a society but what does it mean for older adults, our communities, the labour force, our health care system?
Status quo is inadequate for creating healthy longevity. Transformative thinking is needed by individuals, organizations and governments to ensure we are living healthy for longer. How we view older adults, how we prepare for a longer life (socially and financially), and our approach to health care all need to be challenged.
Our top-notch influential thinkers will raise much needed awareness about this important topic leaving us better positioned to navigate the next 50 years.
This is a discussion you won’t want to miss!
REGISTRATION is NOW OPEN!
In Person: Multi-Purpose Room, 3rd Floor, Rosaria Student Centre, Mount Saint Vincent University. Click here to register for in-person.
Virtual livestreaming. Click here to register for virtual livestreaming.
This event is FREE but registration is required.
Guest Speaker – Margaret Gillis, President, International Longevity Centre (ILC) Canada
Co-President ILC Global Alliance
“Ambassador” Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
Margaret Gillis is founding President of International Longevity Centre Canada, a leading-edge policy shaper working to identify ways through which older adults can lead healthy, fulfilling and active lives. She is also Co-President of the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance, which is an alliance of 16 centres around the world dedicated to the needs of older people. Closer to home, Ms. Gillis is an “Community Ambassador” for Elder Abuse Awareness Ontario, an organization providing education, training and information on elder abuse.
An award winning executive and innovative leader, Margaret Gillis played a key role in establishing the Age-friendly Community program in Canada and internationally. Other career highlights include the establishment of the “Canadian Coalition Against Ageism” a nation-wide social change movement to combat ageism.
Margaret Gillis has strong credentials in regard to human rights, working with and speaking at the UN General Assembly on behalf of older people. She has been actively working for a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons in Canada and internationally. With a background in health promotion, protection and programming, Ms. Gillis is committed to improving the rights of older people.
Moderator – Anne Martin-Matthews
Professor Emerita of Sociology
The University of British Columbia
Anne Martin-Matthews has focused her career on issues of aging and social gerontology. Born in Newfoundland, she holds a PhD in Sociology from McMaster University, and has served on the faculty of the University of Guelph (1978-1997) and The University of British Columbia (1998-2023).
Her publications include two books, Aging and Caring at the Intersection of Work and Home Life: Blurring the Boundaries; Widowhood in Later Life; three edited volumes (on methodology; policy development; and Canadian gerontology in international context); and numerous journal articles and chapters on health and social care, aging and social support, work-family balance, and rural aging. She is a past President of the Research Committee on Aging of the International Sociological Association. A former Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal on Aging, she is currently a member of the editorial board of Ageing and Society (UK). Anne has received numerous awards and recognition for her mentoring of students in the study of aging.
In addition to her extensive academic career, Anne has held leadership positions and advisory roles at provincial and national levels. She completed two terms (2004-2011) as Scientific Director of the Institute of Aging, of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Under her leadership, the Institute of Aging led the development of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a 20-year study of 50,000 Canadians aged 45-85. In recognition of her contributions in advancing research on aging, Anne was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2018.
This public event is made possible by:
Dr. F.R. MacKinnon Endowment Fund, Mount Saint Vincent University
NS Department of Seniors and Long-term Care
