June 2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), a milestone to reflect on how far we’ve come, and where we need to go next.
This year’s theme, Be Bold, Age With Attitude, celebrates the individuals and communities who are challenging ageism, advancing rights, and reshaping what it means to grow older in Canada and beyond. Through a dynamic panel discussion, we spotlighted movers, shakers, and advocates working at the local, pan-Canadian, and international levels to improve the lives of older people, whether through elder abuse prevention, innovative programmes, social inclusion, or systems change.
Framed around “Then, Now, and Next”, the conversation honoured the legacy of early leaders like Dr. Elizabeth Podnieks, reflecting on the progress of the past two decades, and explored the bold ideas and actions needed for the future. The webinar celebrated 20 years of impact and look ahead to what’s possible when we continue to lead, collaborate, and act with purpose.
Moderator: Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO, CanAge
Panelists:
Dawn Thomas, Seniors’ Safety Coordinator, Digby and Area (NS)
Margaret Gillis, President, International Longevity Centre Canada
Moira Welsh, Toronto Star journalist at the Queen’s Park bureau. Author of The Astonishing Lives of Older Women
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View Webinar
Resources
Check out EAPO’s websitefor downloadable promotional materials, including WEAAD logos, social media banners, a proclamation, certificate and customizable templates! More tools will be added soon! Available in English and French.
The Waterloo Restorative Justice Elder Abuse Project, developed over two decades ago, remains one of the few programs of its kind serving older adults. Session includes a preview of a video depicting how the Waterloo program uses a peacemaking circle to reduce the harm to family relationships following financial elder abuse. The video’s producer and circle co-facilitators discuss the benefits and challenges of applying restorative justice to elder abuse, potential applications and settings in which it can be used, and steps for implementing programs.
A Conversation on Applying Restorative Justice to Elder Abuse This California Elder Justice Coalition (CEJC) Webinar (April 28, 2021) features Arlene Groh, Retired consultant, Healing Approaches to Elder Abuse Waterloo (Ontario, former coordinator of the Community Care Access Centre’s Restorative Justice Approach to Elder Abuse Project, and Jacqueline Gray, Director, National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI).
Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA)is a nation-wide social change movement to end ageism against older people while protecting and strengthening their human rights. https://ccaageism.ca/
The Ageism Toolkit is a complementary resource that brings together a diverse set of tools and activities to deepen understanding of ageism, explore its impacts, and promote concrete actions to challenge it across multiple sectors of society. https://ccaageism.ca/ageism-toolkit/#Tools
