Ageism consultation

Consultation has concluded

About this consultation

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum (FPT Seniors Forum) has launched a consultation on ageism. We are looking to better understand and address the negative impacts of ageism towards older adults in Canada.

Share your thoughts and experience

We want to hear your views on ageism! To participate, complete the questionnaire in the first tab below.

If you or someone you know has been affected by ageism, please also share your story in the online forum (second tab below). If you prefer, you can email it to us privately at ESDC.NA.AGISME.CONSULTATIONS-CONSULTATIONS.AGEISM.NA.EDSC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

The deadline to complete the questionnaire and submit a story is October 31, 2022.

Your perspectives, experiences and stories will help us kick-start an important conversation on ageism and the misconceptions about aging in Canada.

Understanding ageism

The World Health Organization defines ageism as:

  • The stereotypes (how we think)
  • Prejudice (how we feel)
  • Discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age

Ageism exists in all aspects of society. People may experience ageism at the same time as other forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, ability and ethnicity. Ageism is often overlooked. As a result, age related stigma and discrimination is often tolerated instead of addressed.

You can provide your feedback by completing our questionnaire below, which explores ageism in five theme areas:

  • Employment
  • Health and Health Care
  • Social Inclusion
  • Safety and Security
  • Media and Social Media

As the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on ageism towards older adults, we are also seeking your thoughts on how you think the pandemic may have impacted ageism.

For more information on this consultation, please read our Discussion Guide on Ageism in Canada. A summary is also available for a brief overview of the guide.

Together, we can work to reduce ageism and its effects on older Canadians and society in general.

Thank you.

On behalf of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Ageism

About this consultation

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum (FPT Seniors Forum) has launched a consultation on ageism. We are looking to better understand and address the negative impacts of ageism towards older adults in Canada.

Share your thoughts and experience

We want to hear your views on ageism! To participate, complete the questionnaire in the first tab below.

If you or someone you know has been affected by ageism, please also share your story in the online forum (second tab below). If you prefer, you can email it to us privately at ESDC.NA.AGISME.CONSULTATIONS-CONSULTATIONS.AGEISM.NA.EDSC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

The deadline to complete the questionnaire and submit a story is October 31, 2022.

Your perspectives, experiences and stories will help us kick-start an important conversation on ageism and the misconceptions about aging in Canada.

Understanding ageism

The World Health Organization defines ageism as:

  • The stereotypes (how we think)
  • Prejudice (how we feel)
  • Discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age

Ageism exists in all aspects of society. People may experience ageism at the same time as other forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, ability and ethnicity. Ageism is often overlooked. As a result, age related stigma and discrimination is often tolerated instead of addressed.

You can provide your feedback by completing our questionnaire below, which explores ageism in five theme areas:

  • Employment
  • Health and Health Care
  • Social Inclusion
  • Safety and Security
  • Media and Social Media

As the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on ageism towards older adults, we are also seeking your thoughts on how you think the pandemic may have impacted ageism.

For more information on this consultation, please read our Discussion Guide on Ageism in Canada. A summary is also available for a brief overview of the guide.

Together, we can work to reduce ageism and its effects on older Canadians and society in general.

Thank you.

On behalf of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Ageism

Share your story

We are interested in your personal experiences. The FPT Seniors Forum wants to better understand your thoughts and how we can address ageism in Canada. 

When sharing your story, please consider the following questions:

  • Have you or someone you know been affected by ageism? If so, what happened? Why did you consider this ageist?
  • Was your experience of ageism affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, how? 
  • What was done to address the ageism you experienced or witnessed? Was it helpful?
  • Was the ageism that you experienced or witnessed something that happens everywhere, or do you think it was a unique situation?
  • What could be done to address ageism? Please share with us any examples of initiatives, programs or supports that could help address ageism.

If you or someone you know is being abused and is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 (in Canada) for emergency services in your area.

If you are outside the 9-1-1 service area, please access available emergency services in your area.

If you would like to access services and are not in immediate danger, please call 1-800-O-Canada or visit Programs and services for seniors - Canada.ca.


To protect the privacy of individuals, please tell your story anonymously and avoid naming specific people and organizations, or providing any type of information that would allow someone to be identified. Instead, please use more general terms such as “my family”, “my neighbour”, “my care provider”, “my employer”, “my organization”, “my city” or “my province”. 

We wish to remind you that this is a public‎ forum. Stories submitted online using the form below will be visible to other users. Registration is not mandatory; however, you will need to provide an email address and a screen name. Your email address will not be visible to others.

If you would rather share your story privately, you can submit it by email to ESDC.NA.AGISME.CONSULTATIONS-CONSULTATIONS.AGEISM.NA.EDSC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca. Stories submitted by email will not be shared online but may be referenced in the summary report. No personal or identifying information will be included.

Selected parts of the stories may be used in other communication and reporting activities for this or other Forum activities. The views expressed are those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of the FPT Seniors Forum.

The purpose of the collection of information is to help develop better, more informed and more effective policies, programs and services. Participation is voluntary. Your personal information is collected under the authority of the Financial Administration Act (FAA). Your personal information will be managed and administered in accordance with Department of Employment and Social Development Act (DESDA), the Privacy Act and other applicable laws. For more information, visit our consultation and engagement activities privacy notice statement.

On behalf of the FPT Seniors Forum, thank you for sharing your story with us.

The Stakeholder Relations Team

Employment and Social Development Canada

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

  • Ageism when seeking a job at 55+

    by Bernadette, about 2 years ago
    As a senior executive of a large well known franchise company, my husband lost his job when the organization was acquired by offshore investors and fired all of the senior team.


    It was a painful situation as he was very devoted to the well-known brand. The top 5 inner circle of executives were aware of the pending sale and were able to make employment contract changes to protect their interests.

    Over the next five years, he applied to numerous positions. He would be interviewed as he had an impeccable resume and academic credentials. However, he would get feedback that they... Continue reading

  • Sad ending to a cherished career

    by Bernadette, about 2 years ago

    I worked for a large public sector organization that touts itself as inclusive and valuing diversity. Their employees win awards for diversity and inclusion. No one would ever believe that they treat long service employees with disrespect, but they do.

    I had been with the organization for 40 years and never took my job for granted. It was a cherished career from day one out of university. I worked my way up the organization and was promoted to a senior manager level. I was the first person in the office, and often the last to leave. I worked evenings and... Continue reading

  • Lossing our Mom

    by ljcollard, about 2 years ago
    Our moms was 88yr old and was hospitalized for 4 days due to vomiting and not eating. She was tested for an UTI and the doctor reported to us that the results came back contaminated, but she assumed it was because our mom had had diarrhea that morning. How does a doctor just assume, it was a quick way to get rid of her and send her home. She came home and a few days later we had to request another urine test, which came back positive. Then in December she was hospitalized again for vomiting and not eating. Again... Continue reading

  • If I had a dollar…

    by Sacha, about 2 years ago
    Who do I sue for lost income and needless suffering??

    If I had a dollar for every employment opportunity - at my professional level - that I was not given… And it wasn’t just ageism, other types of discrimination too, I have a graduate degree, an incredible amount of varied experience in different areas to draw on, and more, and it only got worse after 50. I have never earned more than $42,000 in my life, when studies say that with a graduate degree you would earn in the $60,000 range. You cannot separate ageism from sexism, and all the... Continue reading

  • Problems that some seniors are facing in their golden years

    by Rosaline Cameron, about 2 years ago
    My main concern is how the medical field treats ageism. Maybe I am the only one affected buy this dilemma. On numerous occasions I have asked my doctor to refer me to various specialist in the particular field that this issue is a problem NOT out of curiosity but out of concerns and the response is always. You are pass the age that this request would be be granted. The outcome prescribed medication which works for awhile then no longer effective.

    My questions to these issues are :

    How can a doctor make such an answer without having the problem... Continue reading

  • DIGNITY

    by Janet Johnson, about 2 years ago

    I turn 80 in a few weeks and when I look back on my life I realize that I have never experienced financial security and to this day I stress about money. How will I manage on a single income? Will I be able to stay in my rental, will I scrimp on groceries?? The anxiety and stress of finances has had a crucial effect on my health. I was raised in a broken home, hungry and poor. That stigmatism affects a child. Hungry children do not learn as well as well fed children. The only thing I ever stole... Continue reading

  • Combatting Social Isolation

    by Mdm, about 2 years ago
    When Covid struck in 2020 and the need to isolate from others was mandatory, it was alarming for everyone, especially for Seniors who may have had to depend on their family for support. I , who am 71 now, was fortunate to have a spouse to lean on. However, I was aware that our Senior community consisted of many single and widowed individuals, who could not go to grocery stores or get the support they needed. A few months later, I was pleasantly surprised at how MFRC [Malvern Family Resource Centre], got involved in the crisis. They provided a daily... Continue reading

  • One very lucky 88 year old woman

    by Jane Szilvassy, about 2 years ago

    I have lived a very full serependitious life. I was born in England into a Jewish assimilated family. When I was five I watched preparations for WW11, barage balloons flew overhead, blackout curtains apppeared on windows which were criss crossed with brown paper. I was evacuated out of the London during the blitz. I learned to adapt to all these changes which provided me with survivor skills and the ability to bend with the flow.

    My family - husband and two daughters - came to Toronto in 1967. For twenty six years I worked for a non profit organization in... Continue reading

  • Services NOT Designed For Older People

    by Lifelong Learner, about 2 years ago

    It seems to me that a lot of services provided by both for-profit enterprises and publicly funded departments/agencies are not designed to provide service to clients. Instead, they seem to be designed to minimize cost and/or maximize profits. I will give one example from education and one from health care.


    EDUCATION:

    After 35+ yrs of varied work experience, and a broad education, I decided to go back to university. Now, in my mid 60s, I am enrolled in a PhD program at a Canadian university. Ageism I have experienced while being a student includes the following:

  • Lack of support and compassion for caregivers

    by Caring for mom, about 2 years ago
    During the pandemic my mother's health deteriorated to the point where she needed full time care. She was treated very well and got great treatment (to my knowledge) at the hospital and health care workers saved her life, but as a caregiver my situation has been totally minimized by family, friends and my workplace. She is still recovering and needs my help, but I am continually told to put her in a home and am asked to work in an environment where there is still a health risk. I am so tired, stressed and overwhelmed.