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A new pan-Canadian coalition will bring together diverse voices and expertise to strengthen belonging among older adults across Canada.
HelpAge Canada announced the launch of the CanBelong Coalition, a national group of organizations and leaders working together to strengthen belonging and inclusion for older adults in communities across Canada.
The CanBelong Coalition brings together leading organizations in the healthy ageing space, representing diverse expertise and regional perspectives. Together, members will help guide the ongoing work of the CanBelong initiative, deepening our understanding of the causes of loneliness and social isolation and what it takes to foster meaningful connection and belonging as we age.
At the heart of this work is a shared belief that belonging matters. Social connectedness and inclusion are key determinants of health, yet too many older Canadians face barriers to fully participating in community life and experiencing a genuine sense of belonging. CanBelong is working to change that.
Building a stronger understanding of belonging and loneliness
As part of its mandate, the CanBelong Coalition will guide the development of a series of benchmarking tools to better understand the scope and drivers of loneliness among older adults in Canada.
These tools will provide insights into how loneliness is experienced across diverse populations, the contribution of community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations to foster belonging, and promising approaches to reducing loneliness and social isolation. The findings will also inform advocacy and policy recommendations at the community, provincial, and national levels, grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
Bringing diverse voices to the table
The CanBelong Coalition was established to bring together diverse perspectives and representation from across Canada to strengthen our collective understanding of belonging. Over time, the Coalition will continue to evolve to reflect voices from different regions, sectors, communities, and areas of expertise, as well as the many factors that shape older adults’ experiences of connection and inclusion.
“Building a Canada where everyone can belong requires us to listen with intention and learn from one another,” says Olivia Bornik, Director of Canadian Programs at HelpAge Canada. “The CanBelong Coalition brings together organizations from across the country to deepen our understanding of loneliness and belonging, identify opportunities for systemic change, and advance solutions that enable older adults feel valued, connected, and included in their communities.”
The launch of the CanBelong Coalition marks an important step forward in elevating older adult inclusion and belonging on the national agenda. Through knowledge sharing, evidence-informed advocacy, and collaboration, the Coalition will help shape a future where all older adults can participate fully in community life and know that they belong.
Founding CanBelong Coalition Members
With the ongoing support of The Waltons Trust
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Are you a committed, passionate person?
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference, educate, and help prevent elder abuse across Canada?
CNPEA is looking to fill positions on its Board of Directors!
ABOUT CNPEA
CNPEA is a registered charity committed to improving the well-being of Canada’s aging population. CNPEA builds awareness, support and capacity for a Canada-wide approach to the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. We promote the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform and education.Please note: CNPEA is not a direct service provider.
ABOUT OUR BOARD
Our board is pan Canadian, and our board members bring a wide array of backgrounds and expertise, ranging from health care, law, social work, academia, not-for-profit, and finance. The board of directors oversees the governance, strategic planning and operations of the organization, in accordance with our mission, vision and strategic plan.
CALL FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
We are seeking candidates who are eager to provide leadership for a growing network and who are committed to enhancing awareness and prevention of mistreatment of older adults in Canada.Knowledge or experience relating to elder abuse prevention is welcome but not required.
Commitment
Board members are expected to:
- Attend monthly board meetings. There are usually 10 board meetings per year (1-1.5 hr each).They take place on the second Thursday of the month at 10 AM Pacific/12pm Central/ 1PM Eastern/2.30 Newfoundland time. There is also an Annual General Meeting each September.
Please note: All meetings are held via a web-based conferencing tool (Zoom). Familiarity with these types of tools and an internet connection are required to participate.
- Serve on at least one committee of their choice.
- Provide guidance regarding the Network’s mission, programs, policies, operations, strategic plan, and finances.
- Actively support the sustainability and growth of the CNPEA through charitable giving and fundraising activities.
- Actively support the development of partnerships and strategic alliances with other organizations and agencies.
- Represent CNPEA in their community and raise awareness among their contacts.
Average Time Commitment
- 5-7 hours/month: Zoom meetings and emails. Committee and board meetings are currently scheduled during work days.
- Board members will typically be elected for two-year terms (renewable for a maximum of 6 consecutive years), so a two-year commitment to the organization is recommended. The CNPEA membership by regular motion may agree to some Board terms to be less than 2 years.
What we are looking for
- Committed and reliable individuals with a passion for elder abuse prevention, interest in issues affecting older Canadians, and a willingness to commit to 5-7 hours a month.
- A positive attitude and willingness to contribute are important to us. As stated before, knowledge in the field of elder mistreatment is not mandatory.
- We strive to have board members from each jurisdiction. Candidates living in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, PEI, and Northern Canada are especially encouraged to apply.
- Applicants with a background in (but not limited to) the health care sector, community support, law, victim services, the financial sector, etc.
- We are particularly interested in candidates with the following skills:
- Policy
- Fund development (including, but not limited to, grant writing, sponsorships, and giving programs)
- Strategic planning
- Communications and marketing
- Government relations
- Individuals who are affiliated with other relevant national, P/T, or local networks that provide information, services or are otherwise connected to older adults.
- We wish to welcome and include diverse voices to sustain intersectionality in our work and reflect Canada’s diversity. Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, immigrant, francophone, and 2SLGBTQ+ identifying candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and of all ages.
What’s in it for you?
- Collaborate with stakeholders from across Canada, and network with a growing number of professionals involved in the prevention of elder abuse.
- Learn about meaningful programs, services and research taking place to help prevent and address elder abuse.
- Gain experience in governance, leadership, planning, and community engagement.
- Contribute to national efforts to end mistreatment of older adults.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply by completing this form by Friday, July 24, 2026, 7 PM Eastern.
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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
May 21, 2026
Elder Justice Coalition Welcomes Progress on Coercive Control Reform
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – On May 4, 2026, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (Justice Committee) adopted an amendment to Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, requiring that Parliament initiate a review five years after the bill receives royal assent "to consider, among other things, the criminalization of coercive or controlling conduct in relationships other than intimate partner relationships." The proposed amendment comes amid growing legal recognition in Canada of coercive and controlling behaviour as a serious form of family violence, including in the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia.
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OTTAWA, ONTARIO – On February 4, 2026, the Elder Justice Coalition will be on Parliament Hill meeting with MPs, senators, and staff in relation to Bill C-16, which proposes to create a standalone coercive control offence. The Coalition welcomes the bill’s focus on coercive control by intimate partners and views this reform as an important step forward.
These meetings are intended to contribute constructively to Parliament’s consideration of how protections can be strengthened for older victims of coercive control who are harmed by relatives, informal caregivers, and others in relationships of trust and dependence.
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December 16, 2025
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Elder Justice Coalition welcomes the tabling of the Protecting Victims Act (Bill C-16) as a step forward in acknowledging the seriousness of coercive control by intimate partners through a proposed criminal offence. We commend the federal government for its resolve to rapidly address this grave societal problem.
The proposed law signals recognition by the government that non-physical forms of abuse, such as manipulation, isolation, intimidation, and threats, constitute harm worthy of criminal consequences. It makes clear that abuse does not need to be physical to cause serious harm, reflecting a broader understanding of family violence.
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