National Seniors Day

October 1 is National Seniors Day!

In honour of National Seniors Day, let’s champion healthy aging, secure retirements and safe long-term care.
 

Oct. 1 of each year is National Seniors Day, which coincides with the United Nations International Day of Older Persons  (UNIDOP) and is an occasion for Canadians to celebrate the profound contributions of seniors in our homes, communities and workplaces.

The 2010 Speech from the Throne (SFT) announced that the Government would support legislation to create a National Seniors Day. The Celebrating Canada’s Seniors Act received Royal Assent on Nov. 18, 2010. Canada’s very first National Seniors Day was celebrated on Oct. 1, 2011.

For Federal Retirees, championing the health and well-being of older adults is not reserved for Oct. 1, but National Seniors Day is still a perfect opportunity to raise awareness and to join a global conversation about healthy aging. Keep your eye on our website and our social media feeds in the lead-up to National Seniors Day for informative articles and opportunities to get involved.

A milestone year

This year carries added significance for the Federal Retirees community because our association is celebrating its 60th anniversary, an opportunity not only to reflect on our achievements but also to turn our eyes to the road ahead.

The United Nations is also recognizing an important milestone during 2023. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected.

Following from this important anniversary, the UNIDOP theme for 2023 is focused on building a future where all persons, including all older persons, fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms: “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations”.
 

Transform older adult care

One of the best ways to celebrate National Seniors Day and show our appreciation for older Canadians is to ensure that our cities and communities are good places to grow up and grow older. Now is the time to fix long-term and home care for good.

Transforming older adult care requires a different approach, with an emphasis on providing care at home and in the community so that Canadians can age in place. It means implementing and enforcing national standards for long-term care, home care and other older adult care, to ensure a baseline level of quality care for older Canadians, regardless of where they live.

I’d like to tell my member of Parliament that Canada needs to implement its long-term care standards.
 

Budget for the future

The federal government is currently preparing its 2024 federal budget, offering the Federal Retirees community a chance to make it clear that improvements to retirement security and health care are needed now more than ever before. We’ve submitted a brief with eight key recommendations for the budget, and we’re also making it easy for you to send your own letter to reinforce our recommendations.

Join our call to action by sending a message to the federal government and your local member of Parliament with just a few clicks.

I’d like to write to my member of Parliament and reinforce Federal Retirees’ budget recommendations.
 

Make a difference with Reach 338

An important aspect of advocating for good public policy is making sure that it is recognized by our representatives and prioritized by our government. Federal Retirees is building a nationwide network of advocates to advance our mission – to significantly improve the quality and security of retirement for our members and all Canadians. This network is named Reach 338  because our goal is to ensure that our advocacy work reaches all 338 federal ridings. To participate and help ensure Federal Retirees’ message is heard across the country, join the network!

I’d like to learn more about the Reach 338 network and how I can get involved.
 

Join the conversation

Social media is a great way to join the conversation about National Seniors Day and the contributions of older adults in our lives. We’ve crafted social media resources you can share among your networks to get the word out.
 

Sample posts

  • October 1 is National Seniors Day! Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the contributions of older Canadians.
  • On National Seniors Day and every day, dignity in aging matters.
  • In honour of National Seniors Day, let’s speak up to improve older adult care in Canada.

Use the hashtags #SeniorsDay, #NationalSeniorsDay or #UNIDOP to join the conversation.
 

Additional resources

Visit the Government of Canada seniors’ hub at canada.ca/seniors for a wealth of resources, programs and information for seniors including the popular Benefits Finder tool.

The United Nations website offers background information and resources regarding the International Day of Older Persons and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.