Canada

Abstract

Canadians are living longer; the fastest growing age group in Canada is 85+ and the 2011 census identified more individuals over the age of 100 than ever before. This demographic shift is unparalleled in history and its impact will dominate the Canadian landscape for the next two decades. Yet, when it comes to a consideration of lifelong learning in Canada, there is currently no national, unified approach, and many existing service providers appear to focus exclusively on the Baby Boom cohort.

The chapter begins with a description of the diversity found in Canada, focusing on generational groups, age cohorts, geographical differences and existing rural and urban disparities. These factors present challenges across the country, leading to a lack of funding or research into the area of later life learning, especially at advanced ages. Dispelling the myth that learning is ‘date stamped’, a common theme throughout this chapter is encouragement by the authors for readers to embrace the notion that we learn and grow until we take our last breath, and that all appropriate agencies should provide programming and services accordingly.

While Canada’s lifelong learning strategy is fragmented in some ways, there are many excellent examples of groups or organizations providing high-quality learning opportunities for older adults, and some of these are highlighted in this chapter. Past and current research funding opportunities and jurisdictional policies are also discussed within the context of the Canadian landscape. In closing, recommendations for creating accessible, topical and holistic lifelong learning opportunities are discussed with an eye towards the future of ageing in Canada.