About Us
The Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA) is a nation-wide social change movement established in 2022 to transform the narratives surrounding age and aging.
Who We Are
The CCAA is dedicated to forging a National Engagement Strategy that fosters collaboration and communication, raising awareness of ageism, and promoting the adoption of policies and practices that uphold the human rights and social inclusion of older adults.
What We Do
GOALS
To reduce the impact of ageism against older persons in Canada by:
- Positioning Canada as a nation that values the contributions of older persons, making it a global leader and partner in the movement for social change.
- Engaging diverse sectors, communities, and stakeholders to build momentum for the national movement through ongoing education and awareness-raising activities aimed at eliminating ageism.
- Securing the participation and political commitment of policymakers and decision-makers to eliminate ageism in Canada.
- Mobilizing all Canadians to support and advocate for a United Nations convention on the rights of older persons, establishing a legally binding mechanism to protect, enforce, and address violations of their human rights.
FUNCTIONING PRINCIPLES
- Defined Decision-Making: Establish a clear, accountable, and transparent decision-making process that remains adaptable to changing needs.
- Streamlined Structure: Maintain a simple and efficient partnership structure, avoiding heavy or bureaucratic overhead.
- Respect for Growth: Acknowledge and respect the iterative stages of development for the CCAA, its members, and its activities.
- Effective Communication: Ensure open, clear, and regular communication among partners and coalition members, with a unified voice for CCAA purposes, using consistent and clear terminology.
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity: Apply a lens of diversity, inclusion, and equity to all facets of the coalition’s work, including fostering intergenerational linkages.
- Sustainability and Cost-Effectiveness: Focus on cost-effective strategies that ensure the long-term sustainability of the partnership.
Our Team
ILC Canada maintains responsibility and accountability for CCAA’s operations. CCAA is governed by a Steering Council and 6 Committees.
Margaret Gillis
President, International Longevity Centre Canada (ILCC)
Leah Clement
Manager of Administration, ILCC/CCAA
Cheri Nixon
Communications Lead, ILCC/CCAA
CCAA Steering Council (CCAA SC)
- Margaret Gillis, ILC Canada
- Moira Teed, Canadian Medical Association
- Stephen Vail, Canadian Medical Association
- Ziad Saab, Canadian Medical Association
- Leslie Gaudette, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC
- Diane Wood, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC
- Benedicte Schoepflin, Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
- Marta Hajek, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
- Raza Mirza, HelpAge Canada
- Anna Sangster, International Federation on Ageing
- Mitali Mistry, International Federation on Ageing
- Jessica Searson, National Association of Federal Retirees
- Trish McAuliffe, National Pensioners Federation
- Kathleen Jamieson, National Pensioners Federation
- Martha Foster, Retired Teachers of Ontario
- Tazim Virani, SE Health
- Zannat Reza, SE Health
- Kahir Lalji, HelpAge Canada
- Laura Kadowaki, United Way BC
- The CCAA Steering Council (SC) is a core group of key stakeholders, specifically older persons’ organizations, dedicated to serving their needs.
- Members of the SC must be fully committed to the vision, mission, values, and ethical principles of the CCAA.
- The SC is responsible for ensuring that the vision, goals, and objectives of the CCAA project and campaign.
- The SC offers strategic guidance, oversight, and focus on the coalition’s priorities, scope, direction, and methods.
- The SC is responsible for the development of work plans, timelines, and budgets to ensure effective execution of actions and achievement of desired outcomes, as established during the consultative founding sessions in 2022.
- Determine Composition and Leadership: Establish the composition and leadership of the CCAA Steering Council / Committee/ Committee(SC), including the Chair or Co-Chairs, and core NGO representatives from founding organizations (e.g., Secretary, Treasurer, and Resource Development Committee Chairpersons).
- Ensure Measurable Goals: Implement ‘SMARTER’ objectives to ensure each CCAA goal is measurable, enabling the coalition to stay on track and adjust actions as necessary.
- Review Terms of Reference: Conduct an annual review of the Terms of Reference to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
- Oversee Communications Strategy: Supervise the development of the Communications Strategy and ensure the Communications Committee executes timely outreach efforts to
maintain momentum of the CCAA initiative across Canada. - Establish and Manage Committees: Create committees as outlined in the objectives. Recruit Committee Chairs and leads, and support members with the necessary expertise to coordinate work plans and timelines for deliverables.
- Set Timelines and Milestones: Establish timelines and milestones for the comprehensive CCAA work plan and those of its committees. Evaluate progress at regular intervals (monthly or quarterly) to ensure goals are met.
- Manage Administrative Tasks: Assign, manage, and ensure the timely completion of administrative tasks essential for the smooth operation of the CCAA.
Creation and Purpose: Committees or Working Groups may be established by the Steering Council as needed to address specific tasks or objectives. These committees will have defined mandates and timelines tailored to their specific responsibilities.
Our Founding Members
CCAA is a coalition formed with 14 founding member organizations.
This coalition of like-minded Canadian NGOs is committed to advocating for the declaration and implementation of a UN convention on the rights of older persons, aiming to strengthen and protect their human rights on a global scale.
Current Organization Members
Updated Oct 6, 2026
A & O: Support Services for Older Adults
Action for Reform of Residential Care (ARRC) BC
Action Pour le Developpement des Jeunes au Congo (ADJC)
Active Aging Manitoba
Advocacy Canada
AEAAC Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Age Knowble
Age-friendly PEI Inc.
Age-Friendly Saskatchewan
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Alberta Office of the Seniors Advocate
Amintro
Art Your Service
ASK Friendship Society
AYS Online Community for Thriving Adults
Baobab Black Seniors Health and Social Care Services Society
Barrhead & District Family & Community Support Services Society
BC Forum
British Columbia Association of Community Response Networks
Canadian Artists Network
Canadian Association on Gerontology
Canadian Coalition Against Ageism
Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
CanAge
Castlegar CRN/IRIS Program
CFS Counselling & Wellbeing
Challenge Factory
Chilliwack & District Seniors’ Resources Society
CHSSN Community Health and Social Services Network
City of Grande Prairie
CN & Co. Creative Technologies
Community Response Network
Connection in Action, Halton Ontario
Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC (COSCO)
County of Simcoe
Dignity for Diversity
District of Kitimat- Municipality
Downsizing Daughters Group
Drive Happiness Seniors Association
EAC THINK TANK ASSOCIATION
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
Elderberry.work
Elderly Assistance Network (EAN)
Equity in Health Systems Lab
Esquimalt Neighbourhood House
Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health
GenerACtions
GenWell
Hafford and District Health Advisory Network
Hanover & District Hospital
Harambee Alliance for Health and Wellness
Health and Home Care Society of BC
HelpAge Canada
Home Care Assistance Barrie Simcoe County
HOPE Qatar Centre for Person with Disabilities
ILC Argentina
International Federation on Ageing
International Longevity Centre Canada
International Talent Hub Inc.
LIFE Research Institute
Mango Tango Interiors
Manitoba Association for Residential and Community Care Homes for Everyone
mind.heart.mouth Intergenerational Garden
Mississauga Chinese Arts Organization
Modern Thinkers Foundation
More at a Home Society
National Association of Federal Retirees
National Institute on Ageing
National Pensioners Federation
National Senior citizens Organization of Liberia
Newfoundland and Labrador Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
North America A Plus Health Center
Office of the Seniors’ Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador
Ontario Association of Councils on Aging
Parachute
Queer Seniors of Saskatchewan
Rainbow Occupational Therapy Services
Réseau FADOQ
Retired Teachers of Ontario
Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives
Rosie’s Roadshow Inc
Royal Canadian Legion Ridgeway Branch 230
Sakatchewan Seniors Mechanism
Saskatoon Council on Aging
SE Health
Senior Advocate for BC
Seniors’ Advocate Province of New Brunswick
Seniors Services Society of BC
Serving Hands Senior Care
Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Somali Help Age Association
The Brainwell Institute
The Drummond Foundation
The Experience Group
The Prevention of Senior Abuse Network- Simcoe County
The Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto
Thriving AI Inc
Today’s Elder Inc.
Top Sixty Over Sixty
Tri-Cities Seniors Action Society
UnaCare
Unifor Local 1520 Retired Workers Chapter
United Way British Columbia
University of Calgary Centre on Aging
Valley Community Services Society
Vancouver Cycling Without Age Society
Westport Senior Living – WSL
WIN Intergenerational Network
Women’s Age Lab
Work Therapy & Coaching
Yorkton Social Prescribing
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