Featuring UCalgary aging-related research, education, and community initiatives. | | |
From June 1–7, communities across Canada will celebrate the contributions of older adults. This year is especially significant in Alberta, marking the 40th anniversary of Seniors’ Week with the theme “40 Years of Connection, Contribution, and Community.” As Canada’s population ages, Seniors’ Week is an opportunity to recognize the important roles older adults play and to promote efforts toward anti‑ageism, age inclusivity, and age‑friendly communities.
To participate, explore events in Calgary through the City of Calgary Seniors’ Week Event Page, check for activities hosted by local organizations, and browse the events section of this newsletter. You may also wish to reflect on what you can do—or learn—in honour of Seniors’ Week this year.
| | Instructor Education: Supporting Adults in the Group Exercise Context | | |
Group physical activity is a popular way for adults to stay active, partly because it offers opportunities for meaningful social interaction. Social support—anything a person does to help others—plays an important role in adopting and maintaining healthy behaviours, while also meeting the need for social connection. It is often a key element of the positive interactions found in group exercise settings.
However, simply bringing people together does not guarantee supportive or positive experiences. In these environments, fitness professionals can enhance both physical and social experiences by intentionally fostering connection and encouraging supportive behaviours.
Led by Dr. Meghan McDonough in the Faculty of Kinesiology, a multi-site research project was undertaken to develop an evidence-informed resource that equips fitness instructors with the knowledge and skills to foster social support in their programs. The team included community partners and researchers from the University of Calgary, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, and the Université de Montréal.
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To begin, the team conducted two reviews to identify social support strategies in physical activity settings. These strategies were then grouped into nine support functions.
Based on these findings, the team developed a draft educational resource, which was shared with fitness professionals and program participants for feedback.
| | | Instructors then completed an online training module based on the revised resource, and their classes were observed to assess how they applied the strategies. Interviews with these instructors and participants provided additional insights, which informed the final version of the resource. Read it now for free in English or French! | | Further information about this project can be found on the project page. | | Companionship Across Generations and Species: A Qualitative Study on the Companion Animal-Older Adult Reciprocal Relationship | | “Had it not been for Dolly, I’m certain I wouldn’t be here today,” says Ruth (pseudonym), in an email titled Furry Friends. | |
For many older adults, companion animals are among their most stable relationships, and many devote extensive time to caring for and bonding with them. Izza Babar, a Master’s student in Community Health Sciences, is exploring this dynamic. Using photo elicitation—a research method that uses images to prompt dialogue and reflection—her work examines how older adults understand reciprocal relationships with companion animals. This includes the meanings they attach to companionship, how daily care is experienced, and how animal agency and communication are interpreted in everyday life.
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Participants were asked to take photographs that captured their bond with their companion animals before the interview, and then share the stories behind these images.
While analysis is still underway, Izza’s preliminary findings challenge the assumption that care is unidirectional. Participants described care as negotiated and reciprocal, shaped through ongoing interaction rather than being fixed or human-led. They also shared stories of collective care, in which well-being extended to both the human and the animal. Support circulated through neighbours, communities, and organizational networks, helping ensure companion animals were cared for when needs overlapped or conflicted.
| Earlier this year, Izza won the Digitally Generated category of the Images of Research Competition hosted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies for the image featured here. | | |
May 25, 2026
Brain Canada fuels new BC & Alberta platforms to advance brain health
Read Here
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May 21, 2026
How a social work master’s student forged her own career
Read Here
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May 19, 2026
The common, treatable and often undetected cause of dementia
Read Here
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May 4, 2026
60 years of social work: The first graduate — Kerby Centre founder Patricia Allen
Read Here
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March 31, 2026
Many older Calgary adults face growing risk of food insecurity, study suggests
Read Here
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March 26, 2026
Study finds housing insecurity prevalent among older Albertan adults
Read Here
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March 25, 2026
Many older homeowners in Alberta 'not feeling financially secure'
Read Here
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March 24, 2026
When everyday tasks become harder: Early clues to Alzheimer’s disease
Read Here
| | Research Participation Opportunities | | |
Building Capacity for Promising Practices that Support Older People Experiencing Homelessness in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver
Learn More
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Neighbourhood and Housing Preference Survey
Learn More
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Nutrition and Precision Health Equity for Black People in Canada
Learn More
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Vaccination Nudges
Learn More
| | Visit the UCalgary database for more research participation opportunities: | | | |
Seniors' Week Resource Fair
June 1, 2026 | Carya Village Commons, Calgary | 1:30 PM
Learn More
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Duty Free
June 4, 2026 | Unison at Kerby Centre, Room 205 | 1:00 PM
Learn More
Third Action Film Festival
Silver Screamers
June 9, 2026 | Confluence | 7:00 PM
Learn More
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Koopmans lecture 2026:
Dr. David E. Victorson – The healing power of nature: from research to real lives
June 3, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Libin Theatre, Health Sciences Centre, Foothills Campus
Learn More
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101 year old proves importance of strength training
May 25, 2026
Watch Here
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Want to be happier? You may need to think more about death
May 23, 2026
Read More
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Student-led program helps seniors take control of health
May 22, 2026
Read More
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Montréal writer tackles aging with humour and wit
May 19, 2026
Watch Here
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The story behind Canada’s aging population
May 13, 2026
Listen Here
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Study finds arts participation may help slow biological aging
May 12, 2026
Watch Here
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How to talk to your aging parents about money
April 27, 2026
Read More
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Decision to quit driving a difficult one, say seniors
April 8, 2026
Watch Here
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Strengthening Canada’s Health Care & Social Service Response to Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
This Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health report examines Canada’s policy landscape related to social isolation and loneliness in older adults, with a special focus on the conditions that support the work of heath care and social service professionals.
| | Know someone who might be interested in our newsletter? Share this link! | | | | Founded with the generous financial support of The Brenda Strafford Foundation. | | |
The Centre on Aging is an interdisciplinary, cross-faculty hub at the University of Calgary, with a mission to foster innovations that improve the health and well-being of older adults by catalyzing connections and collaborations through research and education. Our vision is to achieve optimal health and well-being for older adults.
The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation within Alberta (Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6).
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