Seniors constitute the fastest growing population group in many countries. In Canada, their proportion in the overall population has gone from one in twenty in 1921, to one in eight in 2001. The number of seniors is expected to reach 6.7 million in 2021 and 9.2 million in 2041 (nearly one in four Canadians). Ageing, along with falling fertility rates and increased life expectancy, is an issue that affects all generations and it will have far reaching consequences for the social, cultural, economic and political make-up of the country. The conference will take stock of the demographic state and the demographic projections over the next 25 years and will examine where Canada stands in its preparation for dealing with an ageing population. Finally, it will explore demographic changes and their implications in the following spheres:

Social: Social units, quality of life, health care; changes in family structure (changes in responsibilities, child/elder care, changing household composition, growing importance of the extended family); physical and mental wellbeing. Cultural: Values, moral, ethical issues, euthanasia, palliative care, universal care; role of elderly in society, cultural dimensions of care for the elderly; age and its cultural and literary expressions; ethnic and Aboriginal value systems. Economic: Labour market, healthcare costs, pensions (sustainability of costs of retirement income systems); the volunteer sector; poverty issues; new technologies; migration; education; human capital development, “brain gain”. Political: Policy decisions on ageing and on care; role of migration (internal, temporary); policy implications (education vs. care, work beyond pension age, voluntary sector, health sector, social contract, housing/transportation), quality of life; ageism.

The conference organizers will structure presentations in such streams as health care, family, migration, labour, etc. and will seek to examine them in light of policy-making during a panel on policy and ageing. As well, the ICCS invites young scholars and students to submit poster proposals for presentations which will endeavour to take stock of the current demographic situation in Canada and as well as demographic projections and trends and their possible impact on Canadian society. Poster session participants will have the opportunity to make brief presentations on their findings.

The ICCS looks forward to receiving proposals of papers, posters and panels on any issue related to the Dynamics of Demographic Change in Canada, in such areas as ageing in an historical perspective; ageing and its cultural, artistic and literary expressions; ethnic and Aboriginal approaches with respect to ageing; ageing and community participation; ageing and the volunteer sector or the labour market; ageing and immigration; political consequences of ageing; ageing and poverty; ageing and issues of continuity in public institutions; education and lifelong learning; ageing and new technologies; ageing and supportive environments within communities; ageing and physical and mental well-being; issues of palliative and end-of-life care; etc. Multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives will be particularly welcomed.