CanBelong
Too many older adults in Canada are feeling lonely and disconnected, and it’s taking a serious toll on their health and wellbeing. Communities across Canada are working hard to help older adults to feel connected, supported, and included, but they can’t do it alone.
CanBelong is a first-of-its-kind national initiative that aims to tackle loneliness and build a sense of belonging and connection among older adults through grants, partnerships, research, and advocacy. By bringing together leading organizations, researchers, and communities from across Canada, CanBelong is working to better understand the root causes of loneliness, support local solutions that build connection and belonging, and advocate for older adults and the communities that support them.
According to the National Institute on Ageing’s 2025 Ageing in Canada Survey, 57% of older adults in Canada are experiencing loneliness — a figure that remains unchanged since 2022.
CanBelong is taking action to reduce loneliness and help older adults feel more connected, supported, and valued in their communities in three key ways:
Investing in communities
CanBelong will fund community-led solutions that have a proven track record of building belonging for older Canadians and have the potential to scale up their work. We’ll also foster partnerships to strengthen and grow successful national programs so they can reach even more people across Canada.
Bringing people together and building knowledge
CanBelong is bringing together leading organizations, researchers, and community partners through a national Belonging Coalition. Together, they will help uncover the root causes and impact of loneliness among older adults and create benchmarking tools to guide future action, advocacy, and community solutions.
Driving change through policy action
CanBelong will work with partners and governments to push for policies and investments that help older adults stay connected and supported. This includes advocating for stronger recognition and support for community-based seniors’ services organizations and the vital role they play in helping older adults age well in their communities.
Investing in Communities
Age Better
Age Better is HelpAge Canada’s flagship granting program, supporting community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations with grants of up to $20,000 to invest in community-led solutions that help older Canadians to live with purpose, belonging, and dignity.
Together Across Generations (TAG)
HelpAge Canada is proud to partner with GrandPals to strengthen intergenerational belonging in communities across Canada. Through the Together Across Generations (TAG) initiative, communities across the country will receive the support they need to bring older adults and students together through high-quality programming centred on shared experiences, friendship and storytelling.Â
Bringing People Together and Building Knowledge
The CanBelong Coalition
The CanBelong Coalition brings together leading organizations in the healthy ageing space, representing diverse expertise and regional perspectives. Together, members will help guide the ongoing work of the CanBelong initiative, deepening our understanding of the causes of loneliness and social isolation and what it takes to foster meaningful connection and belonging as we age.
As part of its mandate, the CanBelong Coalition will guide the development of a series of benchmarking tools to better understand the scope and drivers of loneliness among older adults in Canada. These tools will provide insights into how loneliness is experienced, the contribution of community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations in fostering belonging, and promising approaches to reducing loneliness and social isolation. The findings will also inform policy recommendations grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
Thank You to Our Partners
Support Us
We appreciate the support of our generous donors in helping us create a world in which all older persons lead secure, healthy, active and dignified lives.