HelpAge Canada is proud to partner with GrandPals to strengthen intergenerational belonging in communities across Canada. Through the Together Across Generations (TAG) initiative, ten 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.
Building Bridges Across Generations
Strong communities include people of every generation. When older adults and young people have meaningful opportunities to connect, everyone wins.
Through TAG, participants will have the opportunity to build relationships, learn from one another, challenge age-related stereotypes and strengthen their sense of community and belonging.
At the heart of the initiative is a simple idea: everyone has a story to share, and every generation has something to learn from the other.
Older adults bring decades of lived experience, knowledge and stories to these conversations, while young people contribute fresh perspectives, curiosity and energy. Together, they create opportunities for mutual learning and understanding.
Eliminating Barriers to Delivering High-Quality Intergenerational Programming
Through GrandPals’ proven program model, community organizations will receive onboarding, curriculum, volunteer recruitment support and ongoing coaching.
This practical support will help communities deliver meaningful, high-quality programming while building their own capacity to foster intergenerational connection.
Weekly conversations and activities can grow into meaningful relationships that extend beyond the program itself. For older adults, these connections create opportunities to share knowledge, experiences and stories. For younger participants, they can help build empathy, understanding and an appreciation for the value of community.
Creating a More Age-Inclusive Canada
Together, HelpAge Canada and GrandPals are working to create more opportunities for people of different generations to connect, learn and build relationships.
We believe that intentional intergenerational connection can help address loneliness, foster belonging and strengthen communities, and that building a more age-inclusive Canada starts with creating space for every generation to be part of community life.
Through TAG, ten communities start their journeys toward bringing generations together, one conversation and one story at a time.
Want to see what happens when generations come together? Follow HelpAge Canada and GrandPals on social media to see Together Across Generations in action and meet the communities where intergenerational friendships are blossoming!
About GrandPals
Founded by Marc Maillhot, a former teacher from Orangeville, Ontario, GrandPals is a community-based intergenerational program that brings older adults and elementary school students together to build relationships through storytelling, conversation, and shared reflection.
GrandPals is designed to be locally led and community-powered, with each site being led by a designated program coordinator who oversees recruitment, orientation, and weekly implementation, while GrandPals provides onboarding, resources, and technology to support fidelity and reduce administrative burden. Since its inception, GrandPals has helped over a dozen communities across Canada strengthen intergenerational solidarity through their proven program model and wraparound support, reaching hundreds of students and older adults.