Across Canada, older adults are supported by a diverse and resilient network of community-based seniors’ services (CBSS) organizations. These organizations provide essential programs and services that support ageing in place, social inclusion, health and well-being, and a sense of belonging. While deeply rooted in local realities, there are common challenges across the country including fragmented and insufficient funding, limited workforce supports, uneven recognition in health and social systems, and widening disparities in resources and capacity. Recognizing both the value of CBSS and the need for stronger coordination, HelpAge Canada facilitated the creation of the Interim Community Leadership Council (ICLC) in January 2024. Comprised of representatives from across Canada, the ICLC builds on existing sector leadership and works to strengthen the capacity, visibility, and sustainability of CBSS organizations. The ICLC supports ongoing outreach across the sector, helps identify and guide priority areas for action, and collaborates on initiatives such as regional consultations, working groups, and the biennial CBSS Sector Summit.
HelpAge Canada hosted the inaugural CBSS Sector Summit, Claiming our Space, Naming our Future, in Ottawa in June 2024. The Summit brought together CBSS organizations from across the country to identity sector priorities and strengthen collective action. It showcased the enthusiasm across communities to take a coordinated approach to solidifying the important role that CBSS organizations play in supporting healthy ageing in Canada. Building on this momentum, HelpAge Canada, in partnership with the ICLC, undertook a series of provincial and territorial consultations to explore how the sector can be strengthened both regionally and through a cohesive pan-Canadian approach.
The purpose of this report is to reflect the voices and priorities of CBSS organizations across Canada; identify shared themes as well as regional nuances and recommend actionable priorities for a coordinated pan-Canadian CBSS sector. This work reflects a growing pan-Canadian momentum, “led by communities, for communities”, to position the CBSS sector as a foundational pillar of healthy ageing in Canada.