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Are you a committed, passionate person?
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference, educate, and help prevent elder abuse across Canada?
The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) is looking to fill positions on its Board of Directors!
ABOUT CNPEA
CNPEA is a registered charity committed to improving the well-being of Canada’s aging population. CNPEA builds awareness, support and capacity for a coordinated pan-Canadian approach to the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. We promote the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform and education.
Please note: CNPEA is not an advocacy group or a direct service provider.
ABOUT OUR BOARD
Our board is pan Canadian, and our board members bring a wide array of backgrounds and expertise, ranging from health care, to social work, academia, non-profit, and finance. The board of directors oversees the governance, strategic planning and operations of the organization, in accordance with our mission, vision and strategic plan.
CALL FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
We are seeking candidates who are eager to provide leadership for a growing network and who are committed to enhancing awareness and prevention of elder abuse in Canada.
This year we are particularly interested in candidates living in the Atlantic Provinces, Northern Canada, Quebec, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Knowledge or experience relating to elder abuse prevention is welcome but not required.
Commitment
Board members are expected to:
- Attend monthly board meetings. There are usually 10 board meetings per year (1.5 hr each).
They take place on the second Thursday of the month at 10 AM Pacific/12pm Central/ 1PM Eastern/2.30 Newfoundland time. There is also an Annual General Meeting each September.
Please note: All meetings are held via a web-based conferencing tool (Zoom). Familiarity with these types of tools and an internet connection are required to participate.
- Serve on at least one committee of their choice.
- Provide guidance regarding the Network’s mission, programs, policies, operations, strategic plan, and finances.
- Actively support the sustainability and growth of the CNPEA through charitable giving and fundraising activities.
- Actively support the development of partnerships and strategic alliances with other organizations and agencies.
- Represent CNPEA in their community and raise awareness among their contacts.
Average Time Commitment
- 5-7 hours/month: Zoom meetings and emails. Committee and board meetings are currently scheduled during the day.
- Board members will typically be elected for two-year terms (for a maximum of 6 consecutive years), so a two-year commitment to the organization is recommended. The CNPEA membership by regular motion may agree to some Board terms to be less than 2 years.
What we are looking for
- Committed and reliable individuals with a passion for elder abuse prevention, interest in issues affecting older Canadians, and a willingness to commit to 5-7 hours a month.
- A positive attitude and willingness to contribute are important to us. As stated before, experience in the field of elder abuse prevention is not mandatory.
- Individuals from jurisdictions across Canada. We strive to have board members from each jurisdiction, in order to be representative of our membership. Due to current or upcoming gaps in representation, we are particularly interested in candidates living in the Atlantic Provinces, Northern Canada, Quebec, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
- Applicants with a background in (but not limited to) the health care sector, community support, law, victim services, the financial sector, etc.
- We are particularly interested in candidates with the following skills:
- Policy
- Fund development (including, but not limited to, grant writing, sponsorships and giving programs)
- Strategic planning
- Communications and marketing
- Government relations
- Individuals who are affiliated with other relevant national, P/T, or local networks that provide information, services or are otherwise connected to seniors.
- We wish to welcome and include diverse voices to sustain intersectionality in our work and reflect Canada’s diversity. Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, immigrant, francophone, and 2SLGBTQ+ identifying candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and of all ages.
What’s in it for you?
- Collaborate with stakeholders from across Canada, and network with a growing number of professionals involved in the prevention of elder abuse.
- Learn about meaningful programs, services and research taking place to help prevent and address elder abuse.
- Gain experience in governance, leadership, planning, and community engagement.
- Participate in shaping a society free of elder abuse.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply by completing this form by Friday, July 25, 2025, 7 PM Eastern.
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Are you an adult living in Canada and over the age of 65?
You are invited to participate in a meaningful research study focused on improving police interviews conducted with older adults. Participants are not required to have experience being interviewed by the police.
Share your thoughts and preferences through a 30-minute online survey. Participants will have the chance to win a $50 gift card. Your input can make a difference!
How to participate:
Please click on this link to complete the survey: https://uoitsocialscience.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56GI04OJcBUunvE
For more information:
Contact Cassandre Dion Larivière by email at
Principal Investigator : Dr. Joseph Eastwood,
Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Ontario Tech University
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2025 Canadian Federal Election
An Open Letter to Political Parties
As organizations that support older adults in Canada, we call on the political parties contesting in the 2025 general election to commit to establishing a dedicated federal Minister for Older Persons (Seniors). This portfolio would champion the rights of older Canadians across departments and promote their inclusion in the many decisions that directly impact them. The Minister would be supported by a dedicated staff and a discrete funding envelope.
As Canada rapidly approaches “super-aged” nation status, with Canadians aged 65+ soon comprising nearly a quarter of the population, it is critical that our government be prepared to meet the needs of older Canadians.
While various departments touch on issues that affect older Canadians — including health, housing, employment and skills development, finance — there is no single office ensuring that Canada’s policies are coordinated and responsive to the coming demographic shift.
A Minister for Older Persons would provide focused leadership in addressing these pressing issues, ensuring that the voices of older Canadians are not just heard but leveraged to actively shape critical policy decisions.
Older Canadians consistently turn out to vote at the highest rates and deserve to know where each party stands. Will you commit to establishing a Minister for Older Persons?
The sector eagerly awaits a response.
Sincerely,
Alyssa Brierley, Executive Director
The National Institute on Ageing
Margaret Gillis, Founding President
International Longevity Centres (ILC) Canada
Jim Grieve, Chief Executive Officer
Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO)
Kahir Lalji, Chief Executive Officer
HelpAge Canada
Liv Mendelsohn, Executive Director
Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
Bénédicte Schoepflin, Executive Director
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Laura Tamblyn-Watts, Chief Executive Officer
CanAge
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PRESS RELEASE
3 April 2025
On 3 April, UN Member States in the Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a landmark resolution[i] to create a new intergovernmental working group to draft an international legally binding instrument (UN convention) on the human rights of older persons. This milestone is the culmination of many years of advocacy and campaigning by older persons, civil society and other advocates around the world, including CNPEA. The evidence compiled over this period has demonstrated that the best solution to the deficiencies and fragmentation in the international human rights system is a dedicated convention.
A new UN convention will have a positive impact on the lives of older persons around the world today, and all of us as we age in the future. It will provide greater clarity and essential guidance to States on how to better promote and protect older persons’ rights. It will help eliminate ageism and age discrimination and ensure that older persons can seek redress for violations of their rights. This important political decision brings us closer to making this a reality.
Elijah Mwega, founder of KARIKA Kenya and Global Alliance Steering Group member, travelled to Geneva to participate in the UN Human Rights Council session. As the resolution was adopted, Elijah said ‘This feels like my dream has come true. Our voices have been heard and governments have now recognised at the global level that they need to develop a dedicated UN convention. I stand in solidarity and celebrate with older people around the world who have been pushing for this decision for a long time. We are ready to work with our governments to ensure that this UN convention delivers for older persons everywhere.’
The next steps at the UN level will be to determine how the new intergovernmental working group will be resourced and organised.
Ina Voelcker, co-chair of the Global Alliance, was also in Geneva this session and said ‘We commend the work of the core group of States who led this resolution. We will continue to advocate for the full, meaningful and effective participation of civil society, especially older persons and their representative organisations. It is vital that this new drafting process is as inclusive and transparent as possible. We look forward to engaging with the new working group and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to achieve this.’
Further Information
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/58/L.24/Rev.1
About GAROP:
Established in 2011, the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) was born out of the need to strengthen the rights and voice of older people globally. Today, GAROP is a network of over 400 members worldwide, united in our work to strengthen and promote the rights of older persons. Our mission is to support and enhance civil society engagement with Member States and National Human Rights Institutions at national, regional and international levels around a UN convention on the rights of older persons. www.rightsofolderpeople.org
[i] The resolution was proposed by a core group of Member States comprising Argentina, Brazil, the Gambia, the Philippines and Slovenia.
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A CANADA FOR ALL AGES:
CNPEA calls for action to make aging a safe and fulfilling experience in Canada
The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) is urging all political parties to make the well-being and safety of older adults a priority of their election platforms.
CNPEA calls on all political parties to take a stand against discrimination, violence and neglect facing older people. These forms of violence, coercion, and financial exploitation have a devastating impact on our families, our communities, our healthcare system and our economy.
1 in 10 older people experience mistreatment each year.
A recent Canadian study estimates that 1 in 10 older adults experiences abuse or neglect each year. This is likely a low estimate, due to underreporting, and fragmented or inconsistent monitoring across the legal, health, and social systems. Financial abuse, fraud and exploitation are among the most common forms, representing enormous financial losses.
Elder abuse is not an isolated, individual issue that can be chalked up to a few “bad apples”, it is a wide-spread, systemic issue with deep connections to ageism, ableism, gender-based violence, and economic disparity. Elder abuse rates have been on the rise since the pandemic. Across communities, older people are trapped in abusive situations, feeling ashamed and isolated. They often feel unable to reach out for help or are faced with insufficient, inadequate support services. This is an ongoing crisis that affects us all. We all deserve to live free from abuse, at every stage of our lives. CNPEA is calling on our leaders to support and enact a comprehensive, meaningful plan to tackle ageism, mistreatment and neglect against older people and help us all age with safety, dignity and meaning.
CNPEA’s Calls to Action:
In Future Us, a Roadmap to Elder Abuse Prevention in Canada, CNPEA outlined what a national action plan on elder abuse and neglect prevention could look like, articulated over three key priorities:
- Prioritize elder abuse prevention in every community.
- Establish and support elder abuse prevention networks at local, regional and national levels.
- Teach everyone to recognize warning signs of abuse and neglect, how to respond safely and effectively and where to refer in the community to find help.
Now we call on our leaders to commit to the following actions to support safe and healthy aging in Canada:
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Develop stronger legal protections & accountability
- Establish new offences and penalties in the Criminal Code related to elder abuse and amend existing legislation to protect all older adults;
- Develop strategies to better safeguard seniors from fraud and financial scams;
- Increase resources to public safety agencies to support the prosecution of repeat offenders targeting older adults, particularly in cases of fraud and financial abuse;
- Improve reporting mechanisms and standardized data collection on mistreatment of older adults.
- Establish a Federal Seniors’ Advocate Office.
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Create a comprehensive plan to tackle ageism, elder abuse and neglect and address the needs and rights of older people in Canada.
- Reinstate a Minister to look after the seniors’ portfolio and expand the position to that of Minister for Older Adults and Intergenerational Equity;
- Develop and implement a national elder abuse prevention strategy;
- Incorporate approaches based on the human rights of older adults and people living with a disability into service delivery policies and legal frameworks;
- Support the development of an U.N. Convention on the Rights of Older People.
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Place the focus on wide public education and awareness.
- Develop national multimedia campaigns on elder abuse and ageism;
- Mandate elder abuse and ageism training (using the Public Health Agency of Canada’s trauma and violence-informed principles) for police officers, first responders, health care professionals, and other professionals who serve older people in any capacity;
- Educate public servants in all departments on elder abuse and ageism.
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Invest in the elder abuse prevention infrastructure
- Sustained funding for elder abuse prevention networks and response organizations will strengthen networks and improve coordinated community response, facilitating help-seeking process and improving data collection at the same time.
- Fund 'Community Seniors' Navigators to support local Elder Abuse Prevention Networks (volunteer-based networks) in outreach, education, and navigation of community safety, health and legal services.
- Leverage expertise of existing organizations like CNPEA to develop effective education, prevention and intervention strategies.
Noone should be scared to grow older. The cycle of abuse can be stopped.
Our next federal government must recognize that the mistreatment of older people is a quiet epidemic that demands urgent action. Older people currently represent one fifth of our country’s population, one fourth by 2030. They are a demographically significant and politically active group that requires our leaders’ attention. We will be closely monitoring candidates’ platforms this coming election and we will be ready to engage with each of them to ensure that elder abuse prevention and the well-being of older people are prioritized.
For Media inquiries or to learn more, contact:
Benedicte Schoepflin, Executive Director, CNPEA
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