The Silver Economy Summit will take place this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 13-14.

Presented by the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors, the Summit “will gather international, national and provincial perspectives on the economic and societal changes that arise from an aging population. Join 350 Summit delegates from a wide variety of social and economic sectors. Make connections, and share opportunities and information that will help your organization further your mandate and interests in today’s and tomorrow’s Silver Economy.”

The Summit is modeled after a series of three events held by the Silver Economy Network of European Regions, the most recent being held in June 2007 in Spain, and is the first Silver Economy Summit to be held outside of the European Union.

The organizers of the Silver Economy Summit invite submissions of papers in three theme areas. (click the link below to read more)

Papers can be submitted in any of the following three themes:

Economic/ business

• Retirees/seniors as economic assets, not liabilities
• Vision of an economically viable Atlantic Canada with an aging population
• Innovation of products or services that target seniors, their employers, etc.
• Attracting and retaining workers of all ages to maintain a thriving skilled workforce
• Removing obstacles to employing workers throughout their adult lives
• Education and training for “encore careers” and entrepreneurship for people of all ages
• New business opportunities (growth markets; products, services, technology) to respond to an aging population that will remain involved in work
• The effect of demographic shifts on pension reform
• The effect of demographic shifts on financial planning

Social/ community engagement

• Future role of volunteer sector
• Seniors as volunteer assets: attracting and retaining older volunteers
• Social entrepreneurship of individuals
• Maximising involvement/ engagement of an aging population in leisure opportunities
• Life long activity involvement
• Sustainable rural communities
• Transportation systems that will be needed to accommodate an aging population
• The effect of changing demographics on attitudes toward diversity
• The effects or potential effects of intergenerational programming at all ages on all the involved generations

Environment

The role of universal design in relation to Age-Friendly: inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for users of all ages.

• Homes/ workplaces/ communities/ shops/ services / products/ education/ recreation
• Government’s role in relation to changing demographics regarding strategies and policies that need to be revised (ie. pension reform, etc.)
• Enabling technologies that empower all ages and abilities
• Preparing the lived environment for this demographic shift

If you need clarification regarding a submission, please contact

Chantal Pelham-Edwards (Dept. of Seniors) chantal.pelham-edwards@gov.ns.ca

Dr. Jerome Singleton. (Dalhousie University) jerome.singleton@dal.ca