I hope you had a joyful holiday season surrounded by those you hold dear. As we welcome 2025, I want to take a moment to wish you all the best in the new year ahead. May it bring you health, happiness and joy.
As your new Minister of Seniors, I am both honoured and eager to make a difference for you. My commitment to supporting Canada’s aging population is unwavering. I strongly believe that we must continue to work together so that every senior has the programs and services needed to live with dignity, independence and security.
In this edition of the newsletter, you’ll find important resources to help you start the year on the right foot—tools to support your mental, physical and financial well-being.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update. I look forward to working alongside you in 2025 to make this year one of continued progress for seniors across Canada.
If you think your friends or colleagues would find this newsletter helpful, please forward them this email so they can sign up to receive my updates.
Thanks for reading,
Joanne Thompson
Minister of Seniors
Free tax webinar for adults 65 and older
Get ready for tax season! If you are 65 years or older, you’re invited to join the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a free webinar to learn about the payments and tax resources available to you.
We’ll cover:
- credits and benefits that you may be eligible for;
- pension income-splitting;
- different ways to file your taxes;
- and other helpful tips and tricks.
During the webinar, you will also be able to ask questions, and we will answer them live. Space is limited, so make sure to register and secure your spot.
If your organization offers tax services to those who are 65 years and older, we encourage you to register your organization and share the event details with your clients.
The webinar will air live on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the following times:
Provinces/Territories | English | French |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 3 p.m. (AST)
3:30 p.m. (NST) |
12 p.m. (AST)
12:30 p.m. (NST) |
Maritimes | 3 p.m. | 12 p.m. |
Quebec, Ontario, Nunavut | 2 p.m. | 11 a.m. |
Manitoba, Saskatchewan | 1 p.m. | 10 a.m. |
Alberta, Northwest Territories | 12 p.m. | 9 a.m. |
British Columbia | 11 a.m. (PST) 12 p.m. (MST) |
8 a.m. (PST) 9 a.m. (MST) |
Yukon | 12 p.m. | 9 a.m. |
It is never too late to quit smoking
The third full week of January marks National Non-Smoking Week, a time to reflect on the benefits of a smoke-free life. If you smoke, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Everyone, no matter their age or situation, can experience the benefits of quitting smoking. The health benefits can be felt as early as twenty minutes after your last cigarette, and those benefits can continue to be felt for years after. If you are living with a chronic health condition, quitting smoking can also help to improve your treatment outcomes and quality of life.
There is no easy or wrong way to quit. The best way to quit smoking is the one that works for you! Making a quit plan and putting it into action can make quitting easier and help you succeed.
You can also contact the pan-Canadian toll-free quit line, where trained specialists can provide free and confidential counselling, help you with your quit plan, answer your questions and provide referrals to programs and services in your community. Connect with the quit line online or call 1-866-366-3667.
Explore real stories from people who quit smoking and find additional resources and tools that can help you at Canada.ca/quit-smoking.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada. This month is an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, its impacts, and ways to reduce the risk of developing the condition.
Dementia is having a significant and growing impact. As of 2022-2023, almost 487,000 people aged 65 years and older were living with diagnosed dementia in Canada. As our population ages, the number of Canadians affected by dementia is expected to increase.
While the risk of dementia increases with age, it is not an inevitable part of aging. Some lifestyle behaviors linked to a reduced risk of dementia include being physically active, eating a healthy balanced diet, not smoking, managing chronic health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, and maintaining a healthy weight. What actions can you take to help reduce your risk? Take the interactive quiz to find out.
For more information, visit Canada.ca/dementia.
Staying connected during winter
According to a recent survey, as many as 41% of Canadians aged 50 years and older are at risk of social isolation, and up to 58% have experienced loneliness.1
As we age, we may have fewer family connections or fewer ways to stay connected with communities. This can be more challenging during the winter months with colder temperatures, icy conditions and the lack of natural light. However, this season also offers a chance to rediscover the importance of social connections and community, which are vital to physical and mental health.
This winter, take time to do things you enjoy. This can include seeing a friend, listening to music or taking a walk in nature. You can also stay connected by participating in indoor activities within your community.
Learn more about how to stay connected for better mental and physical health: Social Connection & Healthy Aging brochure from the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health.
Everyone experiences social isolation and loneliness in different ways. If you need help, consult this list of mental health resources for different options to get support depending on your individual situation and your province or territory of residence.
[1] National Institute of Aging, Understanding the Factors Driving the Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older Canadians (2023).Stories that shape the New Horizons for Seniors Program
This month’s impact story highlights the innovative work of the Association franco-yukonnaise [website available in French only] for their project “Ensemble contre l’âgisme” [Fighting ageism together].
Through conferences, school workshops, a guide on ageism and radio plays, this project allowed the Franco-Yukon community to learn how to prevent and address age discrimination.
“What I liked best about this project was recording and broadcasting radio plays on ageism. The plays were played on CBC North’s radio show Rencontres. Some capsules touched on sensitive topics such as sexuality after age 50, body image, and age and work. Using humour, we were able to share our message, encourage reflection and start important conversations,” says Patricia Brennan, former seniors’ services manager with the Association franco‑yukonnaise
Read about the impact this project had here.
Since 2004, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded approximately 40,000 projects in hundreds of communities all across Canada. Each year, over 920,000 seniors benefit from this program.