More than 200 people, of all ages, were in attendance Thursday for the fifth annual Seniors’ Summit at Trent University.
The theme this year is “Grey Matters: Healthy Minds for Healthy Aging,” with a focus on mental health and aging.
“It’s really bringing a critically important conversation to campus. We’re having good discussions about issues that matter to providers, volunteers, older members of the community and politicians,” said Mark Skinner, director of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society.
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According to Statistics Canada, Peterborough has more than 18,000 seniors living in the community. That’s roughly 22 per cent of the city’s population.
Organizers and community partners of the summit are hoping Peterborough can be a leader in creating conversations around aging and mental health.
“The work we’ve done recently with the Age-Friendly Peterborough project has really opened those conversations about how aging matters to everyone,” said Kerri Davies of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Canadian Mental Health Association.
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The event featured information booths and guest speakers, including Denis Waligora of the Mental Health Commission of Canada and actor and comedian Linda Kash.
Organizers say the next Seniors’ Summit in 2018 will focus on dementia and agism.
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