seniors engaged in variety of activitiesThe downtown home of the School of Social Work will host an interdisciplinary conference on active aging Thursday, April 25.

Conference promises dialogue on aging well

The conference “A Celebration of Ageing: Active Ageing, Vibrant Communities” will pull together academics, health and social service providers and professionals, creative performers, and community members for critical and creative dialogue on what Thecla Damianakis, associate professor of social work, identifies as a key question for a society that is growing older: “How do we respect the diverse ways we age, remove barriers to aging well, and support older adults to maximize their full potential in their later years?”

The program will feature presentations by researchers from eight departments across the University — social work; psychology; kinesiology; English language, literature, and creative writing; women’s and gender studies; dramatic arts; nursing; and sociology, anthropology, and criminology — as well as faculty from the St. Clair College social service worker - gerontology program, and local community agencies.

“The intent is to bring together a number of partnerships and interests. Each brings something unique to the discourse and all are part of the process,” says Dr. Damianakis.

“A lot of people in the City of Windsor have worked really hard to have Windsor recognized as an age-friendly city, and we want to do our part to support university-community partnerships.”

A grant she received from the Collaborative Research Group Fund of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences was vital to the success of the conference, organized with the Interdisciplinary Ageing Research Group.

All are invited to attend the one-day event, April 25 in Windsor Hall, 167 Ferry St.

Registration is $60, with an early-bird rate of $50 for those signing up by April 10, and a student rate of $20, and includes lunch and refreshments. Find registration forms, program details, and more information on the conference website.