2017 Recipient of The Global Ageing Network for Excellence in Applied Research Award
NSCA Fall Newsletter
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
DR. KEEFE REAPPOINTED AS LENA ISABEL JODREY CHAIR IN GERONTOLOGY: Dr. Janice Keefe, Professor and Chair, Department of Aging and Family Science has been reappointed as the Lena Isabel Jodrey Chair in Gerontology for another five-year term, and by association the Director of the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging. Under Dr. Keefe’s leadership the Centre has established a strong track record of working with academic partners, government, private sector, and voluntary/professional organizations on initiatives that will benefit older adults, their families, and communities. Congratulations Dr. Keefe on another 5 year term!
NATIONAL AGING CONFERENCE COMING TO ATLANTIC CANADA: CAG 2026, Crossing Currents: Navigating Aging through Collaboration and Coordinated Action will be held on October 15-17, 2026 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, at the Delta Hotels Prince Edward. Registration is expected to open in August. For more information go to: https://cag2026.ca/
WALK FOR ALZHEIMER’S: Support the MSVU Agetastics Team. For more than 15 years the Centre on Aging has spearheaded the Agetastics Team in support of the important work of the Alzheimer Society. The Team has consisted of past and present staff and students of the Centre and others from the broader MSVU community, as either walk participants or through financially supporting the Team. Over the years the Team has raised more than $40,000 for this important cause. This year the walk will be on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 9am to 1pm. Our Team goal is $4000 and we need MSVU support. You can sponsor a walker or sponsor the team or sign up as a team member! Help us make a difference. Go to… https://support.alzheimer.ca/site/TR/WFA/WFA_NS?pg=team&team_id=33479&fr_id=5532
NSCA LAUNCHES NEW PROJECT TO ADDRESS AGEISM: A new project is underway at the Centre that will produce a series of audio podcasts on topics that will offer a fresh perspective on aging. The project is expected to produce 9 podcasts over the next year featuring researchers and older adults and aimed to encourage a more engaged dialogue about the experience of growing older. Stay tuned for information on podcast releases. Many thanks to the Entente Foundation for supporting this innovative work.
ARC LTC PROJECT RELEASES SECOND VIDEO: Our research shows that workplace culture plays a key role in whether staff stay or go. When care aides, nurses, and managers feel supported, valued, and empowered, they are more likely to remain in their roles. Improving long-term care means looking beyond individual solutions and focusing on creating healthier, more supportive work environments. We would love to hear your feedback! Complete our 2-minute questionnaire to help us improve our videos and tell us what topics you want us to explore next. https://surveys.msvu.ca/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=518618&lang=en This video was produced with funding from the Long-Term Care Innovation Pilot Fund, Mount Saint Vincent University made possible by Shannex Incorporated and The Reciprocity Foundation. *French subtitles are available on Nova Scotia Centre on Aging YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh74AqCUFZo
NSCA TEAM WITH STRONG PRESENCE AT NORTHWOOD RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: Northwood’s annual research symposium was held on April 30. Dr. Janice Keefe, NSCA Director was an invited panelist talking about her work to move research to action in the long term care sector. Research Assistant Dina Mohamed Sallam was part of the Student poster presentation session sharing her work on the Animating Evidence in LTC Project – Congratulations to Dina for winning “Best Poster” ! And our Centre had an exhibit that provided participants an engaging opportunity to learn more about the Centre’s work. Other MSVU contributors to the day included Susan Stevens, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Aging and Family Science and Dr. Jacquie Gahagan, Vice President, Research. As well, Nutrition Student and Shannex Scholarship recipient Hend Eldk participated in the student poster session.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS AVAILABLE: Full time students pursuing a thesis-based graduate degree in the Mount’s Department of Aging and Family Science or Applied Human Nutrition with a research focus in an area related to long-term care are encouraged to apply for scholarships and assistantship opportunities (up to $10,000 per year) made possible by the Shannex-MSVU Partnership. Contact the respective department for more information about eligibility and application process for these funding opportunities. More: https://www.msvu.ca/shannex-donates-500000-to-msvu-for-healthy-aging-research-innovation/#HealthyAgingNow
NATIONAL AGING CONFERENCE COMING TO ATLANTIC CANADA: The Canadian Association on Gerontology will be holding its 55th annual scientific and education meeting in Charlottetown, PEI from October 15 to 17, 2026. This conference features internationally renowed key note speakers as well as hundreds of presentations on topics spanning health and biological sciences, social sciences, social policy and practice, psychology and educational gerontology. This year’s theme is “Crossing Currents: Navigating Aging through Collaboration and Coordinated Action”. NSCA is pleased that our Director Dr. Janice Keefe is Conference Co-Chair (with Dr. Jessica Strong, UPEI) and that our Associate Director Pamela Fancey is also a member of the conference planning committee. Call for abstracts is now open. This is an event that Atlantic Canadians with an interest in matters related to aging won’t want to miss! For more information go to: CAG2026
ATLANTIC RESEARCH COLLABORATION IN LONG-TERM CARE SHARING RESULTS: The ARC-LTC team is busy with analysis and dissemination activities. Stay up to date on the project activities at www.arcltc.ca
HOME CARE PATHWAYS TEAM SHARING RESULTS: The Pathways team is sharing results to various audiences and working on a number of manuscripts. Stay up to date with news at www.homecarepathways.ca