Community members, researchers, policymakers and students gathered in downtown Hamilton Thursday night to talk about one of the most pressing issues facing the country: its aging population.

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and The Walrus Foundation partnered on The Walrus Talks Mobility, which took place at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre.

The event featured eight speakers:

• Margaret Denton, vice-president, Hamilton Council on Aging
• Sanjay Khanna, futurist
• Michael Kirby, founding chair, the Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Adam van Koeverden, Olympic and world champion kayaker
• Dee Mangin, David Braley Chair in Family Medicine, McMaster University
• Parminder Raina, scientific director, McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging
• Doreen Spence, Cree elder
• Stephen Trumper, instructor, School of Journalism, Ryerson University

Read: Aging becoming a hot topic as Hamilton baby boomers enter senior years

The Trainee Network of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging also hosted a Mobility Fair to showcase their research on aging, including nutrition for older adults, mobility assessments and more.

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) aims to optimize the longevity of Canada’s aging population through research, education, and collaboration. Interdisciplinary teams work alongside older adults and key stakeholders to find ways that will help Canadians spend more years living well. MIRA also acts as a robust entry point to McMaster’s existing research platforms in aging, including the newly formed Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging and the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.