Real Talk. Real Change. To End Ageism.
An honest look at the stigma surrounding ageism and aging
There is no single story or one path followed as we age. From staying in the workforce well past what is considered retirement age to working tirelessly volunteering for a myriad of organizations, exploring intellectual pursuits and hobbies, or simply enjoying a well-deserved break from daily commitments- the common thread is that no matter what path is chosen, age-based biases come into play across society. The experience of ageism is not exclusive to seniors but rather affects individuals both young and old, across many age groups.
Real talk. Real change. To end ageism.
A groundbreaking initiative of the Social Action arm of the Cummings Centre, this important project was conceived by Joy Shiroky Lawee, Social Action Coordinator, and her team who continually work to ensure seniors’ voices are heard. The concept of ageism has been a growing concern, “Our mandate has always been to educate, inform and provide tools for advocacy for our senior population. We have come to understand that ageism is not exclusive to the senior population. Ageism is something we all face throughout the lifecycle. Ageism is an everybody problem, in everyday life,” stresses Joy.
Raising awareness of ageism in Quebec’s English-speaking community
Through a grant provided by the provincial government’s SRQEA program strengthening the vitality of English-speaking communities in Quebec, the team at Cummings spearheaded, developed and produced a documentary focusing on Quebec’s diverse English-speaking communities. Ageism is examined across all age groups through firsthand interviews and experiences. The 45-minute documentary was produced and directed by award-winning Montreal filmmaker Joshua Dorsey alongside Cummings Project Coordinator, Carrie Mazoff, with the goal of providing a visual educational tool to raise awareness of the problem of ageism in our society.
Participants were located across seven regions of Quebec, including Quebec City, Montreal, Saguenay, Gatineau, the Eastern Townships and more. “We wanted to build a new awareness surrounding ageism so that people would re-examine their preconceived notions and take note of their own self-bias,” points out Carrie. A team of thirty Cummings Centre volunteers rounded out the development team, “At Cummings we empower our volunteers and they have been intricately involved, forging ties with community organizations, fleshing out ideas for the film, developing complementary learning materials and so much more to help us attain as much reach as possible in this project,” says Joy.
Put aside what you think and challenge your assumptions!
Join us to celebrate the premiere of this landmark film on ageism.
Monday September 15, 2025, 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Cocktails at 5pm, Film screening and Talk-back with Film Director, Joshua Dorsey, at 6 pm
To register today, click here.