Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is Intergenerational Day and the day is being celebrated in over 100 cities across Canada, including Yellowknife. This is where younger and older people come together for intergenerational immersion. The goal is to create respectful relations and better understanding between children, youth and older persons, and it’s good to see so many active elders in the gallery today. Welcome to you all.
Since time immemorial there have been generational differences, but the speed of change and the technological impacts on society in the last 50 years has widened the gaps in attitude and lifestyle between young and old. In recognition of these gaps, in 2008 a group of educators, health care workers, older adults, youth and parents created the i2i Intergenerational Society.
In addition, this month of June is Seniors’ Awareness Month, and June 15th , specifically, is
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day I try to highlight every year. It’s unfortunate that such a day is necessary, but the upside is that it is an opportunity to do something about elder abuse.
The mistreatment, neglect and financial exploitation of our elders is much more common than most of us would like to admit. Elder abuse does not discriminate. It’s found in institutions and private homes across all sectors and all societies.
Intergenerational Day is an opportunity to be reminded that our elders have made significant contributions to our communities in their younger
years. We can use this day to create better understanding, build empathy and disrupt the concept of ageism.
Our elders hold the wisdom, history and knowledge of our communities, our territory and of life in general. They should be respected, honoured and cared for in their later years, not abused.
As a government, we need to ensure measures are in place to recognize and address elders’ issues, and we need to bring elder abuse out into the open and eradicate it.
Kudos to Intergenerational Day for taking a grassroots, hands-on approach to the issue. Kudos to Yellowknife, Norman Wells, Paulatuk and Fort McPherson for recognizing and being part of the 2015 Intergenerational Day. Lastly, thank you to all my colleagues for their purple support today in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.