Canada will cross the threshold into a “superaged” society this year, with at least one in five people over 65.

By 2067, when Canada turns 200, older adults will be a far larger share of the population, while growth in the traditional “working age” group will be modest. This shift is often framed as a looming crisis for health care and pension systems.

It is not a crisis. It is evidence that Canadians are living longer, healthier lives, something earlier generations could only imagine.

As we prepare to celebrate Canada Day, the real question is not whether Canada can afford to age. The question is whether we will seize this moment to build the strongest aging society in the world.

Aging is a triumph, not a burden

The first step is to confront ageism head-on. Terms like “silver tsunami” suggest an unstoppable wave of destruction. But aging is not a natural disaster; it is the predictable outcome of social progress.

Countries that are aging the fastest, including Canada, Japan, South Korea and Italy, have long life expectancies, high levels of education and robust social protection systems. Population aging, in other words, is a marker of national success, not failure.

This article is part of our ongoing series The Grey Revolution. The Conversation Canada and La Conversation are exploring the impact of the aging boomer generation on Canadian society, including housing, working, culture, nutrition, travelling and health care. The series explores the upheavals already........

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