We invite you to share your own home, community organization, and/or workplace’s arts activities, creations and experiences through social media. From choirs to poetry, visual arts to dance, we want to highlight all the ways that arts and creativity are engaging and supporting Canadian older adults and those who care for them, both in-person and virtually. This day is a great opportunity for you to learn from colleagues across the country and find new ideas to bring back to your own workplace.

Together with Arts in Care Homes in the UK, Arts and Aging Day Canada aims to use social media to highlight the amazing work being done in long-term care homes, retirement communities, seniors centres, and community organizations across the country. The day is a chance to promote the positive effects of arts-based activities, learn more about what different organizations are doing, and create nation-wide connections in the field of arts, health, and aging.

Getting involved is easy!

Step 1: Take a photo, write a blog post, or make a video of an arts-based activity or creation. You can do this ahead of time or on the day, make it as detailed or as simple as you want! Need some inspiration? Here’s some ideas:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Sketching
• Writing
• Reading
• Singing
• Playing an instrument
• Acting
• Baking
• Knitting
• Crocheting
• Sewing
• Quilting
• Woodworking
• Car repair
• Whittling
• Dancing
• Stencil art

Step 2: Write a social media post and add the hashtag #ArtsAndAgingCA to promote the benefits of arts and creativity.

Step 3: Share the social media post on September 24!

Step 4: Follow the hashtag #ArtsAndAgingCA and get inspired by the incredible work happening across Canada that brings the arts to older adults.

Download the  participation poster and add in your own event details!

Looking for more ways to support and get involved? Check out our toolkit with tips, example posts, participation poster and other resources to help get you started: Arts and Aging Day Canada toolkit

Follow @artsaging and #ArtsandAgingCA on Twitter to get connected with older adults, care partners, and organizations working to promote arts, creativity, and self-expression in Canada. Arts and Aging Day Canada is presented by Kate Dupuis, Schlegel Innovation Leader in Arts and Aging at Sheridan Centre for Elder Research and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA).

Bonus: Are you a therapeutic recreation or activity professional? Join Artfull Enrichment’s Founder, Cailey Massey for an interactive and educational session to learn about the benefits of creative experiences and how participation in the arts can improve people’s overall quality of life. Register Now