Aging Well Conference - OACAO

REIMAGINE          REDEFINE       REDISCOVER

 

We are proud to host the 2026 annual Aging Well conference for OACAO members, SALCs, and friends from across the province and beyond! Founded in 1973, OACAO has a membership of 275+ Centres, organizations, and individuals involved in working with over 200,000 older adults across Ontario. Join us!


Early Bird Registration is NOW OPEN!

Aging Well – A premier event for leaders and professionals supporting older adults across Ontario!


The 2026 conference theme – Reimagine. Redefine. Rediscover. invites us to explore aging in ways that spark possibility, curiosity, and renewed purpose. The conference is designed to energize our sector and deepen conversations shaping the future of older adult services across Ontario. 


Join us as we explore what it means to age well. Through inspiring conversations, innovative ideas, and meaningful connections, we invite you to reimagine possibilities, redefine aging, and rediscover the strengths, opportunities, and contributions that enrich the lives of older adults in your community.

Connect with colleagues, thought leaders, volunteers, and innovators from across Ontario to enjoy:

🔹 Francophone Pre-Conference Workshops

🔹 Keynotes from visionary leaders

🔹 Practical breakout sessions on funding, collaboration & programming

🔹 A dynamic trade show of Industry Leaders

🔹 Networking with peers and industry innovators

🔹 Delicious meals and snacks with Monday night banquet and entertainment & improved travel-friendly Tuesday schedule

For an overview of this year’s OACAO AGING WELL Conference, please see the 2026 Conference Brochure

 


Monday’s Inspiring Keynote


“The Adventures of Later Life: Aging Reimagined”

Presented by Bill Randall, EdD, Emeritus Professor of Gerontology

Bill Randall taught gerontology at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB, from 1995 to 2022.  Educated at Harvard, Princeton Seminary, and the University of Toronto, he was a Visiting Fellow in 2024 at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, where he organized an interdisciplinary conference on “Ageing as Adventure.”  A pioneer in the field of narrative gerontology, he has presented on his work to researchers, practitioners, and the general public across Canada, the US, UK, and Europe.  He is author or co-author of over 80 publications, among which are eleven books, including:  The Stories We Are (UofT Press, 1995/2014), Fairy Tale Wisdom (ElderPress Books, 2022), and Storied Complexities of Later Life (Oxford UP, 2026).  He is currently completing a book with Cambridge University Press that is aimed at general readers and entitled Aging Reimagined: The Adventures of Later Life.  www.williamlrandall.com


2026 Conference Committee

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS

  • *Sarah Feeney-Martin, *Nora Jones

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

  •  *Jennifer Jones, *Robin Mech, Sarah Feeney-Martin, Dan Grummon,  Dena Silverberg, Sue Hesjedahl, Julie Pennal, Jenn Wiebe, Léo Lavergne, Brandy Yorg, Chantal Nadeau

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

  • *Erin Burford

TRADE SHOW COMMITEE

  • *Emily Angel, Anna Do, Victoria Stewart, Sue Hesjedahl

DELEGATE BAGS

  • *Emily Angel

REGISTRATION

  • *Julie Moran-Illes, OACAO Admin team

MARKETING/PROMOTION, SPONSORSHIP

  • *Emily Angel

HOTEL/LOGISTICS

  • *Sarah Feeney-Martin, Nora Jones, Sue Hesjedahl

VOLUNTEERS

  • *Dena Silverberg, *Robin Mech

TRAVEL BURSARY

  • *Bill Krever, Karie Papillon, Nora Jones

(* = Committee Chair or Co-Chairs)

🎟️2026 Aging Well Conference – Early Bird Registration is NOW OPEN

 

 


FULL Conference Package – November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2026 includes:

  • Sunday reception and social events

  • Trade Show, Workshops, Keynote Speakers and Plenary Sessions, Lightning Talks

  • All meals including Breakfasts, Coffee Breaks, Lunches, Monday Evening Gala & Dinner

To Register: https://oacao.wildapricot.org/event-6735274


Hotel Booking Details 

Location: Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale Hotel located at 6750 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 2L3

Online Booking: Follow the link (use group code 91Y): https://book.passkey.com/go/OACAO2026

Phone Booking: Contact central reservation at 1-800-445-8667, specify you are reserving under OACAO’s room block (use the SRP code: 91Y)


Travel Bursary Information and Application

The OACAO Board of Directors have allocated funds to ease the financial burden and support the participation of OACAO members travelling from greater distances. The bursary is designed to support eligible delegates to subsidize travel and accommodation expenses, including:

  • Mileage (travelling by car)
  • Train or plane tickets
  • Hotel accommodation
  • Additional transportation costs (i.e., taxi, train)

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible conference delegates must:

  1. Be members or affiliates of a Centre, Seniors Club or organization that is a current member in good standing with the OACAO
  2. Travelling from 2 hours or more outside of Mississauga
  3. Require financial support to cover the increased cost of travelling to/participating in the conference

Note: The Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale Hotel address to determine Travel Zone: 6750 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON, L5N 2L3.
Applicants will be asked to indicate reasons for requesting the travel bursary to demonstrate the need for support.

Bursary Amounts by Travel Distances 

Delegates travelling 2-3 hours from the Conference location – Bursary Amount: $100

Delegates travelling 3-5 hours from the Conference location  – Bursary Amount: $200

Delegates travelling 5-7 hours from the Conference location – Bursary Amount: $300

Delegates travelling over 7 hours from the Conference location – Bursary Amount: $400

Note: The OACAO Board of Directors will offer the Travel Bursary Program only when financially feasible.

Deadline: The deadline to apply for the travel bursary is September 11, 2026. 
Applicants will be notified if their application is successful by September 18th. (Note: Conference Early Bird Registration deadline is October 1st)

Click the image below or here for a copy of the Travel Bursary Application Form. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Showcase Your Products and Services at the 2026 Trade Show

OACAO’s Aging Well Conference will once again feature a dynamic, high‑engagement Trade Show — a premier opportunity for seniors‑serving businesses, organizations, and OACAO Partners to connect with industry leaders and highlight their services and products to Canada’s fastest-growing demographic.

Monday, November 2, 2026

The OACAO will host the 2026 Trade Show at its annual provincial conference at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga.

Building on the success of past Trade Shows — including more than 35 exhibitors — this year’s event offers a powerful platform to highlight your products, services, and innovations to the people who drive decisions, partnerships, and program development across our province.

With a network of 275+ senior centres and organizations, the OACAO reaches more than 200,000 older adults — and the Trade Show connects you directly with the 175 front‑line staff, sector leaders, and volunteers who support seniors in their communities every day. These are the professionals who influence purchasing, shape service delivery, and champion new solutions.

This is your chance to build visibility, strengthen relationships, and position your organization as a leader in the aging‑well space.

Become an Exhibitor at the 2026 Aging Well Trade Show!

OACAO Trade Show Application Form 2026 – FINAL

For More Information Contact Emily Angel: emily@oacao.org

 

 

 

 

 

REIMAGINE          REDEFINE       REDISCOVER

Across Ontario, Older Adult Centres are transforming what aging looks like – and the OACAO Aging Well Conference is where that transformation comes to life. Over 2.5 days, leaders, decision makers, innovators, and community builders from across Ontario will gather to reimagine programs, redefine community wellness, and rediscover new possibilities for supporting older adults. With keynote speakers, workshops, networking events, a welcome reception, and a signature gala, the conference offers sponsors a highly engaged audience and meaningful opportunities to build visibility, relationships, and impact.

This year’s conference isn’t just an event; it’s a movement —Join us and align your brand with positive aging, community wellness, and impact that matters!

Why Sponsor

Sponsoring the 2026 Aging Well Conference means joining the organizations shaping the future of aging in Ontario. Your support places you at the centre of a province‑wide movement committed to innovation, inclusion, and community impact.

You’ll Gain

  • Direct Access to Decision‑Makers
  • Connection with leaders who influence programs, partnerships, and purchasing across
  • Access to 275+ Older Adult Centres and community organizations
  • Meaningful Engagement Opportunities
  • Networking moments designed for conversation, collaboration, and relationship‑building
  • High‑Visibility Brand Presence
  • Brand showcasing before, during, and after conference via website, program recognition, signage, email, and on-site acknowledgment
  • Alignment With a Sector‑Wide Movement

Position your organization as part of the team focused on positive aging and community wellness and discovering new possibilities for older adults across Ontario

OACAO 2026 Aging Well Conference Sponsorship Package – Fillable

 


 

 

 Contact Emily Angel at emily@oacao.org.

Toll free: 1-866-835-7693,

Local: 905-584-8125.

 

We look forward to partnering with you!

2026 Aging Well Conference Details!

 

Sunday Evening Welcome Reception Networking Opportunity

The Conference kicked off at our Sunday Reception! Delegates enjoyed light refreshments while connecting with fellow attendees, sharing experiences, and meeting peers from across Ontario. This was the perfect way to spark new ideas, build relationships, and set the tone for 2 days of learning and inspiration. Then, get ready for some fun and interactive games to get to know new friends and collegues.

Monday Gala with Entertainment  

Join us for an unforgettable night of dining and entertainment! Enjoy a delicious buffet-style dinner, followed by On the Spot Improv Comedy! A “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” style show featuring some of the Second City’s top comedians. Watch award-winning professionals transform audience suggestions into hilarious scenes, games, sons and surprises right before your eyes. Presented by McMasterful Events: Entertainment that Connects, this interactive experience promises plenty of laughs, opportunities to connect with fellow attendees and a memorable evening you won’t want to miss.

Signature “Heads or Tails” Fundraiser

Looking for a way to have fun, support future OACAO conferences, and be eligible to win a showstopping prize? Stay tuned for info on how to buy a conference customized pin – your ticket to participate in our “Heads or Tails” game. This fundraiser will support future conference activities and the winner takes home an exciting prize. More details to come!

Goose Chase Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Join in for a 3-day virtual scavenger hunt using the Goosechase App! Get to know other conference delegates and our OACAO Business Partners and win fun prizes.

Networking Opportunities

The Aging Well Conference is more than a learning experience—it’s a chance to connect. Throughout the event, you’ll have opportunities to meet peers, share ideas, and spark collaborations with professionals, service providers, and community leaders from across Ontario. Whether it’s over coffee breaks, at the trade show, or during social events, these connections are designed to inspire partnerships that strengthen the sector and support healthy aging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Do I Contact?

I am interested in being a speaker or am a speaker for the Conference.

Please contact info@oacao.org for more information.

I am interested in being a sponsor for the Conference.

Please contact emily@oacao.org for more information.

I am interested in being an exhibitor at the Trade Show at Conference.

Please contact emily@oacao.org for more information.

I am interested in providing a delegate bag insert.

Please contact emily@oacao.org for more information.

I would like to learn more about the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario.

Please visit www.oacao.org/about-oacao for more information.

I would like to become a member of the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario.

Please visit www.oacao.org/membership/become-a-member/ for more information.

I am interested in volunteering.

Please contact info@oacao.org for more information.

I have a registration question.

Please contact admin@oacao.org / 1-866-835-7693 or 905-584-8125.

2025 Recap

For an overview of last year’s OACAO AGING WELL Conference, please see the 2025 Brochure 

What an incredible few days! The 2025 OACAO Conference was more than just sessions and speakers — it was about people coming together, sharing stories, and building connections that strengthen and support Seniors in our communities.

🌟 From the laughter in the hallways to the thoughtful conversations in workshops, every moment reflected the spirit of collaboration and care that defines OACAO, their Members and Partners.

📸 We’ve collected some of our favourite snapshots from the event to help you relive the energy, joy, and inspiration. Take a look through the photos and celebrate the amazing community that made this year’s conference so special.