Current Issues

Message from the BC Seniors Advocate National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21, 2025 National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day are opportunities to honour the rich heritage, diversity and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada. I recently met with people in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, including Elders, and it was … Read More

Statement from the BC Seniors AdvocateJune 16, 2025 “As BC Seniors Advocate, I meet with thousands of seniors throughout the province and I continually hear two important themes: older people want to age in place and remain in their homes as long as possible, and they are struggling with the rising cost of living. “Most … Read More

Leaders of three seniors’ advocacy groups joined the BC Seniors Advocate today to raise the alarm about elder abuse, a growing but often hidden issue affecting older adults across the province, in advance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Sunday, June 15. The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as “a single, or repeated … Read More

BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt’s Statement on BC Seniors’ Week “June 1-7 is BC Seniors’ Week and a time to celebrate, recognize and honour olderpeople in our province. “There is good news for British Columbians! The number of seniors is increasing. Today, one infive people are over 65, and in the next decade, this will … Read More

As we step into the month of May, I’m pleased to share updates on our work and developments in local and international efforts to improve the health and wellness of seniors. April was a month of meaningful progress in the global movement to combat ageism. Notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the WHO Ageism … Read More

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As we move forward into Spring, I’d like to take a moment to share some exciting updates. In November and December of 2024, my office undertook a survey inviting British Columbians to share their perceptions and experiences on ageism. We received a tremendous response! 9,200 people took the survey, 84% of whom told us they … Read More

The Office of the Seniors Advocate thanks everyone who took the time to complete the caregiver survey on access to publicly-funded long-term care in B.C. The survey is now closed. Your invaluable feedback will inform our upcoming report on long-term care supply and demand issues. Please watch for the report release in the coming months.

This tax season, be sure to maximize your benefits and credits! This year’s tax-filing deadline is April 30, 2025. However, if you or your spouse or a common-law partner are self-employed, the deadline is June 15, 2025. Why is it important to file my taxes? It is vital to file your taxes on time, even … Read More