The start of a new era for the TCA

Community members and allies gather together to partake in the first-ever Grand Parade for the TCA

By Jonathan Reynoso

On September 20, 2025, the Toronto Council on Aging (TCA) held its inaugural Grand Parade – a fundraising ‘walk and roll’ event that supports local charities providing essential services and care to aging Canadians.

During The Grand Parade, people of all ages (including many seniors) took to the streets of Toronto’s David Pecaut Square – providing a fresh perspective on older adults and their contributions and taking a step (hundreds of steps, in fact) towards a more age-friendly community. This is what TCA Co-President, Lorna Earl, had to say about the event’s impact:

“It's shifting the narrative and making it more about community broadly, seniors having value, and having a place to thrive and strut their stuff,” said Earl. 

People coming together is what will help kick-start this new era for the TCA, where their vision lies in creating a Toronto where seniors are connected, influential and celebrated and a mission of striving to showcase and enhance the power and contribution of seniors through celebration and connection —  from community partners to city council members — a full team effort is needed, according to Co-Vice President Alexandra Piatkowski.

“You can be a part of the TCA without having to be a formal board member…you can be a volunteer or help out with one particular initiative,” said Piatkowski, “we're looking for others who believe in our mission and vision and who want to join us.”

Rallying behind TCA board members and keynote speakers (Piatkowski, TCA Co-president Lorna Earl, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, and City Councillor Josh Matlow), the community came out in force to show their support for Toronto’s older adults. 

For Matlow, conveying his support means more than simply showing up.

“I've had such a wonderful journey with you trying to advance the cause in our city, to create a city that is truly inclusive of us all,” Matlow said, “whether it is respectful and caring and accessible, a city where you can have a great quality of life, no matter your age or ability, no matter where you're from and no matter where you live...we all want to live in that city.”

Building towards this more inclusive Toronto begins with the TCA’s support of the Toronto Seniors’ Strategy 3.0, which is part of ongoing efforts to advance ‘age equity’ for Toronto's older-adult population. 

This is done by addressing systemic prejudices – including ageism, ableism, and racism –  that impact seniors' health and well-being. The goal, Matlow says, is to “make Toronto a city that you can age in as long as you can, and as well as possible.”

Making progress on issues that prevent seniors from thriving in our community is “a high priority” for Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.

“It is such an important invitation for us at City Hall to continue to come alongside you, literally walking with you, but also walking with you as partners in this work,” said Malik.

That seniors are not a ‘drain on society’ is one of the main messages that Earl hopes The Grand Parade can get across – showing that older adults contribute meaningfully to their communities.

“We are contributors at all levels, at all times, and that's what we want is for people to step up and do that in their daily lives, everywhere and anywhere they can,” said Earl.

The Grand Parade marks just the first step in what Piatkowski says is the TCA’s “unique contribution” to the older adult community, with many more upcoming initiatives to look forward to.

“We decided that it was time for us to set ourselves apart…and contribute to something that was a little bit more unique to the TCA,” said Piatkowski.

Next up for the TCA is the implementation (in collaboration with Connected Canadians) of a digital literacy initiative in various Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) across the city.

With their first Grand Parade successfully concluded, the TCA continues their search for ways to empower seniors and reduce their social isolation.   

“We’re always looking for more opportunities,” says Piatkowski.

The popularity of the event  — with over $13,000 raised — provides Toronto’s seniors proof that they are seen, heard, and valued as members of our community.

Earl, however, doesn’t want the success of the event to eclipse the people for whose benefit it was held – the older adults whom she wants to be at the centre of all of the TCA’s activities, their contributions on display for all to see. “Our focus is showcasing,” said Earl, “our focus is celebration.”

See more photos from the event here.