Canada’s population is aging, and the academic world is taking note. The aging baby boom generation is producing record numbers of people 65 years of age or over, putting greater emphasis on gerontology, the study of aging.
While the recession casts many career paths into precarious positions, gerontology is an industry that doesn’t take a downturn. According to the 2006 census, longer life expectancy and low fertility mean Canadian seniors are living longer, making gerontology an increasingly sought after discipline.
Many universities are developing Master’s and PhD programs in response. As Andrew Wister, chair of the gerontology department at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, put it, “it’s clear that this is a growth area.”
