Congratulations to postdoctoral fellows Boah Kim and Mohammadjavad Nouri on each receiving a Michael Smith Health Research BC 2026 Impact Pathways: Engage Award for their respective projects! We look forward to seeing their projects grow! @sfu.ca @sfufass.bsky.social @healthresearchbc.bsky.social

We have signed a new agreement with the Ismaili Council for BC that strengthens a longstanding partnership and supports future collaboration through the Generations initiative. Together, we'll explore new ways to connect research, learning, and community experience. www.sfu.ca/fass/news/20...

The Ismaili Council for British Columbia and SFU's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Signed on July 13, 2026, at the Ismaili Centre Vancouver, the agreement marks an important milestone in a relationship built over decades. It builds on longstanding partnerships between SFU and instit...

sfu.ca

Congratulations to Yoonseok Choi, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Lab, on receiving a SSHRC Insight Development Grant for his project, "Avoidance Motivation in Older Age." 🎉 His research will explore how older adults' everyday motivations shape emotional well-being.

SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences@sfufass.bsky.social · 2w ago

We are pleased to share that seven @sfu.ca FASS researchers were awarded Insight Development Grants by @sshrc-crsh.canada.ca to launch new projects in their area of expertise. Learn more about these projects at: www.sfu.ca/fass/news/20...

A look back at the IAGG 2026 conference in Amsterdam last week! Our students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty presented their work, connected with colleagues, and contributed to conversations shaping the field. Swipe through to see more! 📸

“When elder abuse first became known to people, it was talked about as a social problem, then it became a health problem. These days . . . it's become very much a human rights issue,” explains professor emeritus Gloria Gutman. Watch the recorded webinar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZhH...

Webinar on Older Persons, Witchcraft Accusations, and Land Grabbing: A Human Rights Crisis

YouTube video by Adriane Berg

youtube.com

New Issue Alert: GGGRC News - June 2026 This edition highlights: 💫 The Gloria Gutman Gerontology Research Centre renaming 💫 Innovative research initiatives 💫 Collaborative projects with faculty, students & community partners Read the full issue here: www.sfu.ca/grc/stories/...

GGGRC News – June 2026

Read the latest edition of the SFU Gloria Gutman Gerontology Research Centre's bi-annual newsletter.

sfu.ca

“Retirement often acts as a magnifier of existing dynamics,” says assistant prof. Theresa Pauly. As routines shift, creating your own sources of momentum, like pursuing hobbies, can help your relationship transition smoothly into this next chapter. Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...

Four major relationship hurdles that can happen after retirement

Retirement can shift a relationship’s dynamics in ways you may not anticipate. Here's how experts suggest overcoming these hurdles.

washingtonpost.com

Gloria Gutman and Kira Gawenus discuss how coercive control extends beyond intimate partner violence. Recognizing this overlooked form of elder abuse is crucial for effective prevention, detection, and intervention efforts. Read more: www.sfu.ca/gerontology/...

Coercive control of older adults: A type of elder abuse

Coercive control is widely discussed in the intimate partner violence literature, but has been underexamined by those concerned about elder abuse.

sfu.ca

Explore how urban design, public policy & social space shape healthy longevity for marginalized communities. Featuring Assistant Professor Mei Fang, Alex Li & Alexis Coulourides Kogan. 🗓️ July 8 from 6:00-7:30 pm (PT) 📍Webinar Register: usc.zoom.us/meeting/regi... @sfuurb.bsky.social

Congratulations to Habib Chaudhury on his appointment to the National Seniors Council for a three‑year term! His expertise in dementia‑inclusive and age‑friendly design will help advance the well‑being of older Canadians. Read more: www.canada.ca/en/employmen...

The Aging in the Right Place team is hiring a Post‑Doctoral Fellow with Dr. Atiya Mahmood. Ideal for emerging scholars with community‑engaged research experience and an interest in aging, housing, and homelessness. Application reviews begin Aug 15. Full job description: www.sfu.ca/gerontology/...

“There is a willingness and interest from municipal planners to integrate lived experiences into design guidelines to inform planning,” says Seetharaman, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Gerontology @sfugero.bsky.social

Simon Fraser University@sfu.ca · 2mo ago

Navigating Vancouver’s streets on foot can feel somewhat perilous. For people living with dementia, the challenges are even greater, which is why a new SFU study has sought to find out more about their experiences and what can be done to improve urban design. Find out more below.

How do genealogical technologies reshape family dynamics? Join @cs-sfu.bsky.social for a free lecture featuring Barbara Mitchell on “Family History, Genealogy and ‘Long-Lost Relatives’” 📍 SFU Harbour Centre Campus 🗓️ June 9 | 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Register here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/family-his....

Family History, Genealogy and “Long-Lost Relatives”

Join SFU’s Liberal Arts and 55+ Program for a free lecture on Tue, June 9.

eventbrite.ca

At 12, associate professor Theodore Cosco volunteered at a long-term care home to support his grandmother with early dementia. That experience shaped his career in mental health, aging, and health research. Learn more: www.healthresearchbc.ca/news-events/... @sfuspp.bsky.social

From personal experience to generational impact | Michael Smith Health Research BC

Research with impact often starts at home. For Dr. Theodore Cosco, it began with his grandmother’s journey with dementia.

healthresearchbc.ca

We are pleased to share the recordings from the 33rd John K. Friesen Conference. Thank you to all the speakers and attendees who contributed to such thoughtful and engaging discussions! Access the recordings: www.sfu.ca/grc/events/f...

On April 21, the Inclusive Environments Lab supported the Women’s Age Lab at Women’s College Hospital in hosting a World Café, bringing together community, researchers, and advocates to explore the intersection of climate change and aging through feeling, thinking, and action. More to come. 💚

This Earth Day (April 22), the SFU Gerontology Research Centre spotlights climate change in an aging world 🌎 Join the conversation April 22–23. Learn more: www.sfu.ca/grc/stories/... #EarthDay #ClimateAction #SFU @sfu.ca @sfufass.bsky.social

Be part of the discussion at the 2026 Friesen Conference! 🌱 Hear how older adults are leading the charge on climate action, advocating for change, and inspiring communities to build a greener, more resilient world. Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Explore "Community-Based Climate Justice Approaches to Urban Heat and Aging" at the 2026 Friesen Conference! This panel highlights how communities are rethinking care, connection, and the “right to cool” for older adults. Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Discover innovative approaches to climate resilience at the "Fostering Resilience in an Era of Climate Change" symposium at the 2026 Friesen Conference! Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Join us as Sean Holman discusses how the Climate Disaster Project partners with survivors to co-create testimonies about their lived experiences—reshaping how we understand climate risk and recovery. This portion of the conference is free & open to all. 📅 April 22 @ 6:30 PM | 📍HC7000

Learn how communities are tackling climate challenges at the 2026 Friesen Conference! The BREATHE Project teaches leaders and community members to build DIY air cleaners and improve indoor air quality. Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Join Niki Lindstrom at the 2026 Friesen Conference! This session explores community-centered climate resilience in rural and remote BC, blending Indigenous and technical knowledge to develop practical solutions that reflect local priorities. Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Learn more about the COALESE and COALESCE projects during the panel "From Participants to Co-Researchers: Older Adults in Climate Action Research" at the 2026 Friesen Conference! Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Join the conversation on "Feeling the Heat: Risk, Awareness and Resilience in Older Adulthood," at the 2026 Friesen Conference! Register here: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

The 33rd John K. Friesen Conference opens with keynote Gary Haq. People who were part of the environmental movements of the 1960s now face the realities of climate change. Haq highlights their role in building inclusive, climate-resilient communities. Register: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

The program is now live for the 33rd John K. Friesen Conference! Explore sessions on Climate Change in an Aging World and start planning what you don’t want to miss. ⏰ Register by March 31 to secure early-bird rates: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

33rd John K. Friesen Conference

Join us for this year's conference on "Climate Change in an Aging World"

friesen2026.eventbrite.ca

Congratulations to Gloria Gutman on being named an SFU 2026 honorary degree recipient! As the founder of SFU’s Department of Gerontology and the Gerontology Research Centre, she has influenced research and advocated for action on aging, elder abuse, LGBTQ+ aging, and seniors’ housing.

Simon Fraser University@sfu.ca · 5mo ago

Meet SFU's honorary degree recipients for 2026 — these outstanding people are making transformative impacts in their respective fields and inspiring the university’s class of 2026.

“People often associate aging with losing social ties,” Mitchell says. “But many of our participants are actually gaining new relationships and a renewed sense of belonging.” Read more: www.sfu.ca/gerontology/...

Research explores how DNA testing is reshaping identity and family history

The growing popularity of at-home DNA testing kits is transforming how people understand their family histories and, at times, even their identities.

sfu.ca

Early-bird rates are now open for the 33rd John K. Friesen Conference! This year’s theme, “Climate Change in an Aging World,” explores how global trends in climate change and population aging are reshaping health, communities, and social justice. Register now: friesen2026.eventbrite.ca