Canadian retirees fight loneliness and stay fulfilled by volunteering after leaving the workforce
A growing number of Canadian retirees are finding purpose and connection through volunteer work, using their skills to engage with their communities and improve their well-being.
In The Globe and Mail’s Third Chapter series, the guiding theme is that “retirement is no longer an end, it’s a beginning.”
The series challenges traditional retirement narratives, encouraging Canadians to view this stage of life as an opportunity for renewed purpose.
Ginny Barton, a former high school family studies teacher, retired last summer following her husband’s passing. Seeking to stay active, she began volunteering at The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto, an organisation that supports people living in poverty.
Since September, she has been running a weekly sewing and knitting group called “Stitchin’ By The Kitchen.”
“I’m using the skills that I had from teaching, but in a different way,” she says.
Barton’s story reflects a broader trend. According to a 2022 Environics Research survey commissioned by the National Institute on Ageing, one-third of Canadians aged 50 and over reported participating in volunteer or charitable activities.
Volunteer Canada highlights the growing issue of loneliness among older adults and points to the benefits of intergenerational volunteering.
The organisation cites research indicating that volunteering strengthens community resilience and fosters a sense of belonging.
“In fact, many health-care professionals are beginning to prescribe volunteering for older adult patients, and some financial planners are recommending volunteering to their retiree clients,” says the report.
Barton says she’s experienced positive effects through giving back. “When I see improvements in someone else’s well-being, it improves my well-being,” she says.
Carlie Bell, director of consulting at Citation Canada, believes employers have a role to play in supporting this transition.
Bell, who specialises in organisational development, suggests that companies help retiring workers explore volunteer opportunities in their community, whether in the same industry or in new sectors.
She encourages employers to develop retirement transition programs that provide information and resources.
“I think employers would be doing a great service if they were a little bit more pro-active in recognizing that people who are retiring from their organization don’t necessarily want to just end things,” she says.
According to Bell, such efforts benefit both employees and companies. “I think gold-standard employers are recognizing that there’s great value in helping with these transition periods,” she says.
She references the academic model where retiring professors receive emeritus status and remain engaged. Bell says this approach could be applied more broadly to retirees who want to continue contributing their expertise.
“It’s about bridging and creating a space where these older people still have value and are really celebrated for the knowledge that they bring,” she says.
Michelle Pannor Silver, professor in the Department of Health and Society at the University of Toronto, sees volunteering as a vital way for retirees to stay active, social, and useful—whether through familiar talents or new pursuits.
Silver is the author of the 2018 book Retirement and Its Discontents and the upcoming Aging with Agility.
“It’s really about finding outlets for what we’re interested in, what we value and what’s needed,” she says.
Silver recommends starting with small or short-term commitments that align with personal interests.
“Start small and be willing to try something short-term or occasional at first to see what fits,” she says. “Remember that to get good at anything, we must practise.”
She also suggests retirees use their personal or professional networks to discover opportunities.
“Use connections to find a volunteer opportunity and see this as a chance to meet people, build friendships and stay socially engaged,” she says.
Barton’s volunteer work reflects these insights. Her group combines her interest in food security with her enjoyment of working with her hands.
While giving back to the community, the experience has also supported her personally as she copes with grief.
“It has changed my relationship with my community. I’ve met a lot of new people whom I might not otherwise have crossed paths with, and now, when I see them on the street, I know them by name. It just makes my community feel very different, and I like that.”
