KJ Mullins-Toronto: Today the CARP flag was raised at Toronto City Hall in honour of National Seniors Day. The Federal Government named October 1 as National Seniors Day in 2011.

CARP president, Moses Znaimer and Vice President of Advocacy, Susan Eng both took to the podium to speak about seniors in the city and their needs. Several City Councillors also spoke including Doug Ford, Josh Matlow and Adam Vaughan.

Znaimer pointed out that in the past living to 100 was a rarity today more than half of society will reach that milestone. As the numbers of seniors grow Canada has to improve the services that are geared to seniors. These services can be as simple as having someone shovel snow in the winter to much more complex issues like being able to be active even when one’s health starts to fail.

Edna Beange, Toronto Council on Aging, said at the event that Toronto needs to do more for its seniors. There are several problems facing our community as residents age including housing and home health care. While some positive work has taken place in the city Beange said that much more needs to be done as that seniors can live in their own homes if at all possible.