TORONTO, June 4, 2002 -- York University’s Retirement Planning Centre will host a gathering of experts to examine the impact on Canadian society of the aging baby boom generation in a conference June 19-20 entitled, AgeQuake: Canada’s Boomers Remake the Nation.

What is the impact of their mass exit from the labour market? How will we cope with their medical needs? How will the nature of work, retirement and the workplace be re-designed for first and second-wave boomers? Among the panelists addressing these and other questions are: Keith Norton, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission; Carolyn J. Rosenthal, professor of sociology and gerontology and editor of the Canadian Journal on Aging; and Andy Barrie, well-known boomer and host of Toronto’s popular CBC radio show Metro Morning.

By 2009, just seven years from now, the first wave of boomers will turn age 62, the average age of retirement in Canada. They will comprise the nation’s largest ever mature market. "Despite the sheer magnitude of this demographic shift, little is known about the implications for the boomers themselves, their values and expectations, and how their needs will impact on the rest of us," said Rachel Schlesinger, social scientist and professor emeritus at York. She said the conference is a significant opportunity to investigate the phenomenon and start to develop strategies.

The conference begins on Wednesday, June 19, in Lecture Theatre C, Vari Hall, Ross Building, York University, Keele Campus, 4700 Keele St. For a detailed program, visit the Web site at: www.yorku.ca/retire, or email to: retire@yorku.ca. Registration is at 8 a.m. and space is limited to the first 120 persons.

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For further information, please contact:

Karen Gray	Susan Bigelow
Retirement Planning Centre	Media Relations
York University	York University
416-736-2100, ext. 77277	416-736-2100, ext. 22091
	sbigelow@yorku.ca

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