When do we begin to define ourselves, or be defined by others, as a senior? At 65? At 70? When we retire?
The question seems simple. Yet it quickly raises another: what role does age really play in our identity?
On October 1, as we mark the International Day of Older Persons and National Seniors Day, let’s take a moment to look beyond the number.
When Age Becomes a Category
In Canada, 65 is commonly used as a benchmark for defining seniors, particularly in certain public programs, without being a universal definition.
This benchmark is also used to describe demographic trends: in 2025, people aged 65 and over made up 21.7% of Quebec’s population, according to the Bilan démographique du Québec, édition 2026. But beyond the statistics, what does a person’s age really tell us about them?
Between someone who is 65 and someone who is 90 are 25 years of life, experiences, and different paths. One may still be working, while the other may have been retired for many years. Some live with limitations; others do not.
An age category can be useful without telling the whole story.
Age: One Facet Among Many
An online resource from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), launched in May 2026, reminds us that the senior population is far from homogeneous. People’s paths, experiences, aspirations, and living conditions vary considerably.
This is not to say that “age is just a number.” Aging can bring very real changes in health, abilities, or needs. These realities, however, do not define a person on their own. We are also friends, parents or grandparents, neighbours, volunteers, caregivers, or colleagues.
As we explored in a previous article that looked at ageism, age-related perceptions can also influence how we see ourselves in these roles. Someone may, for example, come to believe they are “too old” to learn, try a new activity, or take on a new challenge. The way society views age can therefore influence the way we see ourselves.
When Volunteering Opens Up New Roles
If our identity is not defined by our age, neither are the roles we take on limited by a particular threshold. They evolve with us, shaped by our experiences, interests, and the opportunities that come our way.
Volunteering can also open the door to new roles. Someone may have volunteered throughout their life or take their first steps into volunteering at 70. They may share expertise gained during their career, as we explored in our article on skills-based volunteering among retirees, or choose to get involved in an entirely new field. They may be a mentor in one context and a learner in another. Volunteering can be a space to try new things, learn, meet people, and discover.
Rather than making assumptions about what someone wants or is able to do based on their age, why not start by asking what interests them, what they would like to contribute, or what they would like to discover
Recognizing the diverse realities of aging, without letting age speak for the person, also means allowing them to choose the place they want to occupy.
Seeing the Person Before the Number
Age categories remain useful for understanding certain realities, adapting services, or recognizing needs. However, they are best kept in perspective: they are one piece of information among many about a person.
At every age, our identity continues to be shaped by our experiences, relationships, projects, and the roles we choose to take on.
What if, instead of asking at what age someone becomes a senior, we focused first on everything that defines us?
This October 1, the VBM celebrates seniors for everything that makes them who they are, far beyond their age.
