Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging

What an incredible two days at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging’s (CCAA) 2026 Research to Action (R2A) Conference, hosted at Western University! Held on June 19–20, the R2A 2026 brought together delegates, researchers, instructors, and community members for a weekend focused on movement, research, and advancing healthy aging.

Friday set the stage with engaging sessions focused on empowering older adults through movement and evidence-based practice. Delegates explored dynamic fitness training, strategies for supporting individuals through osteoarthritis and joint replacement journeys, and the important role of exercise in protecting brain health and promoting healthy aging.

Saturday continued with thought-provoking discussions on aging, performance, and lifelong wellness. Sessions explored the power of physical activity at every age, the role of nutrition in supporting muscle health, emerging research in exercise and older adult health, aerobic exercise training after experiencing cardiac events, adapting movement and routines for different abilities, and the connection between brain health, mobility, and fall prevention.

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers, delegates, volunteers, and everyone who helped make this year's conference a memorable event of healthy aging! 💜 🐎

For more than 35 years, the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA) at Western University has been advancing research on healthy aging. Our national research and education centre examines the connections between physical activity, health, well-being, and aging, with a focus on helping older adults maintain their independence and overall quality of life.

From brain and cardiovascular health to musculoskeletal well-being, our team, students, and community partners work together to progress research and create meaningful change for the Canadian aging population.

Interested in learning how our research can improve the quality of life for older adults?
Follow along to learn more about the work happening at the CCAA!

The CCAA and the City of London have been in the news lately! Learn more about our new student-led blood pressure screening project for City of London program participants. Look for the article on the CBC London news website.

We enjoyed exhibiting at the 39th Annual Geriatric Medicine Refresher Day with St. Joseph’s Health Care London. It was inspiring to connect with healthcare and community partners dedicated to advancing quality care for Canadian older adults.

Link in bio to learn more about the CCAA.

Congratulations to Zeyad Alyas on being awarded 1st place for his oral presentation at the 2026 Western Student Research Conference.

Zeyad, a Research Assistant at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, presented research examining the accuracy and precision of blood pressure monitors, with important implications for clinical practice and real-world monitoring.

We are proud to have Zeyad as part of the CCAA team and to support impactful, student-led research. Congratulations again on this well-deserved achievement.

Congratulations to Zeyad Alyas on being awarded 1st place for his oral presentation at the 2026 Western Student Research Conference.

Zeyad, a Research Assistant at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, presented preliminary findings from ongoing research within Western University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. His work explored the accuracy and precision of blood pressure monitors, with important implications for clinical practice and real-world monitoring.

This achievement reflects his dedication and the meaningful contributions he continues to make to evidence-based research at the CCAA.

We are proud to have Zeyad as part of our team and look forward to seeing his continued impact. Congratulations again on this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations to the fourth-year Community Engaged Learning (CEL) students from the Bachelor of Medical Sciences at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry on their outstanding work with the CCAA.

Two student teams contributed meaningfully to our initiatives. One team focused on a Quality Improvement Project, helping strengthen internal processes and expand the reach of our programs.

The second team evaluated program effectiveness, identified key strengths and barriers, and developed recommendations to enhance our communication strategies.

Their work is already making a meaningful impact. 👏📊