As he mourns his late wife, educator Mary Kilfoil, Ed Leach focuses on their joint commitment to boosting entrepreneurship and employment among older workers. It’s an issue of fairness, but Leach stresses that prolonged working is also better for the individual and the nation.

“Employing older adults can have a positive impact on the economy, particularly in boosting GDP,” Leach told Entrevestor, adding that in Nova Scotia, people over 65 represent the fastest growing sector of the labour force.  

“By boosting labour force participation among older workers, governments can reduce unemployment, boost tax revenue, enhance productivity, and reduce pressure on social security and pension systems.”  

Older workers are said to be more loyal, good with clients, and keen to contribute and make extra money. But ageism is real: in an Age Friendly survey, 70 percent of workers aged over 50 said that younger workers receive preferential treatment from employers.

Leach (along with Kilfoil before her death in 2023), John Hamblin, and David Upton have been helping Canadian companies become certified age-friendly employers through a partnership with Boston’s Age Friendly Institute. Leach and the team will present the  Healthcare Workforce Leadership Award to SE Health at the upcoming Optimize conference held by Aging 2.0 in Louisville Kentucky.

“As we age, it’s important to have something in our lives that makes a difference to others,” said Leach. “It helps you live a longer and healthier life.”

Making a difference is something Mary Kilfoil understood and lived, and her commitment is being honoured with the Mary A. Kilfoil Award for Outstanding Contributions to Advancing Innovation in Entrepreneurship Education.

The inaugural award is is being  presented on November 7th at the annual conference of CCSBE (Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship) at the University of Calgary.   Kilfoil and Leach taught entrepreneurship and served as executive directors at the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship at Dalhousie University.  Kilfoil was known to tell students to “Get out of the building,” to test their business propositions in the real world.

Kilfoil led the work in recruiting and certifying 22 TIANS (Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia) members as Certified Age Friendly Employers. She saw the growing population of older adults “as an opportunity rather than a challenge. We need to focus on wellness not illness...We have been presented with a unique opportunity where there is a labour shortage, financial insecurity for many and a desire to find purpose in their lives leading to more Nova Scotians ageing in place and fewer entering long-term care. Let’s do this!”     

Leach believes “ageing is a natural process for all of us yet as humans one that we attempt to ignore."

He believes it is never too soon to start the conversation. “Even children in Grade Primary should discuss ageing” he said. “Kids need to learn about self-care and life cycles. It’s not as much fun, but it’s just as important as sex education.”