Ashton Applewhite, an ageism activist and author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, will present the keynote address at the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation’s R3 awards gala on April 12.

“Ashton’s refreshing manifesto assures us that it's not all doom and gloom, and that negative stereotypes only further compound the problem," NBIF said in a statement Tuesday. "Over the course of her keynote, she will explain how these myths affect our brains and bodies, explore what an age-friendly world would look like, and end with an enthusiastic call to action.”

The keynote will be given on the last day of the three-day R3 Innovations in Aging conference in April. This year, NBIF is extending its celebration of the province’s research and innovation by turning its biennial R3 awards gala into a three-day conference filled with seminars, success stories and workshops for different industries.

The conference will focus on themes of aging and ageism in entrepreneurship, said the statement:

“Aging is a topic that can often have negative connotations, and conjure feelings of worry, fear, or pity," it said. "This especially rings true in New Brunswick, where an aging population is one of the province’s greatest challenges.”

The event kicks off on Tuesday April 10 at the Fredericton Playhouse, and concludes April 12 with the R3 awards gala, which is when Applewhite will give her keynote.

The R3 awards will honour five New Brunswick researchers who specialize in innovations around aging and for the aging population. Three of the five honourees will receive $50,000 in NBIF research funding, and one public choice recipient will win $15,000.

Disclosure: NBIF is a client of Entrevestor.