H odge, Dr. Gerald, PhD - is one of Canada’s foremost community and regional planners who, for the past 25 years, has been applying this background in service and research to the seniors’ sector in British Columbia and other parts of Canada. Dr. Hodge’s work focuses on developing community environments that enhance the life of older people, especially in the areas of housing, transportation, and support services. Now, as Canada’s baby boom generation is about to turn sixty-five, he has turned his attention to documenting the effects on cities, towns, and villages throughout the country, all of which will see their seniors’ population double and few of which are prepared for this Seniors’ Surge. In his latest book he blends tested aging-environmental research and 40 years of planning experience and develops a comprehensive framework for all communities – large and small, urban, suburban, and rural. His Senior-Smart approach is based upon a knowledge and understanding of the everyday geography of seniors so that communities can respond with environments that enable seniors’ independence. Dr. Hodge’s long career in research, community planning, and seniors’ affairs ─ and a senior himself ─ underpins his current work to promote the independence seniors desire in their daily lives. He was the Director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Queen’s University, 1973-1986, as well having taught planning at the Universities of B.C. and Toronto, he was the Research Fellow in Environmental Gerontology at Simon Fraser University, 1989-1990. He was a Member of the National Advisory Council on Aging, 1994-1998 and of the British Columbia Seniors’ Advisory Council prior to that, 1990-1993. He presented a commentary on seniors’ issues on CBC Radio, Vancouver, 1988-1989 and produced an award-winning television series, "Harvest of Age," in 1995 for Knowledge Network and Vision TV. He holds degrees in planning: a PhD from MIT and an MCP from University of California at Berkeley. His original degree was in Sociology and Geography at UBC. Born in Vancouver, he now lives with his wife, Sharron, on Hornby Island where he continues to research and write about seniors and pursue his lifelong passions for photography and jazz. In between times, he served as director of the planning school at Queen’s (1973-86), editor of Plan Canada (1979-81), a member of the National Advisory Council on Aging (1994-8), and produced a film series about seniors, Harvest of Age.
Gerald Hodge uses the latest statistics to map the current and future spatial distribution of Canada’s seniors and their diversity. Drawing on tested aging-environmental research and years of planning experience, he delineates the everyday geography of seniors and proposes a comprehensive framework for all communities – large and small, urban, suburban, and rural – that will allow them to respond to the needs of a rapidly aging population while recognizing the importance of maintaining the independence of their seniors.
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