June 25, 2026
MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre Strengthened by Transformational $20 Million Investment in Aging Research
June 25, 2026 — A transformational $20 million gift from Chancellor Emerita and alumna Suzanne Labarge will help strengthen the work of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA), including the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre in Downtown East Toronto.
The investment will accelerate discoveries that support healthy aging, improve the lives of older adults, and help communities prepare for the future. As Canada’s population continues to age, research plays a critical role in helping older adults remain healthy, connected, and independent while informing the programs, services, and policies that support aging well.
The MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre brings together researchers, community organizations, and older adults to ensure that knowledge is grounded in lived experience and responsive to the needs of diverse communities. Through its partnership with McMaster University, the Centre helps bridge the gap between research and community impact by combining academic expertise with local knowledge. This collaborative approach helps translate research findings into meaningful action that supports the well-being, inclusion, and independence of older adults.
“Our community is vibrant, resilient, and full of wisdom. Yet too often, the older adults we serve, many from equity-deserving communities, have not had meaningful opportunities to share their experiences with researchers,” said Janet Lambert, interim CEO of Dixon Hall. “Our partnership with the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging is invaluable because it ensures that research is shaped by the voices and lived experiences of older adults in our community, helping to advance programs and policies that support aging with dignity for all.”
Dixon Hall is grateful to Chancellor Emerita and alumna Suzanne Labarge for her visionary support of aging research and for helping to advance discoveries that will improve the lives of older adults, families, caregivers, and communities for years to come.