Canadian seniors are leaders when it comes to giving both time and money to the causes that matter most to them according to The Revera Report on Aging: Living a Life of Purpose.

Canadians over the age of 65 contributed 42%t of all donations, amounting to more than $4 billion, with an average donation of $2,500, according to Statistics Canada. This exceeds the national average by 40 per cent.

The Revera report also says nine in ten Canadian seniors say they do something to support the charities or causes that are important to them. In fact, 82% say they donate money and more than one third (37%) volunteer their time.

Those over 65 volunteer well above national average

When it comes to volunteering, those over 65 put in an average 214 volunteer hours a year, well above the national average of 154 hours per volunteer and they are more likely to be considered a "top volunteer." Top volunteers are those who are in the top 25 per cent in terms of hours volunteered.

Some 89% of Canadian seniors believe they can play a significant role in working towards solutions to the issues affecting the world and 87% agree they are hopeful future generations will make the world a better place.

“Seniors make a remarkable contribution to Canada. They are a vibrant, highly relevant part of our communities, from coast to coast,” said Thomas G. Wellner, president & CEO of Revera. “Today's report illustrates how they are not only active community members, committed to living a life of purpose, but they also feel a sense of responsibility to create a better world for future generations.”