Like it or not, the children of the post-war population explosion have had a massive effect on the past half-century, in its values, culture and commerce. Now, their first wave is about to turn 60.
In a special report published Saturday, The Globe and Mail revisited these Canadians to ask how they've thrived, where they've failed and their plans to head into senior citizenship, still booming.
A Strategic Counsel poll for The Globe and Mail found that boomers think they are getting lots of sex, drinking fine wine, eating great food, are really fit, and are good friends with their kids. That's not quite true as Andy Hoffman reports in Mirror, mirror
In fact, the poll suggests that Canadian boomers are either the most optimistic generation ever to walk the Earth — or the most self-deluded.
Internet Links
- What's the most iconic song of the boomer era? Vote for your favourite.
- Boomer special report: All stories, photos, audio, graphics
- Seen and Heard: Three boomers talking about their generation
- In pictures: The world of consumer products evolved with the boomers
- In pictures: The class of 1965 -- then and now
- Audio slideshow: Michael Posner interviews the Class of 1965
- Full Strategic Counsel poll (PowerPoint format)
To explore the myths and realities of this much-touted generation a little further, the three main writers of this series — Michael Posner, Tralee Pearce and Jill Mahoney — were on-line earlier today to take your questions and comments.
The questions and answers appear at the bottom of this page.
Michael Posner, born and raised in Winnipeg, interviewed classmates who graduated with him in 1965 -- the first full year of boomer graduates according to the definition being used by The Globe. His report: 'A beautiful position'
Michael has an MA in English literature from the University of Toronto, has worked for Maclean's, Toronto Life, The Financial Times of Canada and has been a reporter with the Globe and Mail since 1997.
Tralee Pearce found that boomers are not quite the fitness nuts they claim to be. Boomers claim to be active, but they're in worse shape than their parents were -- and could even die younger. Her report The fat of the land
Tralee has been at The Globe since 2001 writing on various fashion, lifestyle and entertainment topics for the Style, Review, Focus and Toronto sections. She's gone everywhere from the fashion runway in Milan to a N.B. potato farm to meet the "first Canadian boomer."
Jill Mahoney tackled the issue of how consumer products are being redesigned for an aging, out-of-shape clientelle. Her report Old and improved
Jill is The Globe and Mail's social trends reporter and was previously the paper's Edmonton correspondent. While working in Alberta, she co-won a National Newspaper Award with two colleagues for their feature writing on the Pine Lake tornado, which hit a campground east of Red Deer in the summer of 2000.
Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question/comment. Comments/questions may be edited for length or clarity. HTML is not allowed. We will not publish questions/comments that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions/comments that include vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym.
Jim Sheppard, Executive Editor, globeandmail.com: Michael, Tralee, Jill: Thanks very much for taking the time today to answer questions from the readers of globeandmail.com about the boomers' package in the Focus Section of Saturday's Globe. It's generated a lot of reader interest and many questions/comments. I'd like to start by getting your opinions on one thing that has really surprised me — the venom between generations displayed in many of the on-line postings, especially about the Strategic Counsel poll. I know your research and articles focused mostly on the boomers themselves. But in your research, did you encounter much of this inter-generational anger or angst? If so, does it surprise you? Why do you think it exists?
Tralee Pearce: Hi, Jim. Thanks for having us here today. When it comes to venom and angst, I'd say most of it that I encountered comes from the tail end of the boom — people who don't think of themselves as boomers, [who were] born in the early and mid-60s. But as demographer David Foot told me, a lot of their angst — feeling the boomers have all the jobs, all the choices and all the spotlight — stems from, quite simply, their huge numbers. Younger people — the "bust" and "echo" generations — may be irritated that the boomers get a lot of ink, but the generation hasn't had as direct an impact on them.
