Maybe it's not too late
Yes it's too late. While some proactive compromise implemented twenty years ago and modified as time went on would have certainly made the transition easier, it would not in any way have stopped the demise of mandatory retirement or even slowed it down. Air Canada pilots are not driving the program here and although our ego's don't like to admit it we are not effecting any change that society hasn't already done years ago.
The only thing our refusal to adapt our thinking along with society has done is delayed the inevitable for our pilot group. Since we live and work in Canada we are subject to its laws and mandatory retirement would have ended at Air Canada even if no Air Canada pilot challenged it. But now that change is all the more traumatic thanks to our singular and continuing lack of vision.