OP - allow me to explain it in the most simple way ever possible.

A FFP (Frequently Flyer Program) usually has 2 key components - status and reward.

Reward, as simple as it sounds, allows to travel for free (i.e. award travel) by redeeming the miles you have earned. This kind of miles is known as RDM (redeemable miles), which you can virtually earn everywhere.

On the other hand, status provides a recognition to members' loyalty and businesses. In most cases, status can be earned by actual flight activities only, after reaching certain threshold set by the program, like EQM, EQS and/or EQD (Elite Qualifying miles, segments, dollars).

Star Alliance Gold (SAG) is an alliance-wide status level. While each program set different rules and criteria, but in the essence, once you reach the threshold and recognized as SAG, you will enjoy a set of benefits across all Star Alliance airlines.

In your specific case - Aeroplan is not a status program but a reward program. So whatever you have earned DOES NOT count towards to any status, as they are RDMs. Air Canada's status program is known as Air Canada Altitude. In order to become an Altitude member, you must fly with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners based on Air Canada's threshold within a calendar year.

Until you can satisfy this threshold, you are not an airline elite member and you will not become SAG.

I hope this makes everything simple for you.