Calgary-based non-profit Top 7 Over 70 will hold its awards ceremony in Halifax in May next year. The group runs an awards program that celebrates the recent successes of adults over 70 and it is the first time the awards will be held in Atlantic Canada.

The public is now invited to nominate people over 70 in the region who are creating new work in the worlds of business, science, arts, culture, health, fitness, education, philanthropy and volunteerism.   

The contest began eight years ago when senior Jim Gray, a businessman and philanthropist, established a program to challenge stereotypes about seniors. Other award programs often celebrate lifetime achievements but this one aims to highlight new ventures started by seniors, the group said.

“These awards highlight that there’s lots of gas left in seniors’ tanks,” Ed Leach, who is the local president of Aging Pro Actively and chapter ambassador of Aging2.0 Nova Scotia, previously told Entrevestor. Leach is leading the local effort along with Rick Emberley, founder of Seasoned Pros.  

Leach said that including older people in the workforce makes sense.

“It’s being smart. It’s not about diversity and inclusion. With aging societies and labour shortages, it’s also economic.”

The group said that Statistics Canada figures show that Canada now has more people aged 65-plus than children under 15. And, by 2036, seniors could number between 9.9 million and 10.9 million. Half of the people born after 2007 will live to be 103, according to a 2009 article in The Lancet, led by Danish epidemiologist Professor Kaare Christensen. 

The event will be held at Halifax Convention Centre on Thursday May 14th.

You can find more information here.