The Calgary-based non-profit Top 7 Over 70 will hold its fifth awards ceremony in Halifax in May next year. The group runs an awards program that celebrates the new successes of adults over 70 and it is the first time the awards will be held in Atlantic Canada.
The group, which also raises funds for partner organizations, hosts an increasingly well-known biennial celebration, which began back in 2017.
“These awards highlight that there’s lots of gas left in seniors’ tanks,” said Ed Leach, who is the local president of Aging Pro Actively and chapter ambassador of Aging2.0 Nova Scotia. Leach is leading the local effort along with Rick Emberley, founder of Seasoned Pros.
“Many people think that the thing to do is to help older people, but it’s the other way around: older people need to help. This gives them self-respect and a place in society,” Leach told Entrevestor.
"The Feds and the provinces are beginning to look upstream at the root causes of the increasing load on the healthcare system by seniors. Witness the recent announcement by the province (Nova Scotia) to pay for shingles vaccine for those over 65. It is far less expensive to pay for the vaccine than the healthcare costs related to shingles."
He stressed including older people in the workforce is not just about being kind and lessening pressures on the healthcare system.
“It’s being smart. It’s not about diversity and inclusion. With aging societies and labour shortages, it’s also economic.”
Leach said the awards organizers will soon be seeking nominations for noteworthy nominees who live and work in Atlantic Canada. It is already raising money to cover the costs of staging the event.
The whole thing began as the idea of senior Jim Gray, a Calgary-based businessman and philanthropist who wanted to shatter stereotypes and recognize the work being done by seniors across sectors. Other award programs often celebrate lifetime achievements but this one aims to highlight new ventures started by seniors.
In Calgary, the group works with partner organization InterGen, a talent development platform that matches experienced individuals with younger entrepreneurs to form multigenerational teams. High-potential companies are also supported with training.
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 2023 award recipients included:
* Ron Ghitter: A former senator who has created a new human rights forum. He has also raised millions to build the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre in Calgary.
* Dr. Benno Nigg: An 85-year-old biomechanics expert whose knowledge of athletic shoes has been sought by everyone from Nike, Adidas and David Beckham. He’s also started his own sports research company.
* John Scott: An 83-year-old rancher and leading Canadian stunt expert who recently received a “location of the year” award at the Cannes film festival.
* Janice McTighe: An 82-year-old educator who is opening a $30-million junior/senior high school for Calgary kids with disabilities.
* Tania Willumsen: A 76-year-old Calgary woman who has been helping Ukrainian refugees re-settle in Canada.
* Mogens Smed: A 75-year-old Calgary entrepreneur and innovator who created a business and within four years is employing almost 500 people in the new enterprise.
* Tom Jackson: A 74-year-old award-winning actor. He’s working on the series Sullivan’s Crossing, while also creating a detective drama and continuing his philanthropic work.
“These awards have the potential to create change, increase health span and contribute to the economic prosperity of the region,” said Leach.
"Having purpose in one's life is one of the most powerful social determinants of health that leads to increased health span.”
