NEW AWARDS RECOGNIZE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SENIORS
Program a reminder that city’s older citizens can ‘make a difference’
You’re never too old to experiment, excel, enrich your life and engage in community.
That’s the philosophy behind a new Calgary awards program that aims to recognize the achievements of older adults and create multi-generational mentorship opportunities.
The Top 7 Over 70 Awards is being launched Tuesday by a group of Calgarians led by local philanthropist and business guru Jim Gray.
“It’s absolutely incredible to see what seniors are accomplishing in our community in a wide variety of fields,” says Gray, an 83-year-old who swims hundreds of kilometres each year and says the awards are a dream come true for him.
“Seniors’ contributions can be overlooked, which is one of the reasons the Top 7 Over 70 is being created,” he says. “Importantly, however, these seniors are also making significant economic contributions.”
To investigate this economic impact, Top 7 Over 70 organizers commissioned a report from the Canada West Foundation. The full report is being released soon, but early results show that “engaging more seniors in entrepreneurship — with their resources, experience and connections — provides an exciting opportunity to create jobs and revitalize Calgary.
“It also could mean better health and well-being for more seniors,” says an executive summary of the report. “It’s a win-win opportunity.”
The words ring true for Mark Kolesar, board president of the Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society, a key supporting agency of Top 7 Over 70.
“I think this will be a reminder to us all that, as our population ages, many of us can continue to contribute to the vitality, economic growth and well-being of Calgary and area,” Kolesar says.
“We want to remind seniors that they are a valuable resource and they can contribute to make a difference in their community,” he says, noting a significant number of the society’s 1,300 volunteers are seniors.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi agreed that as citizens get older, they often give back even more to the community.
“It’s important to acknowledge the very best among us to inspire us all to participate and make our community even better,” he said, in welcoming the creation of the new awards program.
Nominations for the Top 7 Over 70 (open until Aug. 14) should focus on the accomplishments of nominees after age 70 in fields ranging from business, arts and athletics, to health, recreation and science. Full details are at www. top7over70.com; winners will be announced at an Oct. 2 gala.
The non-profit program will also raise funds for multi-generational mentorship opportunities, developed in conjunction with one of the program’s community supporters, Calgary Economic Development.
“One result of Calgary’s economic downturn is an increased focus on entrepreneurism and innovation,” says CED chair Steve Allan, who is co-chairing the Top 7 Over 70 steering committee with Bonnie DuPont and Brian Felesky.
“The funds raised from this event will be used by Calgary Economic Development to create programs to match the resources, experience, connections and wisdom of seniors through mentorship opportunities with budding entrepreneurs and innovators,” Allan says.
“This is an enormous boost for the startups — which often struggle due to a lack of experience, knowledge and resources — and an enormous boost for seniors who will be energized through a sense of achievement and satisfaction.”
Understanding and utilizing the potential contributions of older adults is increasingly important, says award founder Gray.
Society is getting older, he notes, pointing to a recent Statistics Canada report that showed that for the first time in census history, Canada counted more seniors aged 65 and over than children under 15.
“The time is right for us to highlight seniors’ contributions,” he says. “The time is right for Top 7 Over 70.”