The 2019 Top 7 Over 70 Gala

The 2019 Top 7 Over 70 winners at the Oct. 17 gala: Back row (l-r) Ken Stephenson, Eldon Smith, Bob Brawn, John Lacey; front row (l-r) Jacqueline Cameron, Gus Yaki, Sylvia Rempel. Photo by Christina Ryan.

The winners of the 2021 Top 7 Over 70 awards will be honoured at a gala on May 26, 2022. Tickets to that gala are available through this Showpass link: https://www.showpass.com/top7over70gala2021/

The 2019 Gala

Close to 800 people gathered at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Calgary on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, to honour the recipients of this year’s Top 7 Over 70 awards. Photographer Christina Ryan captured many great photos, which are posted below.

If you are looking for videos from the event, they are posted on the Top 7 Over 70 YouTube channel, which can be found here: https://bit.ly/35Xgi3S . You’ll find copies of videos on each award recipient on this YouTube channel, along with a three-part video of the entire gala program.

T7O70 recipient Bob Brawn and guests
T7O70 recipient Gus Yaki and some of his family members.
T7O70 recipient Jacqueline Cameron and two of her daughters

T7O70 recipient John Lacey and some of his guests

T7O70 recipient Sylvia Rempel and two of her family members
T7O70 recipient Jacqueline Cameron and family members
T7O70 recipient Sylvia Rempel and family members
T7O70 committee member and gala chair Elizabeth Carson talks to Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi (centre.)
The 2019 Top 7 Over 70 gala at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary.
The 2019 Top 7 Over 70 gala at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary.
The 2019 Top 7 Over 70 gala at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary.
The Top 7 Over 70 award
Top 7 Over 70 founder Jim Gray
T7O70 repient Gus Yaki
The To;p 7 Over 70 executive committee: BACK ROW: Sandi Gilbert, Emily Wuori, Elizabeth Carson, Monica Zurowski, Brian Felesky, Mary Rozsa de Coquet, Kim McConnell; FRONT ROW: Cameron McDonald, Bev Foy, Jim Gray, Linda McNally, Steve Allan. MISSING: Bonnie DuPont and Cheryl Hamelin.
T7O70 recipient Ken Stephenson
T7O70 recipient Sylvia Rempel
T7O70 recipient John Lacey
T7O70 recipient Jacqueline Cameron
T7O70 recipient Gus Yaki
T7O70 recipient Eldon Smith
T7O70 recipient Bob Brawn
The Very Rev. Bob Pynn addresses the Top 7 Over 70 gala and says grace.
Josphine Pon — the Minister responsible for Seniors and Housing — brings greetings from the province of Alberta to the gala.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi speaks at the Top 7 Over 70 gala.
Top 7 Over 70 founder Jim Gray speaks to the guests at the 2019 gala
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Ken Stephenson is interviewed by gala host Dave Kelly.
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Eldon Smith is interviewed by gala host Dave Kelly.
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Sylvia Rempel is interviewed by gala host Dave Kelly.
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Bob Brawn and gala host Dave Kelly
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Sylvia Rempel is interviewed by gala host Dave Kelly.
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Jacqueline Cameron demonstrates, with the help of Dave Kelly, how her accessible fashion works for people with mobility challenges.
Top 7 Over 70 recipient Gus Yaki is interviewed by gala host Dave Kelly.
The Top 7 Over 70 award
Bob Brawn and Top 7 Over 70 committee member Cameron McDonald
Committee member Mary Rozsa de Coquet presents Eldon Smith with his Top 7 Over 70 award.
T7O70 committee member Steve Allan presents Sylvia Rempel with her award.
Kim McConnell gives a Top 7 Over 70 award to Gus Yaki.

T7O70 recipient shares a laugh with Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Top 7 Over 70 gala host Dave Kelly
Al Muirhead (a Top 7 Over 70 recipient in 2017) provided gala entertainment with his band at the 2019 celebrations.

Additional photos from the Oct. 17, 2019 event:

The awards are ready for presentation.
The awards received by Top 7 Over 70 recipients are exquisite creations of glass made by artist Julia Reimer.
The Hyatt Regency in downtown Calgary did an amazing job of getting the room ready for the Top 7 Over 70 gala.
Every attendee received a new, fun button reflecting our motto: 80 is the new 65!
Top 7 Over 70 committee member Steve Allan presents Sylvia Rempel with her award.
Dr. Eldon Smith was one of the night’s award recipients.
Award recipient Jacqueline Cameron takes the stage. She was surprised earlier in the day by one of her daughters, who flew to Calgary from Hawaii to attend the gala and celebrate her mom’s achievements!
Award recipient Ken Stephenson talks to gala host Dave Kelly.