Age is no barrier to achieving goals. Just look at the remarkable accomplishments of the 2021 winners of the Top 7 Over 70 awards. “The contributions of older adults in Calgary and area are truly amazing,” says Top 7 Over 70 chair Kim McConnell. “They are driving our economy and communities forward via their efforts in many fields.”
This year’s Top 7 Over 70 winners — who started exceptional new ventures after the age of 70 — are:
- Margaret Southern: A 90-year-old powerhouse businesswoman who has changed the face of professional sport in our city;
- Sherali Saju: An 83-year-old entrepreneur who privately supports mortgages and business loans for new Canadians when banks say no;
- Miiksika’am (Elder Clarence Wolfleg): A 73-year-old residential school survivor and Spiritual Elder who is now sharing teachings with thousands;
- Don Taylor: An 86-year-old self-made man who is now donating tens of millions of dollars to local educational, cultural and environmental initiatives;
- Louis B. Hobson: A 77-year-old creative force who has launched a myriad of theatrical initiatives, including a new rock musical;
- Bonnie Kaplan: A 74-year-old scientist who has written a bestselling book and researched new pathways for treating mental health;
- Murray McCann: An 82-year-old businessman and philanthropist who has forever changed the way we honour war veterans in Calgary.
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NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR 2023
If you know an individual who has achieved an impressive accomplishment since turning 70, we want to hear from you in the future! She or he may be a perfect nominee for the biennial Top 7 Over 70 awards.
Any senior who is over 70 — and lives in Calgary or its surrounding communities — is eligible to be nominated. Ideal nominees are those who have started something different or new, or implemented a new venture or idea, after age 70. The focus of the awards isn’t on past accomplishments or lifetime achievements. Rather, individuals should be nominated for new accomplishments. These achievements may be based or built on previous work or commitments, but they should have a “current” flavour or different twist, or perhaps be occurring in a completely new arena.
Nominees’ accomplishments can be occurring in fields such as: health and recreation; arts and culture; science; business; volunteerism; environment; overcoming adversity; and making a difference.
Another goal of the awards is to promote and encourage achievement of others, in addition to the nominees. To that end, the awards raise funds to initiate programming to foster engagement between seniors and younger people. The exchange of ideas, advice, experience and mentoring is key to this venture, called InterGen — a unique talent development program and matching platform. This helps re-energize our economy by partnering transitioning or retiring individuals with young entrepreneurs, thus creating multigenerational teams that can rapidly scale growth. The founders of young companies have already been matched with experienced Calgarians, producing positive results in areas including networking, board leadership, financing direction and strategic planning.
“It is more important than ever that we celebrate the amazing accomplishments of one of our most important resources — older citizens,” said Top 7 Over 70 founder Jim Gray. “Despite difficult times, these folks are achieving remarkable results in business, the arts, science, philanthropy and more, for initiatives started after age 70.”
Nominations for the 2021 Top 7 Over 70 awards are now open. Go to this link — on the website of our partner InterGen — to complete a nomination form: https://intergenconnect.com/top7/ .
While Top 7 Over 70 nominations are accepted until Sept. 30, we encourage you to submit your nomination early so that the selection panel has ample time to consider your nominee. The format of the 2021 awards ceremony will be determined in accordance with health and safety guidelines in effect at that time, but currently is planned to be both an in-person and virtual event.
To watch the announcement of the now completed Noble Neighbour Citation program and the launch of the 2021 Top 7 Over 70 awards program, please view the video below.
