New initiative introduces community to nominees for Top 7 Over 70 project

By BRENDAN MILLER on September 5, 2024.

This afternoon at Connaught Golf Club, seven seniors who have been nominated by their friends, family and community organizations will be introduced during a recipient announcement for an inaugural project that looks to celebrate new skills and activities people have adopted or picked up since turning 70.

The recognition project, hosted by the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta, aims to serves as inspiration for everyone in any generation, and chair David Andrews says the current generation of seniors are more active than at anytime in history.

“This is intended to be a celebration of people over the age of 70 who’ve taken on a new initiative or effort that they’ve developed after they were 70,” explains Andrews. “It’s not a celebration of their achievements during their lifetime, it’s a celebration of something done.”

That can range from learning to play a musical instrument or developing a new business, or actively giving back or volunteering in the community, says Andrews.

“These community champions make significant contributions in fields such as science, literature, sports, agriculture, philanthropy and the arts beyond the age of 70,” reads a media invitation. “Demonstrating the ongoing impact of those who defy age norms, shape our world and continue to inspire.”

A team of local volunteers have gone through all nominations received before the Aug. 26 deadline, and have chosen seven seniors who haven’t let their age hold them back.

“It’s just fun and exciting and that’s what it needs to be, this is a celebration of people who haven’t slowed down. If anything, they’ve gotten more interesting as they’ve got older.”

Andrews says despite the project being in its inaugural year, it’s received dozens of nominations from communities around southeastern Alberta.

The award project will be the first of its kind outside Calgary, where the idea was founded by oil patch pioneer and philanthropist Jim Gary in 2017. Since it was founded Calgary has held four Top 7 Over 70 ceremonies. Local organizers say they hope to inspire other communities across the country to adopt the idea.

“His vision is for this was to expand across the country,” says Andrews. “The one we are doing here in Medicine Hat, in southeastern Alberta, is the first time a Top 7 Over 70 has been done outside Calgary.”

The seven recipients will be honoured Oct. 10 at a public gala at Medalta in the Historic Clay District.

The CFSEA is also hiring a videographer to highlight each recipient’s story, and those videos will be played during the gala.

Today’s recipient announcement, planned for two hours, is open to the public and begins at 1 p.m. at Connaught Golf Club.