By Carolyn Evancio
You spend a lifetime being productive, having opinions, and being respected by others. This shouldn’t change as we get older.
Ageism is a form of discrimination based on age. It can be attitudes or beliefs that seniors are not as capable or worthwhile because of their age. Often ageism is so ingrained into our everyday lives that we just accept it as a part of getting older.
An example of ageism can be seniors’ jokes – in fact, many seniors themselves are the first to tell these negative, self-degrading jokes. Recently at a large seniors’ event, a guest speaker joked, “We know all your joints and bones are aching, so don’t bother to get up.” Not only are these so-called harmless jokes hurtful; they openly imply that seniors are not an active and engaged population.
Seniors should be celebrated for their contributions rather than being made to feel ashamed of aging. Let’s choose to focus our comments on the positive aspects of aging, including increased wisdom or influence rather than potential physical or cognitive impairment.
Many seniors are choosing to work longer for a variety of reasons, such as financial stability, feeling purposeful, social connectedness and a sense of belonging. If workplaces endorse negative aging stereotypes, it can create barriers for seniors who may thrive in their work environments. This can result in missed advancement opportunities or feeling obligated to leave the workforce before they are ready. Fostering age-friendly work environments can be a positive experience not only for seniors, but also for employers and others in the workforce.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo received an Age Friendly designation in 2024 from the province of Alberta and the World Health Organization. Being an Age Friendly community provides a framework to ensure physical and social environments are available for seniors to thrive as they age.
Primary Care Alberta Health Promotion Facilitators work closely in their communities to enable people to increase control over and improve their physical health and emotional wellbeing. This includes opportunities that strengthen community participation and involvement for seniors. The 60+ Impact Awards were initiated to encourage seniors to be actively engaged in their communities and to acknowledge past and current accomplishments for seniors over 60 years of age.
The 2026 60+ Impact Award Recipients
For the past four years, a small but dedicated committee in Wood Buffalo has provided the opportunity to celebrate seniors through the 60+ Impact Awards. Applications are available to nominate seniors who go above and beyond to make our region not only an exceptional place to work and live, but also somewhere they choose to stay once retired.
To date, 53 seniors have been recognized and celebrated for continuing to give back, utilizing their skills and expertise to remain active and purposeful. We are honoured to have them as part of the prestigious 60+ Impact Club! In 2026, 15 seniors varying in age from 60 to 85 were welcomed to the 60+ Impact Club. Their contributions have benefited a wide variety of local non-profit organizations, sports teams, religious groups and senior facilities, while also having a significant impact on countless individuals throughout the region.
The 60+ Impact Awards aren’t just about the number of hours someone volunteers or their visibility in the community. It’s about making a difference in the lives of others and truly having an impact in our communities. To learn more about the 60+ Impact Awards and their deserving recipients, please follow Impact 60+ RMWB on Facebook.
Ageism can be harmful to self-esteem and increase feelings of loneliness, which can lead to avoiding social events and functions. Social isolation can in turn negatively impact seniors’ physical and emotional health. Rather than contributing to the problem, let’s all be part of a society that values and respects the wealth that age can bring.
Remember to focus on positive reflections and engaged conversation, celebrating seniors for the skills and expertise they provide. Seniors have much to offer, and we can all stand to learn quite a bit from their lived experience and unique perspectives.
Carolyn Evancio
Carolyn Evancio is a Health Promotion Facilitator with Rural Health Promotion, Primary Care Alberta in Fort McMurray. She provides sustainable community programming and actively advocates for seniors in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Carolyn likes to golf, kayak and spend time with her family and granddaughter Blakely.