It’s time to nominate Hamilton’s 2020 Senior of the Year

HAMILTON, ON – The call for nominations for the City of Hamilton’s 25th Annual Senior of the Year Awards is now open. The deadline for nominations is March 29, 2020.

With links to Hamilton’s 10-year Strategic Plan and Plan for an Age-Friendly City, the Seniors Awards celebrates the role seniors play in helping Hamilton to be the best place to raise a child and age successfully. The Senior of the Year Awards is a program that recognizes senior citizens residing in Hamilton who have made outstanding voluntary contributions to enriching the social, cultural or civic life of our community. 

There are nine award categories, including Senior of the Year (provided by the Ontario Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility), Lifetime Achievement, Innovation, Behind the Scenes, Diversity and Cultural, Leadership, Compassion and Companionship, Economic Leadership, and Healthy and Active Living. There is also a Youth Supporting Seniors Award recognizing dedicated youth volunteers ages 15-24.

A gala event to celebrate the achievements of the nominees and award recipients is being planned for Monday, June 22, 2020 at Michelangelo Events and Conference Centre, located at 1555 Upper Ottawa Street in Hamilton. Tickets go on sale May 1, 2020 at a cost of $30 per person and can be purchased at Sackville Seniors Centre and all City of Hamilton Municipal Centres.

This year’s presenting sponsor is The Village of Wentworth Heights and the primary media sponsor is the Hamilton Spectator.

For more information about the awards program and to submit a nomination, please visit www.hamilton.ca/seniorsawards or contact Lisa Maychak, Senior of the Year Awards Coordinator at [email protected] or 905-546-2424 ext. 1721.

Quick facts

• The number of older adults and seniors in Hamilton is expected to double over the next two decades.
• In 2013, the City of Hamilton partnered with the Hamilton Council on Aging (HCoA) and Seniors Advisory Committee of Council (SAC) to begin the development of Hamilton’s first Age Friendly Plan.
• Since 2014, the City, HCoA and SAC have worked with many community partners to make Hamilton an age-friendly city. This work includes building on projects that are already happening in the community, such as barrier-free spaces, housing opportunities, safer neighbourhoods, and available communication.
• In 2019, community consultations took place to inform and develop Hamilton’s second Age Friendly Plan for 2020-2025.
• With links to Hamilton’s 10-year Strategic Plan, the Plan helps to identify and address the needs and priorities of this growing part of our population.
• For more information on Hamilton’s Age Friendly Plan, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/agefriendly