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I have a confession to make.
I have never had a problem being called a Senior Vice President.
But “senior citizen?” That has been another story.
For years, the word senior has been wrapped in stereotypes that suggest slowing down, stepping aside, and becoming less relevant. Yet reality tells a very different story.
Perhaps it is time we redefine the term entirely.
If being a senior means remaining curious, continuing to learn, serving others, and showing up fully engaged in life, then count me in.
At 72, I find myself in an exciting chapter of my life, because every chapter before this one has prepared me for it.
Like many women of my generation, I grew up when few female role models existed in business. I wanted a career, although I was not sure what that meant.
A high school teacher, Mr. Thompson, who had worked in advertising, created one of the first marketing courses available to high school students. He believed in me so strongly that he visited my parents and suggested I had a future in advertising.
He was right.
My first job, was with MacLaren Advertising in 1972. It shaped my professional life. I worked for an ambitious British executive who would become President of the agency, and he recognized something valuable in a young employee: curiosity, work ethic, initiative, and willingness.
I joined industry associations, volunteered for projects, accepted extra responsibilities, and learned everything I could. Growth is a choice.
That mindset led to promotions, opportunities, and a career spanning advertising, publishing, and corporate leadership.
Yet, what ultimately transformed my life wasn’t found in a boardroom.
It was found through service.
I had always volunteered in small ways. Then, in my forties, I became more deeply involved with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Run for the Cure, and Yonge Street Mission. Soon afterward, I joined my first Board of Directors.
That experience shifted something in me. I witnessed the impact committed volunteers can have. I discovered that service is not simply something we do. It becomes part of who we are.
The more involved I became, the more I felt drawn toward the non-profit sector.
At age 58, I did something many considered risky. I left the corporate world, returned to evening studies at TMU (Ryerson), earned accreditation as a fundraising professional, and reinvented myself.
Most people spend years climbing a career ladder. I stepped off one and started building a new one.
Looking back, this was exactly where I was meant to be.
Since then, I have helped charitable organizations raise tens of millions of dollars, served on boards, supported campaigns, chaired events, mentored others, and encouraged people to discover the purpose that comes from giving back.
To serve is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of every charitable organization. Across Canada, Baby Boomers contribute extraordinary volunteer hours, leadership, fundraising, and mentorship.
Yet a question concerns me.
What happens when we are no longer serving? Who will carry these organizations forward?
My advice is simple: start small. Volunteer at a local event. Mentor someone entering your profession. Share your skills. Offer your expertise. Help a neighbour.
The size of the contribution matters less than the willingness to contribute.
Check out our Downsizing Toolkit designed for people at any stage of a downsizing journey.
We've got resources for people who are thinking about downsizing 5 years from now, 1 years from now or even next week.
Then something unexpected happened.
At age 69, after decades of career success, I experienced something almost entirely new to me: ageism.
For the first time, I encountered assumptions about what I could or could not do because of my age. Instead of accepting those assumptions, I decided to challenge them.
That decision eventually led to a podcast. The podcast led to talk radio. Today, I am Host and Executive Producer of BoomerXchange™, a Sauga960am platform dedicated to changing the conversation around aging.
Our mission is simple: challenge ageist assumptions while creating intelligent conversations for today’s ageless consumers.
Because aging is not the problem, outdated thinking is.
Many Baby Boomers, particularly women, have spent decades building careers, supporting partners, raising families, caring for parents, volunteering, and creating meaningful lives.
We’ve broken glass ceilings. We have paid our dues. We’ve learned resilience, wisdom, perspective, and emotional intelligence.
So why would we suddenly become obsolete?
The answer is: we do not. Our value has never been greater.
Our knowledge matters. Our experience matters. Our networks matter. Our compassion matters. And our work ethic matters more now than ever.
This spring, I had the unexpected honour of finishing in the Top Five, in a contest for the cover of Ms. Health & Fitness magazine at 71.
When a friend forwarded the contest, my first thought was, “No.” Minutes later, I thought, “If not now, then when?” I’m so pleased I took the chance.
Nor did I imagine becoming a radio host in my seventies.
But maybe this is the point. Life remains full of possibilities when we stay receptive.
The lesson I hope others take from my journey is this: stay curious. Stay engaged. Keep learning. Keep serving. Keep reinventing. Don’t allow assumptions to become your limitations.
The best chapters of life are not determined by age. They are determined by attitude, purpose, and willingness to keep growing.
If that makes me a “Senior of the Month,” perhaps being a senior is not such a bad thing after all. In fact, perhaps it is something to celebrate.
What makes my story especially meaningful are the contributions beyond my career. For two decades, I have invested time, expertise, and leadership in strengthening Mississauga, the community I proudly call home.
That commitment has included serving on boards and committees. Among the roles closest to my heart:
These roles join a record of volunteer leadership that has helped raise millions for healthcare, social services, arts and culture, women’s causes, and community initiatives.
For me, volunteerism has never been about adding a line to a résumé. It’s about creating meaningful change.
Whether supporting healthcare, advocating for survivors of violence, championing arts and culture, or helping vulnerable neighbours, I have strived to leave organizations stronger than I found them.
That spirit of service reflects a belief I share through BoomerXchange Talk Radio: purpose doesn’t retire, nor should it.
In a world that too often measures aging by what people have lost, I believe my life demonstrates the opposite. Experience, wisdom, confidence, and engagement can keep growing.
And perhaps that is the big lesson behind this Senior in the Spotlight: showing what is possible.
At every age.
If you would like to nominate someone to be our Senior in The Spotlight, please send us a note at info@SeamlessRightsizing.ca or call/text 416-659-6011.