Toronto women share wise words with city youth

Revera and Reel Youth Age is More Film Project Tackles Ageism Through Wise Words of Wisdom from One Generation to the Next

Cindy du Plessis, Assistant Executive Director, Forest Hill Retirement Community

As International Women’s Day approaches (March 8), it is time to celebrate women and the contributions they make to the community. Recently, young Toronto women, working with ten female residents from Revera’s Forest Hill Retirement Community in North Toronto, created short documentary films that explore the lives of the older women through the eyes of youth.

Faye Farber is one of the 10 Forest Hill Retirement Community residents whose life is celebrated in The Revera and Reel Youth Age is More Film Project. When asked what advice she has for the young women of today, she says, “Accept who you are, enjoy the day the fullest you can and have every day a birthday, every day…because you should make it the best that you can!”

Another resident featured is 90-year old Bertha Kronenberg, who worked in advertising for Scarborough News and is a true inspiration for young women. She grew up in an orphanage in South Africa and shares this experience in her video.

Each of the documentaries is a wonderful story on its own, but when the films are viewed all together, it’s clear that the young female filmmakers were inspired by the seniors’ wisdom and experience.

This film project is part of continuous efforts by Revera, a Canadian provider of senior accommodation, care and services, to break down age barriers and foster intergenerational friendships. Partnering with Reel Youth, a not-for-profit organization that works with youth to make films about important social issues, the initiative aims to challenge stereotypes about aging and promote an age-inclusive society by sharing films that explore the lives of seniors in a few select Canadian cities.

Revera research shows that ageism towards both youth and older people is Canada’s most widely tolerated form of social discrimination, and other research shows that the simple act of getting to know someone of a different generation helps to tackle ageism, reinforcing the importance of these types of programs for young and old alike.
Through this project, the youth and senior participants were able to get a glimpse of the world through a different lens; others can too by watching the films on www.ageismore.com.