Welcome to the Hamilton Council on Aging (HCoA) Winter 2025-2026 Newsletter!

by | Dec 15, 2025 | Newsletter Articles, Newsletters

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from HCoA!

As we welcome the holiday season, we’re happy to share our Winter newsletter with you and wish you well as we head into the new year.


In this edition, we’re excited to introduce our new Board President, Joanne Pearson, and to celebrate Margaret Denton, Hamilton’s 2025 Senior of the Year. You’ll find highlights from our 2025 Walk for Health, an invitation to share your 2025 Age-Friendly Success Story, details about our December 18 Climate Action event, a reflection on the importance of volunteering, and more!

If this is your first time reading our newsletter, welcome! At the Hamilton Council on Aging, we work together to make positive aging visible in Hamilton. You can learn more about us on our website and catch up on our last newsletter there.

Meet Our New President: Joanne Pearson

As we welcome the holiday season, we are pleased to share some news from our Board. We are delighted to introduce Joanne Pearson as the new President of our Board of Directors.

Joanne joined us two years ago during a very busy time in her life as she was retiring from her role as Executive Director of the Burlington Family Health Team. She continues to run her own company, spends lots of time with her grandchildren, and still makes time to share her skills, empathy, and energy with us. Joanne is thoughtful, kind, and collaborative, and we are excited for what the future will bring at HCoA under her leadership.

To help you get to know Joanne a little better, we asked her a few quick questions. Here’s what she shared.

What part of your background led you to HCoA?
“Being a caregiver to my mother.”

What shaped how you think about positive aging?
“Societal stigma sometimes faced by being old.”

What is something surprising or fun about you?
“I once ran a marathon in the Bahamas.”

What brings you joy these days?
“Family, volunteering, time for myself.”

What Hamilton place or memory means the most to you?
“Doing the Kenilworth stairs.”

What excites you most about this new role?
“Working with other passionate volunteers, supporting seniors.”

What are you hopeful for this coming year?
“Making a positive difference in my volunteer work.”

What comforts, hobbies, or simple pleasures brighten your day?
“Family, reading, walking with my dog Luna.”

What message do you want to share with our community?
“Don’t make assumptions about people, get to know them.”

Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
“High level of empathy. I care.”

—

Please join us in welcoming Joanne Pearson in her new role as President!

Whether you are getting to know Joanne for the first time or have crossed paths with her on the Kenilworth stairs, we’re pleased to share that she has stepped into the role of President for the next two years. Joanne brings thoughtfulness, care, and a strong commitment to helping build a community where older adults can participate as they choose and feel respected and included.

As we enter a new year, we look forward to working with Joanne—and with all of you—as we continue making positive aging visible in Hamilton.

You’re invited to A Greener Holiday Table, a free Age-Friendly Hamilton holiday event for older adults 55+

Join us on December 18 at The Gasworks for an eco-friendly holiday lunch and a meaningful conversation about climate change, aging, and community. This gathering is an opportunity to share your experiences, learn from others, and help shape Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy. Your voice truly matters.

The afternoon includes a keynote talk by Dr. Stephanie Hatzifilalithis on Healthy Aging in an Unhealthy Climate, a complimentary eco-friendly festive lunch, along with time for discussion and connection in a warm, welcoming setting.

Date: December 18, 2025
Time: 12:30 to 3:30 pm
Location: The Gasworks, 141 Park Street North

Registration is required and space is limited.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER or call 905-920-7721

 

Dr. Margaret Denton Named 2025 City of Hamilton Senior of the Year!

We are so pleased to share that our very own Dr. Margaret Denton was named the 2025 City of Hamilton Senior of the Year at this year’s celebration, held earlier this fall at Carmen’s Event Centre.

For those who know Margaret, this recognition feels deeply fitting. For those who may be learning about her work for the first time, it offers a moment to reflect on the lasting impact one person can have when they lead with care, persistence, and humility.

A Founder and a Steady Voice for Older Adults

Twenty years ago, Margaret played a central role in helping to found the Hamilton Council on Aging around her kitchen table. What began as a small group of committed community advocates quickly grew into a strong and independent voice for older adults in Hamilton.

As a gerontologist with a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, Margaret brought both professional expertise and personal integrity to everything she did. She helped lead early initiatives such as Let’s Get Moving, Portraits of Aging, and numerous Age-Friendly environment and accessibility projects. These efforts supported mobility, strengthened social connection, and challenged how aging is understood in our community.

Perhaps most notably, Margaret introduced the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities framework to Hamilton, making us the first city in Ontario to formally adopt this approach. From 2007 to 2022, she helped lead four Age-Friendly community plans shaped by the voices of tens of thousands of older adults.

Throughout this work, Margaret was thoughtful and persistent in ensuring that older adults from all backgrounds were not only included, but truly heard, valued, and meaningfully involved. She ensured our work was grounded in evidence and best practices in aging research and brought together seniors, public servants, researchers, community partners, and decision makers to create real and lasting improvements in transportation, housing, accessibility, and opportunities to participate in community life.

Impact Beyond Hamilton

Margaret’s leadership has reached well beyond our city. As a co-founder of the Southern Ontario Age-Friendly Network and a long-time board member of the Ontario Association of Councils on Aging, she has supported communities across the province in building more inclusive and supportive environments for older adults.

After officially retiring from the HCoA Board, Margaret has continued to champion seniors’ voices through her involvement with the Hamilton Council on Aging Communications Committee. She continues to coordinate monthly editorials in the Hamilton Spectator on issues affecting older adults today. (She also served as the editor in chief of this very newsletter😊)

Again and again, people describe Margaret in the same way. She listens deeply. She brings people together. She leads quietly and with purpose.

A Legacy Worth Celebrating

As we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Hamilton Senior of the Year Award, we are honoured to celebrate the extraordinary volunteer legacy of Dr. Margaret Denton and the difference her work has made in the lives of older adults across Hamilton. Congratulations, Margaret, and thank you for all that you have given to Hamilton, to the Hamilton Council on Aging, and to the Age-Friendly Hamilton initiative over the past two decades.

Recognizing all 2025 Hamilton Senior of the Year Recipients

The City of Hamilton Senior of the Year Awards celebrate the remarkable volunteer contributions of older adults across our city. We extend heartfelt congratulations to this year’s recipients.

  • Dr. Margaret Denton, Senior of the Year
  • Adris Dixon, Diversity and Cultural Award
  • Susan Ford Ricketts, Behind the Scenes Award
  • Kiran Gupta, Innovation Award
  • Janet Kulmatycki, Compassion and Companionship Award
  • Carol Mayner, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Helen Metz, Leadership Award
  • Mike Moore, Healthy and Active Living Award
  • Phyllis Way, Economic Leadership Award

Each of these individuals has strengthened Hamilton through years of generosity, leadership, and care.

We also extend sincere congratulations to all nominees, including Peter Lesser, a member of the Hamilton Council on Aging Board of Directors and the Age-Friendly Hamilton Collaborative. Being nominated is itself a meaningful recognition of the difference you make in our community.

To learn more about the Hamilton Senior of the Year Awards, please visit: Senior of the Year Awards | City of Hamilton

Thanking a True Partner: Lisa Maychak

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Lisa Maychak, who the Hamilton Council on Aging had the privilege of working alongside for the past ten years.

Lisa worked closely with our team in a way that was truly collaborative. Together, we built a strong and respectful working relationship grounded in trust, open communication, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of older adults in Hamilton. As the City’s Project Manager and our primary contact for Age-Friendly Hamilton, Lisa worked alongside us and partners to design and implement two Age-Friendly community plans. Together, we navigated complex work, brought diverse voices to the table, and stayed focused on building a city where older adults are valued, included, and supported. Her steady presence brought consistency, care, and respect for community knowledge to everything we worked on together.

Lisa also transformed the Hamilton Senior of the Year Awards, shaping them into a large scale annual recognition event that ensured the volunteer contributions of older adults were recognized in thoughtful and meaningful ways year after year.

Lisa retired this fall after 27 years with the City of Hamilton. We are deeply grateful for all that we accomplished together and for the collaborative relationship we built. We hope this spirit of partnership continues as we work with the City of Hamilton going forward.

Celebrating Age-Friendly Businesses and Organizations in Hamilton: Share Your Story by December 31

We are pleased to share that the Age-Friendly Hamilton 2025 Success Stories Survey is now open at www.coahamilton.ca. This is the final year we will be gathering stories for our current Age-Friendly Plan, and we hope to finish strong by highlighting the many efforts you made in 2025 to improve life for older adults in Hamilton!

Age-Friendly Hamilton is a community effort shaped by residents, partners, and organizations who want to make our city a welcoming and supportive place for older adults. One of the most meaningful parts of this work is learning about what is happening in neighbourhoods, workplaces, and community spaces. Every year, we collect stories to better understand what people are trying, what is working well, and what is making a positive impact. These stories help us learn from one another and show what Age-Friendly action looks like in real life.

Many businesses are making intentional changes that help older adults feel more comfortable. Clear signs in larger print, enhanced lighting, quieter seating areas, and staff who take time to offer support can all make a real difference. These small actions do not require major renovations, yet they make it easier for many to visit, participate, and be included in a business and in the community.

A great example of this comes from Heather Watson, founder of Watson Estates Law (and also a director of the Hamilton Council on Aging.) Heather recently opened her new business in a beautiful historic building from the 1800s. Like many older buildings, it is exempt from today’s accessibility requirements, and major renovations would be cost prohibitive for her as a new business owner. However, it is important to Heather that her office is a place where everyone, regardless of age or ability, feel welcomed and supported.

Working closely with her landlord, Heather arranged to have a ramp installed at the entrance so clients using mobility aids or who move more slowly can enter safely. She also chose her location with care, with on-site parking and a bus route nearby. For clients who cannot or prefer not to come in person, Heather offers house calls so people can receive support where they feel most comfortable.

Heather is honest that her space is not yet where she wants it to be, and she is working on it step by step. One of her next improvements is adding an assistance button to help clients with the heavy front door until she can install a fully automatic opener.

Heather’s story is a reminder that Age-Friendly action is not about perfection. It is about care, intention, and doing what we can with the space and resources we have. It is also about paying attention to the small details that make people feel comfortable and choosing to improve what we can, when we can.

If you run a business, organization, or community space in Hamilton and you tried anything this year to make your environment or services more Age-Friendly, we would love to hear from you. As 2025 comes to a close, please take a moment to share your story. It can be big or small. Perfection is not the goal. Every effort helps us learn from one another and strengthens our Age-Friendly Hamilton.

You can complete the 2025 Age-Friendly Hamilton Success Stories Survey at www.coahamilton.ca until December 31, 2025.

To learn more about Age-Friendly Hamilton or to read last year’s success stories, please visit www.hamilton.ca/agefriendly.

Why Volunteering is Important for Retirees and Seniors’ Well-being

Contributed by Peter Lesser

Have you heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? These are theories developed by Abraham Maslow in 1943 suggesting that people are motivated by a hierarchy of needs which include both physiological needs as well as psychological needs.

We know the importance of exercise and other physical activities as we age, and we’ve all heard about the primary needs such as food, shelter, clothing, intimacy, etc. But according to Maslow, there are other psychological needs that should be considered, such as:

  • Self-actualization
    The desire to become the most one can be
  • Esteem
    Respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, and freedom
  • Belonging
    Friendship, sense of connection, feeling useful and needed, belonging

Volunteering is a great way of meeting some of these psychological needs, and there are many types of volunteer activities that could be considered. There are volunteer opportunities to suit and complement various skills, interests, and hobbies, or to meet a desire to increase knowledge and skills. Participation could be in person or virtual, short term or long term.

Opportunities exist in organizations that focus on community development, healthcare support, education, animal care, and more. This could include volunteering in a hospital, long-term care home, or food bank, or serving as a member of a Board of Directors for a for-profit or not-for-profit organization.

The benefits of volunteering are numerous. Volunteering enhances both mental and physical health by increasing social connections, combating loneliness, reducing stress, providing a sense of purpose, and stimulating cognitive function. It also promotes a continued role in society, allows for personal growth, and fosters a positive self-image and overall well-being. Many volunteer roles also require some form of physical activity, which is crucial to our well-being as we age.

Some Suggestions for Finding Volunteer Opportunities

There are many sources of volunteer opportunities available, including the Hamilton Public Library’s Red Book (link provided below). The Red Book lists many non-profits, community groups, and events seeking volunteers.

The City of Hamilton (link below) also lists opportunities for recreation programs, animal services, and more. Other organizations offering volunteer opportunities include St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Volunteer opportunities can also be searched on www.yellowpages.ca.

Online Volunteer Resources

ANOTHER IDEA: If you have a favourite interest or activity, for example animals, go to www.yellowpages.ca and type in “animal services.” A list of organizations will come up. Begin by telephoning and asking if they have any volunteer opportunities. This approach can apply to any sector. Try searching hospitals, health care, not-for-profit, and more. You will find a wide range of potential volunteer opportunities to choose from.

In closing, I would ask you to consider one more advantage of volunteering, and that is the social aspect. Volunteering can increase your circle of friends and acquaintances while providing an important service to your community.

Sources and Additional Information

 

New Funding Announcement

HCoA has been awarded funding through the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA)’s Building Belonging Program. This support will help us expand the Dementia Empowerment Network (DEN)—a collection of peer-led social groups created by and for people living with dementia. With this funding, we will deepen our work to reduce social isolation for Indigenous people living with dementia, their care partners, and families in Hamilton and Six Nations.

🌿 In partnership with:

  • Six Nations of the Grand River – Senior Support Hub
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre (DAHAC)

Together, we will:

  • Support new empowerment groups led by and for Indigenous community members
  • Welcome individuals and families into existing DEN groups
  • Increase opportunities for leadership, volunteering, connection, and belonging

We look forward to co-creating this work alongside community partners and people with lived experience.

💬 Want to learn more or get involved? Reach out to us anytime at: DEN@hamiltoncoa.com

This project is supported by the Building Belonging Program at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA). Building Belonging is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Walk for Health and Seniors Wellness Fair 2025

Watch the highlights You can watch a short photo reel from the day here:
https://www.instagram.com/share/BAHL4m5Ezq

On Saturday, October 4, our community came together at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre for our annual Seniors Wellness Fair and Walk for Health. This event was especially meaningful for us as it was our first annual event that combined a wellness fair and fundraiser, and we are deeply grateful for the support, patience, and enthusiasm shown by everyone involved.

Older adults, volunteers, community partners, and local organizations filled the space with movement, learning, and conversation. Whether you joined us as an exhibitor, presenter, sponsor, volunteer, or attendee, thank you for being part of a day that reflected the strength of our community. Because of your generosity, the walk raised $5,000, which will directly support positive aging programs and education offered by the Hamilton Council on Aging.

We extend our sincere thanks to Scotia Wealth Management andThe Village of Wentworth Heights (Event Sponsors); Amica Dundas (Transportation Sponsor, providing shuttle service from Dundas); Summit Heights Retirement Residence and Villa Italia Retirement Residence (Refreshment Sponsors); and Gaitway NeuroPhysio (Mobility Partner, with an activity station supporting movement and balance). We also would like to thank the City of Hamilton and staff at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre for providing space for this event.

We are deeply grateful to our presenters and try it session leaders, and to our 37 exhibitors who shared practical information, resources, and encouragement with older adults from across Hamilton. The range of services and perspectives on display highlighted the value of working collaboratively.

What we learned: We loved the space and the welcoming atmosphere, and we also learned that the fair has the potential to grow even further. In the future, a larger venue may better support the number of participants and exhibitors, and we plan to streamline the schedule so there is less happening at the same time. These learnings will help us create an even stronger event moving forward!

Last call for 2025 donations

As the year comes to a close, this is a friendly reminder that donations must be made by December 31, 2025 to receive a charitable tax receipt for the 2025 tax year. Your gift helps the Hamilton Council on Aging continue programs, events, and advocacy that support older adults across Hamilton. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference.

If you are able, we hope you will consider making a year end gift.

Donate Now – Hamilton Council on Aging

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Have You Noticed Changes in Your Memory? Researchers Are Looking for Participants (Ages 60–90)

A new 6-week research study at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is exploring a non-invasive neuromodulation intervention to support people experiencing mild changes in cognition or memory.
The study team is looking for adults between 60 and 90 who have noticed a change in their cognitive performance and/or memory. Participants who complete all study activities can receive up to $260 in e-gift cards.


To learn more or find out if you are eligible, contact the research team at 905-522-1155 ext. 36677 or neuromod@stjoes.ca, or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Researchers Studying How Older Adults (55+) Remember Life Events and Think About the Future

Researchers at the University of Regina are inviting adults aged 55 and over to take part in an online research study exploring how they experience time, remember life events, and think about the future. Participation begins with a short eligibility survey, followed by one Zoom session (60–90 minutes) that includes questionnaires, brief videos, and reflection activities. The study is fully remote and has been approved by the University of Regina Research Ethics Board.

To learn more and see if you’re eligible, scan the QR code in the included flyer or visit:
👉 https://shorturl.at/yMEHM