Ottawa founder of Top Sixty Over Sixty says turn to older adults to solve the labour shortage
Helen Hirsh Spence has always been a leader.
A lifelong educator, Hirsh Spence spent many years working in senior leadership roles with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board.
She is the former President of the Ontario Principals’ Council.Hirsh Spence was the Head of Elmwood School.
For many years, she was the Chair of the Board of the Jane Goodall Institute—working to raise funds for the famous primatologist.
Then Hirsh Spence retired.
And in her words, became "invisible."
"I was suddenly irrelevant to the general public because people really attach who you are with what you do, and it’s especially bad for women. It’s gendered ageism," says Hirsh Spence.
"My generation was very unlike former generations of those over 60 years old," emphasizes Hirsh Spence. "We still had tons of potential, and lots to offer, and yet we were not being given the chance."
So, Hirsh Spence began leading again. The energetic electric visionary founded Top Sixty Over Sixty.
She was taken back by the focus given to those celebrated as the best and the brightest in Top Forty Under Forty awards.
"That’s really what inspired me. We grew up in a youth-centric world. We want to make aging aspirational. Look forward to getting older. See what you can do because it’s wonderful."
That’s not what is currently happening on Canada’s employment scene, says Hirsch Spence.
"The older workforce is the untapped resource in Canada."
She explains that the CVs of older applicants are less likely considered than those of younger people vying for the same jobs.
Hirsh Spence says she has experienced “ageism” and was driven to create Top Sixty Over Sixty after having witnessed, firsthand, how ageism was impacting Boomers.
"It bothered me because we happen to be in the majority, practically. There are over seven million of us who are over the age of 60 and that number is just increasing."
Hirsh Spence wants companies to rethink their hiring.
She wants employers to focus on experience and the benefits of having a multigenerational labour force.
"Ottawa is one of the best educated cities in the country but the education that most older people have is not being taken advantage of here."
Hirsh Spence doesn’t believe youth should be valued more than experience. She wants to see people of all ages working together, fuelling each other.
"We’re really working with businesses to help them understand the value of either retaining or hiring some older workers," explains Hirsch Spence.
"The findings are, when you do have mixed ages in the workforce there’s a higher level of retention, organizational culture improves," she says.
"There are tons of advantages having older and younger people working together—mutual mentoring, reciprocal mentoring.
"It’s definitely affecting the talent shortage because we’re letting great people go, instead of spending time figuring out great ways of retaining them."
Through Top Sixty Over Sixty, Hirsh Spence intends to bring attention to the value and potential of older adults and to dismantle ageism.
"We help businesses harness the opportunities of demographic change and we help individuals find purpose and meaning in the next stage of their lives," Hirsh Spence says.
"Canada is experiencing a talent shortage, but it isn't taking full advantage of its ageing demographic. ‘Top Sixty’ advocates for age equity in the workplace and wants to help businesses take full advantage of their multigenerational workforce," says a passionate Hirsh Spence.
Hirsh Spence shares examples of Ageist Comments
More Examples of ageist comments
- He's over the hill
- You can't teach an old dog new tricks
- I just had a senior's moment
- She's past her prime
Ageism in advertising
- Anti-aging treatments
- Want to look 10 years younger in just minutes?
- The teeth that make you look younger!
- Deep Set wrinkle repair!
Ageism in the workplace
- When will you be retiring?
- How many more years do you have left?
- I can't give you this training, you'll be gone in a few years
- Colleagues excluding others in conversations, or in activities, based on age
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.