This is part two of our four-part COVID-19 mini-series.
American feminist writer Betty Friedan once said, “Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” On this week’s podcast episode, hosts Dr. Allison Sekuler and Dr. Rosanne Aleong talk to older adults who embody this message by finding creative ways to preserve their minds, bodies, and spirits during the pandemic.
Joining us for this second installment of our COVID-19 mini-series is George Nakamura, founder of Clearmount Plastics Ltd., whose years spent working on a farm as a young boy taught him how to be adaptable and resilient in the face of loss and change.
We’ll also hear an engaging panel discussion with guests Richard Sheppard, a retired financial professional who shares his tips on resourcefulness and the power of active aging; and Angie Seto from Canada’s National Ballet School. Angie offers advice on how older adults can incorporate creativity, self-expression, and movement into their daily lives with the Sharing Dance Seniors program, presented in partnership with Baycrest.
The Community of Innovation Podcast COVID-19 mini-series is brought to you in partnership with Baycrest@Home.
Listen to this week’s podcast:
Listen to part one of our COVID-19 mini-series:
Learn more about our guests:
George Nakamura was born on June 7, 1927 in Ganges, British Columbia. Following his completion of grade 11, George was forced to move east of the Rockies by the British Columbia government to Chatham, Ontario. It was in Chatham that George learned to farm and where he would graduate from Chatham Vocational School in Auto Mechanics. After his family moved to Toronto in 1957, George apprenticed as an engraver and mold maker at Silverware Products Ltd. While at this company, George helped his brother-in-law create an acrylic (plastic) embedding process, which he later purchased for his own entrepreneurial pursuits. In 1964, George incorporated his company, Clearmount Plastics Ltd, which he owned and operated for 28 years. After retiring, George enjoyed a life of travel with his wife of 60 years. Her passing last year continues to leave a void in his life, despite his active involvement at the Shepherd Village retirement community where he now lives.
Richard Sheppard is a 62 years-young Calgary resident, who is married with two adult children and two grandsons. After retiring last year from a long career in finance, Richard has taken the opportunity to engage in a variety of physical activities, including skiing, cycling, kayaking, and working out at the gym. As well, he has continued to explore his interests in finance and investments, developments in technology and innovation, longevity research, reading non-fiction and fiction (he’s currently working his way through the classics), woodworking, cooking, and travel. His 96-year-old father is currently living with dementia in a care facility in Victoria, British Columbia, and his mother passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease at age 84. As a result, aging and brain health are incredibly personal and important topics to him.
Angie Seto studied dance at Ryerson University and York University, and is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School’s (NBS) Teacher Training Program. She has been teaching dance for more than two decades and joined the artistic faculty at NBS in 2005. In her current role as Manager of Community Dance Programs for Seniors, Angie is an integral part of NBS’ exciting collaboration with Baycrest to develop meaningful and engaging dance activity for older adults. She is also part of the leadership group that founded the Dance for Parkinson’s Network Canada, which strives to improve access to dance programs for people living with Parkinson’s, as well as provide resources to dance teachers. When she’s not teaching dance, Angie is most likely spending time with family or watching hockey.
Tips from our guests for staying physically and mentally active:
Angie Seto
- Website resource – Canada’s National Ballet School
- Staying physically active – Sharing Dance Seniors
- Website resource – Dance for PD
Richard Shephard
- Podcast recommendation – Exponential Wisdom (Peter Diamonds)
Podcast Theme music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
