Nancy Angus Recognized as Changemaker
I'm so honoured to be recognized by 8 80 Cities as one of thirty Ontario Community Changemakers for 2024!
Nancy Angus, the founder of Age BIG, a Thunder Bay-based program for people to embrace aging boldly, inquisitively and gratefully, has been recognized by 8 80 Cities as one of thirty Ontario Community Changemakers for 2024.
As an Ontario Community Changemaker, Angus will receive a cash prize to implement her Park Your Stories project idea, participate in leadership development training from 8 80 Cities, and engage in peer-to-peer networking with other grassroots community champions from across Ontario. The 2024 program will run until September 2025 and includes a 2-day Studio in Toronto. The changemakers will receive ongoing training and capacity building from the team at 8 80 Cities and a network of international public space experts. The program is powered by 8 80 Cities, a not-for-profit organization based in Toronto, with funding from Balsam Foundation.
“I’m so honoured to be recognized as a Changemaker,” Angus says. “I attended an 8 80 Cities workshop offered by the City of Thunder Bay many years ago. If what we do in our cities is great for both an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, then it will benefit everyone. It’s an idea that has stayed with me. This year, 8 80 Cities opened the competition up to people in my age category and that inspired me to apply. It will be exciting to work with and learn from folks of all ages as I design my project, Park Your Stories: Storytelling in the GRAND Outdoors.”
“We have realized that older people are re-imagining their potential and need support for their goals, and we want to be that support for these groups of people,” says Jiya Benni, Senior Project Manager at 8 80 Cities. “This is also very much in alignment with our vision of cities being places for people to grow up and grow old in. As an organization, we believe our communities need and depend on changemakers of all age groups.”
Nancy’s changemaker project will take advantage of Thunder Bay’s parks and outdoor green spaces for older adults, or GRANDs, to shape and share stories. “During the pandemic, our parks were rediscovered as great, free, and healthy outdoor cafés and meeting spaces,” Angus says. “I envision this project as an opportunity to bring strangers together to share stories in welcoming and energizing spaces throughout Thunder Bay. It’s my hope that some of the stories created in these story circles will help create a podcast or radio program so that people of all ages can hear and learn from the stories of these GRAND individuals.”
About 8 80 Cities
8 80 Cities is a not-for-profit organization based in Toronto, Canada. They are dedicated to contributing to the transformation of cities into places where people can walk, bike, access public transit and visit vibrant parks and public places. Their approach is to engage people and communities across multiple sectors to inspire the creation of cities that are easily accessible, safe, and enjoyable for all. They achieve their mission through grant projects, research and advocacy, and innovative services. For more, visit: 880cities.org.
About Balsam Foundation
Balsam Foundation exists to enable and galvanize the well-being and potential of our communities. They are committed to a future where all Canadians benefit from a high standard of health and well-being. For this reason, their funding will reflect approaches that put people first, strike a balance between personal and collective wellness, and acknowledge the impact of social determinants of health and the context within which people live, work and play. For more, visit balsamfoundation.com.
