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  • Canadian Football Legend Bernie Custis Profiled In Unique Film Project

2nd December 2013

Canadian Football Legend Bernie Custis Profiled In Unique Film Project

movie orbyBernie Custis refused to give up on his dream. When the National Football League denied him the quarterback position because of the colour of his skin, he packed up and moved to Canada. The Hamilton Tiger Cats signed him and, in 1951, he became the first black quarterback in North American professional football, the kick off to a great career and a berth in the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame. Now, Bernie is helping to break another barrier. Ageism is Canada’s most widely tolerated form of social discrimination, according to Revera’s Report on Ageism (Revera and the International Federation on Ageing, 2012). A unique new program between seniors’ care and services provider Revera and Reel Youth, a not-for-profit which empowers youth to create engaging films about important social issues, is bringing together young and old in a film project that promotes inter-generational learning and celebrates ageless spirit.

“Far too often people are judged,” says Mr. Bernie Custis, resident at Appleby Place Retirement Residence. “In my life I have been fortunate enough to break some of these social barriers, which is why I was keen to participate in making this film.”

Called The Revera and Reel Youth Age Is More Film Project, the program brings two generations together to build understanding through the creation of a series of short films that profile the lives of 25 older adults. The films can be viewed on AgeIsMore.com.

“Age is More is focused on breaking down misperceptions and celebrating ageless spirit,” says Stephen Foster, Senior Vice President, Retirement Living at Revera.  “This project is a fun and meaningful way for the generations to come together, share experiences and learn from each other.”

According to Zoe Miles, Programs Manager from Reel Youth, “Even during the first day of filming there were a lot of connections being made between the younger and older participants. The youth were really interested in learning the stories of each of the older adults—each of them had their own approach to life.”

There are surprising benefits to intergenerational contact, like better psychological health for both generations, according to a Boston College Study.  Other benefits can include learning new skills from each other, helping to alleviate fears of aging, giving people a sense of shared purpose and reducing the likelihood of depression and isolation among older adults.

“Older and younger Canadians need to find opportunities to connect more,” says Greg Shaw, Director, International and Corporate Relations of the International Federation on Ageing.  “The simple act of getting to know someone from a different generation promotes positive attitudes and behaviours, and helps address misperceptions that inadvertently set in when people don’t have enough exposure to each other.”

And, according to research from Revera, the younger and older demographics have more in common than they think.  They have both experienced considerable age discrimination in Canada, with 73 per cent of Gen Y and 63 per cent of seniors (66 years of age and older) saying they have been treated unfairly or differently because of their age. Furthermore, 35 per cent of Gen Y and 24 per cent of seniors say they have been a victim of stereotyping.

The Age Is More Film Project is being produced in two locations in 2013: Whitecliff Retirement Residence in White Rock BC and Appleby Place Retirement Residence in Burlington ON, where Bernie Custis lives.

The project is part of Revera’s ongoing effort to shed light on ageism through its social initiative, Age Is More.  Age is More is part of Revera Giving, Revera’s way of giving back through philanthropy, supporting employee volunteerism, and combating ageism.

This holiday season Revera is asking Canadians to go to AgeIsMore.com to share stories of how their lives have been enriched by someone of a different generation.  All stories are entered in a contest for a chance to win one of three $100 restaurant gift cards.  Winners are encouraged to use the prize money to spend time with someone of a different generation.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 2nd, 2013 at 9:45 am and is filed under National News, New Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
  1. Tami Quiring (@VillageGamer)
    1:47 am on December 2nd, 2013

    Canadian Football Legend Bernie Custis Profiled In Unique @ReelYouth Film Project http://t.co/n5l0lQWLqu #eyeoncanada #AgeIsMore

  2. @ReelYouth
    2:03 am on December 2nd, 2013

    RT @VillageGamer: Canadian Football Legend Bernie Custis Profiled In Unique @ReelYouth Film Project http://t.co/n5l0lQWLqu #eyeoncanada #Ag…

  3. @Revera_Inc
    3:33 am on December 4th, 2013

    RT @VillageGamer: Canadian Football Legend Bernie Custis Profiled In Unique @ReelYouth Film Project http://t.co/n5l0lQWLqu #eyeoncanada #Ag…

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