At 80 years old, Beverly Suek continues to advocate for societal change, particularly in the perception and treatment of older adults. Reflecting on her life’s journey, she emphasizes the importance of active engagement and respect for seniors, challenging the common stereotypes that marginalize this demographic.

Suek’s earlier years were marked by a busy household and a focus on family, raising seven children alongside volunteering and working. She recalls warning her children to prepare for her care in old age, half-joking but with an underlying seriousness. However, as her children matured, she reconsidered this expectation, rejecting the idea of living under her children’s care in what she describes as a "tiny basement room" with minimal connection to their lives. This vision of isolation spurred her to seek a different path.

Following the loss of her husband and the departure of her grown children, Suek confronted the silence left in her once bustling home. This prompted her to question societal attitudes toward aging and the opportunities available to seniors. She criticized the way older adults are often portrayed in media as “fuddy-duddy” figures or relegated to passive roles involving simple recreational activities such as bingo or arts and crafts. According to Suek, these portrayals ignore the desire of many seniors to remain productive, retain autonomy, and be respected for their experience and knowledge.

With a lifelong commitment to social change, particularly in women’s rights and community services, Suek has sought to apply her advocacy to aging issues. She played a role in establishing the first birthing centre in Manitoba and the Women’s Enterprise Centre, as well as chairing the Manitoba Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Now, she channels her efforts into initiatives like the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign with the Stephen Lewis Foundation, founding a housing cooperative for older women, and raising awareness about loneliness among seniors through public speaking and participation in the activist group Raging Grannies.

Suek stresses that aging is a universal experience and calls on seniors to actively shape their futures rather than passively accept existing conditions. She advocates for communities where older adults are intellectually stimulated, socially involved, and valued contributors. Her message underscores the potential for collective action to reshape perceptions and opportunities for seniors, encouraging them to "shake it up" and demand change for themselves and future generations.

Living in Winnipeg, Beverly Suek embodies the ongoing effort to transform how society views aging, pushing for a future where growing older does not mean diminished agency or respect.