No One is an Island | Shift Happens | TVO Today

In the 1970s a community of young hippies established a natural island paradise just minutes from downtown Toronto. They fought the government for the right to live there. They established their own land trust to run the place. They built their own homes. There was just one thing they didnt plan for: getting old. The Toronto Islands are home to approximately 700 people. Its a stubbornly self-reliant community that has lived in this quiet haven for more than five decades. One of the younger residents, an 82-year-old retired nurse named Bruce, has embraced the role of caregiver for his neighbours. But something needs to shift as the population ages. Bruce has taken on a 23-year-old student named Austin as a roommate. In exchange for reasonable rent, Austin assists Bruce in biking across the islands checking in on residents he now considers friends. But how long can the duo care for a community with increasingly complex needs? 00:00 A Unique Island & the People Who Care 00:37 Bruce’s Responsibility at 82 01:00 Meeting the Elders: Hank, Tom & Freda 02:02 Caring for Neighbors in Old Age 03:02 Tom’s Atlantic Row & Island Life 04:45 Austin Arrives & Bonds with Bruce 06:01 Challenges of an Aging Community 08:29 Pandemic Pressures & Passing the Torch 10:00 Freda’s Garden & the Next Generation 12:00 Island Housing, Inheritance & the Future Listen to TVO podcasts: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts Subscribe to our YouTube Channels: / @tvo / @theagenda / @thethreadwithnam Follow TVO on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearetvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/tvo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TVO Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters Get the TVO Today app: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-tod... Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com.