By 2031, close to 1.5 million British Columbians, or almost a quarter of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 population, will be over 65 and Metchosin is getting ready.
The municipality was one of nine regions in B.C. lauded for being age-friendly by the province last week.
The honour comes via the Age-friendly Recognition program, based on the Public Health Agency of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Pan-Canadian Age-friendly Community Recognition Initiative.
The program, which began in February, is the first step in the creation of an action plan toward recognizing that seniors are an important part of communities, said Ron Cantelon, parliamentary secretary for seniors to the Minister of Health.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more of a philosophy, really, to consciously make an effort to become age-friendly. WeB次元官网网址檙e consciously going to make a resolution to talk to seniors and ask them B次元官网网址榳hat do we need to do to be more age-friendly?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Seniors living in rural Metchosin have different needs compared to seniors in other municipalities, according to Colleen Brownlee, co-ordinator of the Metchosin seniors information and resource centre located at the Metchosin Community House.
Brownlee was chosen by council to look into the priorities and needs, such as transportation, of local seniors and find ways to best help them.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking at priorities... how do we expand or renew some of the existing services (for seniors),B次元官网网址� she said.
While Metchosin has made efforts to be more age-friendly, thereB次元官网网址檚 always room for improvement, Brownlee said.
B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of areas we need to publicize and (consider) how we can do it better,B次元官网网址� she said.
Some ideas Brownlee and her group are looking at include developing a community kitchen, where seniors could take home what they make for weekly meals, a wellness fair to better inform seniors of the services available in their community and programs through the Greater Victoria Public Library.
BrownleeB次元官网网址檚 efforts come after council passed a motion in late July to make the month of October Active Aging Month in Metchosin.
The $1,000 grant awarded to Metchosin with the recognition will go toward any activities planned for October.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very encouraged and it gives us the emphasis to go on and make efforts for seniors,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Jo Mitchell, who is part of MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 Healthy Community Advisory Committee and Active Aging Subcommittee.
Esquimalt and Saanich were also named age-friendly.
B次元官网网址 highlighting projects from around the province is available at seniorsbc.ca/agefriendly/afbc_video.
B次元官网网址� with files from Natalie North
and Charla Huber
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
