The Ministry of Health has recruited an Age-friendly Communities Implementation Team to directly assist and enable local governments to identify barriers and implement actions to create age-friendly communities. The goal is to make BC the most age-friendly jurisdiction in Canada by 2010.

The Team will provide expert planning advice and support to local governments (including municipalities, regional districts and Aboriginal communities) to develop and implement age-friendly actions using the Age-friendly Community Guides.

In February 2008, the Age-friendly Communities Implementation Team developed Age-friendly Communities - How Age-friendly is Your Community? A Guide to Local Governments To Getting Started. This is a practical step-by-step guide for communities to work with their local governments in using the Age-friendly Community Guides to assess the age-friendliness of their community, identify solutions and implement actions.

The team also provides the secretariat support to the Age-friendly Leadership Network.

About the Team

The Age-friendly Communities Implementation Team was formed in October 2007 and is a partnership between three established consultants:

• Dr. Elaine Gallagher of Gerotech Research Associates is the project lead and comes with a rich background as the lead researcher in the Saanich WHO Age-friendly Project and the Canadian Age-friendly Rural and Remote Communities Initiative.
• Dr. Veronica Doyle of Clare Research Associates has had many years experience as a provincial and municipal leader in seniors’ housing and community health.
• Edith Loring-Kuhanga is President/Owner of First Nations Training & Consulting Services which has been providing training and consulting services to Métis, First Nations and Inuit peoples all across Canada since 1993.

How Can The Team Support You?

The Age-friendly Communities Implementation Team provides the following services:

• Regular updates to promote the sharing of Age-friendly Communities’ success stories, new age-friendly resources and training event opportunities for communities and local governments, including elected officials.
• A bi-monthly Newsletter with information and opportunities to share experiences between participating communities.
• On-site consultation to assist communities in getting started, holding focus groups and analyzing local data.
• Help in setting local priorities and making plans.
• An inventory of potential funding sources for new initiatives.
• A sample business case that you can use in applying for funds for improvements.
• Facilitate cooperation with local Aboriginal peoples.

How to Contact the Team

Mail:

Phone: 250-380-1147
Fax: 250-380-1147
E-mail: agefriendlycommunities@gmail.com

Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.