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Age-Friendly Community Initiative
The City of Maple Ridge (CMR) is proud to be a designated Age-friendly Community through the BC Healthy Communities Society and BC Ministry of Health, and a full member of the World Health Organization Global Network Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
The Age-friendly designation is given to communities that plan and take action to accommodate the changing needs of older residents. This ensures our community remains an attractive place to live with features that not only benefit seniors, but also support the health, safety, and participation of residents of all ages. (To find out more about the City of Maple Ridge Age-friendly Strategy and Implementation plan, please see links below.)
Background
CMR, in collaboration with the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie, Senior Network (SN), is developing an ongoing Age-friendly Community initiative. The SN has provided exceptional leadership and facilitation throughout the project. Through this process, the Seniors Network, City of Maple Ridge and the Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness developed an Age-friendly Action Plan (2015) and Implementation Plan (2018) that was endorsed by Council.
Initial Age-friendly Inventory Assessment and Senior’s Community Forum were held in 2009 and revisited in 2015, with over 200 residents, stakeholders, and city staff identifying the needs and priorities of our aging community. Recommendations throughout the Age-friendly Action plan align with the eight key features outlined in the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities, along with a ninth local feature:
The Age-friendly designation is given to communities that plan and take action to accommodate the changing needs of older residents. This ensures our community remains an attractive place to live with features that not only benefit seniors, but also support the health, safety, and participation of residents of all ages. (To find out more about the City of Maple Ridge Age-friendly Strategy and Implementation plan, please see links below.)
Background
CMR, in collaboration with the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie, Senior Network (SN), is developing an ongoing Age-friendly Community initiative. The SN has provided exceptional leadership and facilitation throughout the project. Through this process, the Seniors Network, City of Maple Ridge and the Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness developed an Age-friendly Action Plan (2015) and Implementation Plan (2018) that was endorsed by Council.
Initial Age-friendly Inventory Assessment and Senior’s Community Forum were held in 2009 and revisited in 2015, with over 200 residents, stakeholders, and city staff identifying the needs and priorities of our aging community. Recommendations throughout the Age-friendly Action plan align with the eight key features outlined in the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities, along with a ninth local feature:
- Outdoor Spaces & Buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social Participation
- Respect & Social Inclusion
- Civic Participation & Employment
- Communication & Information
- Community Support & Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness (local initiative)
The Seniors Mapping Application/CMR Wayfinding is a direct initiative from the Age-friendly Community Initiative Action plan and Implementation Strategy, and was funded through the Union of BC Municipalities, Age-friendly grant program.
The focus of this project was to increase outdoor community participation (walkability) amount our older adult population through the development of an online mapping tool. This Mapping Tool allows users to map the location of the following, in relation to their home address or any other city of Maple Ridge address:
Heather Treleaven – Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie, Senior Network
604-786-7404 or visit their website.
The focus of this project was to increase outdoor community participation (walkability) amount our older adult population through the development of an online mapping tool. This Mapping Tool allows users to map the location of the following, in relation to their home address or any other city of Maple Ridge address:
- Transit Stops/ Bike Routes;
- Doctors’ Offices/ Walk-In Clinics;
- Dentists/Denturists;
- Accessible Public (and some Private) Parking Spaces;
- Pharmacies and Grocery Stores;
- Parks and Recreation Centres;
- Social Services (and);
- Financial Institutions.
Heather Treleaven – Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie, Senior Network
604-786-7404 or visit their website.
The Aging Well in Maple Ridge Project (ongoing through September 2021) will focus on the age-friendly components of housing, social participation and emergency preparedness through the following activities:
Heather Treleaven – Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie, Senior Network
604-786-7404 or visit their website.
- Education and support to link seniors to the resources required to maintain their housing and support aging in place in a health and inclusive way;
- Coffee and Conversation sessions, to share information, build and strengthen social supports, and connect residents with local supports. (these sessions will be hosted with COVID 19 Guidelines in mind); (and)
- Personal emergency preparedness education for seniors.
Project Progress
- April 2020 – Literature review (completed)
- May 2020 – Project team to develop project plan (Completed)
- June – Sept 2020 – develop and distribute survey (feedback Tool) (in progress)
- Sept – Dec 2020 – host several small group focus groups (with COVID 19 procedures in Place)
- October 2020 – project team to review survey results
- December 2020 – Feb 2021 – host several educational and information sharing sessions (with COVID 19 procedures in Place)
- March 2020 – final report to be completed and reviewed by project team
- March 2020 – final report posted to City of Maple Ridge website
Heather Treleaven – Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie, Senior Network
604-786-7404 or visit their website.
Documents, Reports & Action Plans
- The Age-friendly Initiative – Final Report (PDF), highlights the community engagement process and community consultation outcomes.
- The Age-friendly Initiative – Community Action Plan (PDF) provides specific details pertaining to current and future actions that will make our community more age friendly.
- The Age-friendly Implementation Plan (PDF) provides a ten-year plan work plan that will implement and review age related needs.
Get Involved
For more information on our Age-friendly Initiative, strategy or other services pertaining to older adults, please contact:
- Petra Frederick | City of Maple Ridge, Recreation Coordinator, Community Engagement | 604-467-7355
- Heather Treleaven | Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie, Seniors Network Coordinator | 604 786-7404
- Or visit their website.