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Village of Fruitvale

Age Friendly Beaver Valley

A Success Story in 3 Acts

Backgrounder

Teamwork •  Provincial government •  UBCM •  Local governments and

elected officials •  Agencies •  Seniors’ organizations •  Involved citizens and

residents •  Local businesses •  Staff and volunteers

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FIRST STEP policy & planning

  2009 Provincial Age Friendly Planning Grant administered by UBCM ($10,000)

  Focus groups, consultation sessions   Senior groups and organizations contacted   Identified interest, concerns and barriers to

participating in Village life   Information was used to develop AF objectives

and policies in new OCP

First Step continued.. These are Sections in our OCP that have specific Age Friendly objectives •  4.1 Quality of Life •  4.2 Housing •  4.3 Recreation, Trails & Open

Space •  4.5 Transportation & Infrastructure •  6.1 Community Character •  6.4 Land Development •  7.4 Land Use Designations (specific

policies in most designations) •  8.0 Affordable Housing •  12.0 Protective Services, Education &

Health •  13.0 Arts, Culture & Recreation

•  14.0 Transportation Infrastructure

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SECOND STEP project planning

  2012 Age Friendly Project Grant administered by UBCM ($20,000)

  Seniors’ Coordinator to create a seniors directed program based on the previously collected information

  Inventory of services, facilities and programs   Meet and Greet session with the general community   AF Steering Committee (all volunteers)   Inclusion of all of Beaver Valley, not just Fruitvale

Second Step continued…

  Programs developed over the 2012 summer   Passive – bus tours, local train ride, crib club, transit

familiarization tour, luncheon outings   Active – walking group, Zumba Gold, Yoga, balance

classes   Monthly Seniors’ Calendar (mail drop) including

activities from all groups and organizations   Handy Person Resource List   Buddy System   Monthly “Thanks for Being Our Seniors” luncheons

 Gone from 60 to 160 attendees over the year

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THIRD STEP support & leveraging

  Incorporate Seniors’ Coordinator position into Recreation Service shared by RDKB participating members

  Age Friendly BC Recognition Award from Province and $1000 for volunteer support

  Federal recognition from Public Health Agency of Canada from Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer

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Third Step continued…

New initiatives for 2013/14   “Growing Our Roots” Community Garden

CBT Grant of $8,800

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Third Step continued…

  “Sharing Our Roots” Seniors’ Craft and Knowledge Centre – New Horizons Grant for $19,000

  Nutritional Lunches – “Thanks for Being Our Seniors” monthly events – Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiative Grant for $6000

  Volunteer Driver Program – partnered with West Kootenay Volunteer Driver Program funded by Province

  Gatekeepers Training Program partnering with BC Association of Community Response Networks with $500 grant

SUMMARY WIN-WIN-WIN

•  Brought our community together and heightened the sense of security

•  Strengthened partnerships with groups, other local governments and school

•  Developed healthy, active living programs for seniors

•  New resources for seniors •  Better communication with seniors

who are a large segment of our population

•  Recognition from Federal, Provincial and Regional

•  It has created a BUZZ in our community

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THANK YOU!

for letting me share our success story with you….