Steinbach MLA and Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister, Kelvin Goertzen, recently announced that the province has awarded the communities of Franklin-Emerson, Stuartburn and Winkler with Age-Friendly Milestones Recognition Awards.
“This award recognizes the dedication and determination of these communities to address the specific needs of older people,” said Goertzen. “It involves comprehensive planning, removing barriers and offering supports and services that enable older adults to fully and actively participate in their communities.”
Goertzen presented the awards at a recent event, organized by Steinbach’s Pat Porter Active Living Centre, celebrating the kickoff to Seniors’ and Elders’ Month in Manitoba. Seniors’ and Elders’ Day celebrations have been held annually in Manitoba since 1989.
To be eligible for an Age-Friendly Milestones Recognition Award, Manitoba’s Age-Friendly communities must achieve the following milestones including:
- establishing an age-friendly advisory committee that actively engages older adults;
- passing a local council resolution to actively work towards becoming age-friendly;
- creating an action plan that includes a needs assessment developed with older adults;
- publicly posting the action plan; and
- committing to measuring, reviewing and reporting publicly on action plan outcomes.
“Age-Friendly has created a different lens to focus through for every street and sidewalk project, every public venue and activity,” said Mayor Martin Harder, City of Winkler. “It has created sensitivity in the community about how to view life through the eyes of others.”
With the addition of Franklin-Emerson, Stuartburn and Winkler, 28 Manitoba communities have now received an Age-Friendly Milestones Recognition Award. A total of 84 communities are designated age-friendly in Manitoba.
For information on Seniors’ and Elders’ Month activities, visit www.alcoamb.org.
