Hamilton earns provincial age-friendly community recognition award
HAMILTON, ON – On March 26, the City of Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City was honoured with a provincial Age-Friendly Community Recognition Award at the inaugural Age-Friendly Community (AFC) Symposium in Toronto. This Ministry of Seniors Affairs award recognizes the City of Hamilton and their partners for their leadership in creating a welcoming community that enables seniors to live independent, active and healthy lives.
Hamilton was successful in the Implementation and Evaluation category, one of only 10 communities in Ontario to receive such recognition.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger notes, “the strength of Hamilton’s Age-Friendly Plan lies in its collaborations. It was developed and is implemented through community collaboration, the City’s partnership with the Hamilton Council on Aging and the Seniors Advisory Committee. It will continue to guide municipal decision-makers, staff and community stakeholders in addressing the needs and priorities for older adults in Hamilton. In 2016, together with Council, we sent an important message about the value we place on the contributions of our seniors’ community. When Council approved the new 10-year Strategic Plan for the City of Hamilton it included a revised Vision for our city. “To be the best place to raise a child and age successfully.”
Age-friendly communities are characterized by accessible and inclusive environments, both physical and social, that enable seniors to live independent, healthy and active, safe and socially connected lives. Communities selected for the Award demonstrate a strong commitment to key principles for creating age-friendly communities, including engagement with local seniors, collaboration with a diversity of community partners, and significant impact on the local community.
As a provincial award recipient, Hamilton will have access to streamlined eligibility for national recognition through the Pan-Canadian Age-Friendly Communities recognition framework developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada. As well, Hamilton’s plan will be showcased on the provincial websites www.ontario.ca/seniors and www.agefriendlyontario.ca.
Quick facts
- The number of older adults and seniors in Hamilton is expected to double over the next two decades
- In 2013, the City of Hamilton partnered with the Hamilton Council on Aging (HCoA) and Seniors Advisory Committee of Council (SAC) to begin the development of Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City.
- With links to Hamilton’s 10-year Strategic Plan, the Plan helps to identify and address the needs and priorities of this growing part of our population.
- Since 2014, the City, HCoA and SAC have worked with many community partners to make Hamilton an age-friendly city. This work includes building on projects that are already happening in the community, such as barrier-free spaces, housing opportunities, safer neighbourhoods, and available communication.
- View more information on the City of Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City