New Westminster is taking steps to tackle one of “the most significant challenges” facing municipalities: an aging population.
Council has directed staff to proceed with a work plan to update the City of New Westminster’s Age-Friendly Community Strategy, which will address present and future needs associated with an aging population. It also aims to support an accessible and inclusive community where seniors can age in place, while leading involved and meaningful lives.
A 2023 report by the BC Seniors Advocate stated that British Columbia’s overall population has grown by 15 per cent in the past 10 years – while the proportion of seniors has grown by 41 per cent.
“Planning for this aging population and the influential role played by seniors represents one of the most significant challenges facing municipalities,” said a staff report.
The report noted the city developed an Age-Friendly Community Strategy in 2017 and began implementing actions in support of an age-friendly community – until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and staff focused their efforts on supporting the immediate pandemic-related needs of at-risk and vulnerable populations, including seniors.
In the fall of 2024, the City of New Westminster applied for funding through the BC Healthy Communities Age-Friendly grant program to update the 2017 strategy. The city received $23,800 to update its strategy.
“The update to the strategy will strengthen and build on several age-friendly community domains including: communication and information; community engagement and support; community health and wellness; and social inclusion and well-being,” said the report. “Before the project begins, staff will proactively work with senior-serving organizations and community members with lived and living experience to establish an equity lens that will inform the update of the strategy.”
The timeline for the strategy’s update includes: background research and a review of best practices (this winter); engagement and community planning (this winter); engagement and outreach (this winter to spring 2025); development of the draft strategy and an implementation plan (summer 2025); and council consideration and endorsement of the strategy (fall 2025).
“This is fantastic,” said Coun. Ruby Campbell, who acknowledged staff’s efforts to address the needs of seniors.
Campbell said she’d like the city to ensure it continues to have conversations with stakeholders about the strategy once the initial consultation and engagement occurs.
“This really is an opportunity for stakeholders who are all addressing aging issues in the community – whether you're working with seniors who are most vulnerable, or whether you're working with seniors who are looking for new rec programs, or whether you're looking to figure out how to best support advocacy for seniors, whether it is trying to increase the SAFER (Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters) so that we can increase the percentage for rent, this kind of encompasses all that,” she said. “So, this is really most appreciated.”
According to Campbell, the average percentage of senior residents in other municipalities is 11 per cent but it is about 18 per cent in New West.
“I'm really excited that this work will start,” she said. “I just look forward to it coming back so we can action some of the implementations that come out of this.”
