Victoria is establishing a seniors task force.
Councillors have adopted terms of reference for a task force to help in development of a seniors’ action plan.
“It is exciting to get this underway,” said Coun. Ben Isitt, who drafted the terms of reference and sponsored the initiative with Coun. Laurel Collins.
“There was some really valuable input that came from various experts and other stakeholders in the field of seniors and issues related to seniors.”
The task force is expected to look at a variety of issues, including mobility, housing, parks and green space, recreation, wellness, inclusion and community services, food systems, arts and culture, access to municipal facilities, civic engagement, emergency preparedness and response including climate change, and health.
The intent is to have a short time frame, with task-force members meeting throughout the fall and reporting back with recommendations by the end of the year, Isitt said.
The goal is to come up with specific actions, ideally within local-government jurisdiction, that can advance the interests of seniors in the community now and into the long term, Isitt said.
“Then that document would provide the basis for staff to develop a more extensive seniors’ strategy.”
Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe said it’s important that the task force be ethnically diverse and attempt to reach people who might be isolated.
Members of the task force will be drawn from a variety of areas, including seniors activity centres, Silver Threads, the Inter-Cultural Association, the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, Cool Aid, Our Place, Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
The schedule includes three preliminary meetings to identify issues and potential actions, three workshops to invite public comment on the draft plan, and a final meeting to confirm the plan and recommendations to city council.
