Tara Jeffrey
The co-ordinator of Sarnia’s Age Friendly Community Plan hopes to see more residents participate in focus groups underway to better understand what’s needed to support an aging demographic and future generations.
Dale Mosley, the city’s accessibility co-ordinator, said 500 Age-Friendly Sarnia surveys have been completed as part of the community consultation and engagement stage of the process over the past six weeks.
But they aren’t having the same success with focus groups, he said.
“We need people, of any age, to attend these sessions. It really is a huge opportunity for people to have a say.”
Mosley said everyone is encouraged to participate, noting the focus groups so far have seen a range in age from 17 to 98.
Sarnia is one of 54 communities completing the Age Friendly Community Plan, thanks to a grant from the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, along with a team from Lambton College’s Office of Applied Research, a steering committee, The County of Lambton and others.
“London was the first city in Canada to do this -- and they’ve been a huge help to us,” said Mosley.
An Age Friendly Summit will be held in November, followed by the release of an official action plan in January 2017.
“Hopefully, in mid-2017, we’ll be able to start the implementation process.”
The Age Friendly Sarnia Community Survey can be accessed online at www.agefriendlysarnia.com. Hard copies are available at the following locations: Sarnia City Hall, Fairwinds Lodge, Lambton Elderly Outreach, Family Counseling Centre, Lambton Public Health, VON, Canadian Diabetes Association, Alzheimer’s Society, Landmark Village, Rosewood Manor, Lambton Public Library (Sarnia), Strangway Centre and Twin Lakes Terrace.
Focus groups continue to be held at various locations, including:
*June 29 - Community Support & Health Services; Inn of the Good Shepherd, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*July 4 - Social Participation; Sarnia Public Library, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
*July 5 - Social Participation; Rosewood Manor, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
July 6 - Social Participation; Grace United Church, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*July 11 - Transportation; Residents on the St. Clair, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*July 20 - Housing; Landmark Village, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*July 26 - Outdoor Spaces & Buildings; City Hall, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Aug. 2 - Respect & Social Inclusion; Strangway Centre, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Aug. 3 - Housing; Grace United Church, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Aug. 9 - Civic Participation & Employment; Inn of the Good Shepherd, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
*Aug. 17 - Communication & Information; Strangway Centre, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Aug. 23 - Community Support & Health Services, Rosewood Manor, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Aug. 30 - Transportation; Inn of the Good Shepherd, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Sept. 7 - Community Support & Health Services; Landmark Village, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
*Sept.13 - Outdoor Spaces & Buildings; Rosewood Manor 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*Sept.19 - Communication & Information; Sarnia Public Library, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For more info, visit agefriendlysarnia.com