The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is receiving $25,000 through the Province of British Columbia’s Age-friendly Communities Program to help plan for the housing needs of older adults.
The funding will support the development of a Northern Rockies Seniors Housing Assessment and Age-friendly Housing Action Plan, a project aimed at guiding future planning and decision-making related to housing for seniors in the region.
The grant is part of $500,000 being distributed through the Age-friendly Communities Program to 26 communities across B.C. this year. The program supports local and Indigenous governments as they prepare for an aging population through planning initiatives and community projects.
The Northern Rockies project falls under the program’s planning stream, which helps communities complete age-friendly assessments and develop action plans.
Provincial officials said the grants are intended to help communities remove barriers, improve well-being and support older adults who want to remain active and independent in their communities.
“Funding plans and projects that focus on issues like health and wellness programming, emergency preparedness and climate resiliency means older adults are able to continue to live independently in their communities with deeper connections and inclusion,” said Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care.
This year, the program is supporting 15 planning projects and 11 implementation projects throughout the province. According to the province, 10 Indigenous communities are among this year’s funding recipients.
