The Ontario Trillium Foundation is funding the Niagara Age-Friendly Community (AFC) Network’s project which involves engaging the community of older adults, service providers and stakeholders from the business, non-profit and government sectors across Niagara to develop:

  1. A comprehensive Aging Strategy and Action Plan
  2. Tool kits to enable the implementation of the Plan
  3. A sustainability plan that identifies champions and other measures to ensure the Aging Strategy and Action Plan will be implemented across Niagara after the project is concluded.

The project was officially launched at a public event in Welland on May 21st. A cross-section of representatives of stakeholders from across Niagara assembled to hear about the project’s objectives and plans to engage the community in the developing of the aging strategy and plan. The success and sustainability of the Aging Strategy and Action Plan is highly dependent on the engagement of the community in its development. The Niagara AFC Network has established a project management team, known as the Collaborative, which comprises members of the Network including representatives from Rose City Seniors Foundation, Niagara Connects, Niagara College, Brock University and Niagara Region. The Collaborative has engaged David Sheridan to coordinate the project and wishes to extend the opportunity for interested individuals from across Niagara to participate in one or more of the opportunities for engagement.

All older adults are invited to provide their ideas at any one of the upcoming focus group sessions outlined below. Input from older adults from across Niagara is critical to developing a community driven Aging Strategy and Action Plan for Niagara! Please go to Community Calendar for information about these sessions.

  • June 17th 2014 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – GRIMSBY
  • June 17th 2014 | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM – WELLAND
  • June 18th 2014 | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM – PELHAM
  • June 18th 2014 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – ST. CATHARINES
  • June 19th 2014 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – FORT ERIE/RIDGEWAY
  • June 19th 2014 | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM – PORT COLBORNE/WAINFLEET
  • June 26th 2014 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

A large community Forum is planned for September 11 and draft documents will be available for community input before finalization and use by many organizations across Niagara. We look forward to getting as many ideas as possible from across Niagara to ensure the project is in tune with the needs and wishes of Niagara’s citizens.

Thank you,

Cathy & Dominic

Cathy Fusco
Co-Chair
Niagara Age-Friendly Community Network
cathyfusco@hotmail.com

Dominic Ventresca
Co-chair
Niagara Age-Friendly Community Network
d.ventresca@sympatico.ca