City provides opportunities for older adults to share feedback on Brantford’s age-friendliness

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The City of Brantford and the Grand River Council on Aging (GRCOA) hosting a “Lunch and Learn” event at the Mohawk Park Pavilion, attended by over 45 older adults

BRANTFORD, ON – On Monday, July 10, the City of Brantford and the Grand River Council on Aging (GRCOA) hosted a “Lunch and Learn” event at the Mohawk Park Pavilion. This event was attended by over 45 older adults who shared their feedback on the City’s 2023 Healthy Aging Passport and future program planning that supports the Healthy Aging: City of Brantford Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2024.

Knowing that more than one-quarter of Brantford residents will be 65 or older within the next 20 years, the City continues to develop programs and services in consultation with older adults, local community organizations and the Grand River Council on Aging (GRCOA) to ensure that seniors remain engaged and enjoy a high quality of life in the community.

“The City of Brantford recognizes the benefits of collaboration and consultation with the GRCOA and other community organizations who support sharing the voices of older adults,” says Courtney Lebel, Community Development Coordinator, City of Brantford. “Their valuable feedback will help guide the planning of future programs and services for older adults in Brantford.”

“Older residents have years of experience with the daily aspects of life in the infrastructure provided by the municipality,” says Lucy Marco, Executive Director, GRCOA. “When changes in infrastructure and services become necessary, it is so important to consider the impact of that change for the future of our children and grandchildren. The GRCOA is proud to be part of the conversations that allow the municipality to plan for implementation over time, in order to ensure an age-friendly community for a lifetime.”

Healthy Aging: City of Brantford Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2024 includes goals and actions that the City and its community partners are committed to completing and is based on best practices outlined by the World Health Organization that focus on eight domain areas, including: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community and health services.

The City of Brantford values the perspectives of older adults and has integrated their feedback into following community plans and strategies:

  • Healthy Aging: The City of Brantford’s Age-Friendly Strategy since 2018
  • Right Now: A Community Strategy to Prevent and Address Elder Abuse
  • Brantford-Brant 10-year Housing Stability Plan
  • Brantford Accessibility Plan 2020-2025
  • Transportation Master Plan

To learn more about the City of Brantford’s collaboration with the GRCOA, visit Brantford.ca/HealthyLiving to review the City of Brantford and Grand River Council on Aging Partnership Summary.

The City will continue to engage with older adults and community organizations to support the development of age-friendly programs and initiatives.

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 Media Contact:

Chelsey Tobin | Communications Specialist, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5048 | ctobin@brantford.ca