EXCHANGE EXCHANGE is is aa quarterly quarterly magazine magazine published published by by the the Local Local Government Government Management Management Association Association (LGMA) (LGMA) of of British British Columbia. Columbia. It’s It’s about about sharing sharing information, information, exchanging exchanging ideas ideas on on best best practices, practices, enhancing enhancing professional professional development development and and building building networks. networks. Reach Reach us us at at www.lgma.ca. www.lgma.ca.
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LGMA: CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
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AGE-FRIENDLY CASE STUDIES
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NEW LGMA BOARD
SUMMER 2018
Creating Age-friendly Communities from the Ground Up
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Sharing information and expertise helps build strong, sustainable communities. Young Anderson is proud to support professional development opportunities for municipalities and regional districts.
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Update In this Issue President’s Report Executive Director’s Report Case of Interest Members Page Our Town
Professional Development 2 3 4 5 23 24
Tips & Tactics: Age-friendly Work, Research and Local Government Tools in B.C.
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Programs & Events
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6 Celebrating a Century of Impact: Preparing for LGMA’s 100th Anniversary
Exchange is the magazine for members of the Local Government Management Association of British Columbia. Exchange is distributed quarterly to over 900 members of the LGMA, as well as Mayors and Regional District Chairs.
Find out how the LGMA is preparing for this milestone anniversary, and how your photos, memories and stories can become part of a legacy anniversary project.
Creating Age-friendly Communities from the Ground Up
Exchange is printed on Sappi Flo, an FSC® Certified 10% post-consumer recycled paper at Island Business Print Group.
What are age-friendly communities, and what is local government’s role in creating them? Learn about the work taking place across B.C. to ensure community members of all age are supported.
LGMA Office: Suite 710A 880 Douglas Street Victoria, BC V8W 2B7 Telephone: 250.383.7032 Email: office@lgma.ca Web: www.lgma.ca
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Contact the Editor: Email: editor@lgma.ca
Read why North Vancouver and Sechelt are recognized for their work connecting with local seniors and community organizations to create programs and plans for seniors.
Cover Illustration: Fanatic Studio/Getty Images
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Becoming Age Friendly: Case Studies
Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
22 New LGMA Board and 2018 Award Winners Meet the new LGMA Board of Directors elected at the 2018 Annual General Meeting (held in conjunction with the 2018 Annual Conference), along with this year’s award winners.
IN THIS ISSUE
It’s nice to see an increased recognition that seniors have a lot of value to bring to the table, and we need to find ways to help them become more integrated into decisions that affect them.
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s I start creeping closer and closer to being able to qualify for seniors’ discounts, discussions about creating age-friendly communities attract my attention and interest in what it means to me and where I live. Like many people, I also have friends and family members who are struggling with dementia and looking for ways to stay at home with their families. With this in mind, it’s reassuring to hear that there is a growing awareness of the need to create age-friendly communities and a wide range of programs and services that are already in place to help support older citizens. I first became aware of the need for better planning and programs to help enable aging residents to stay in their homes a few years ago when my cousin, Yvonne Poulin, co-authored a book – Aging Safely in Your Home – that provides a simple yet comprehensive guide for seniors and the people who care about them. My cousin told me how there are ways to assess what personal and housing adaptations may be required to age safely in your home, and when it might be a better choice to relocate. Up until then, I hadn’t given a lot of thought to what it must be like to find it difficult to complete simple household tasks or even move safely around your home. What I learned as I did the interviews and research for this edition of Exchange is that there are programs and planning underway that take the same approach on a community basis – creating an environment that is safe and welcoming for all ages and abilities. I was also surprised to learn that local governments don’t need to be the leader in these initiatives – they just need to be part of a partnership that also involves the provincial government, community-based seniors’ services and other province-wide organizations like BC Healthy Communities and the United Way.
In Creating Age-friendly Communities from the Ground Up, it was amazing to see the work that has been done in recent years to take a fragmented sector of community service providers and pull them together into a more cohesive network that collaborates and shares resources and expertise to benefit communities across the province. There is a stunning amount of work being done to support these community-based services as well as local governments that are pursuing age-friendly policies, plans and initiatives. As someone who is edging closer to some of those demographic markers for seniors, I’m happy to see this trend to improve everything from the built environment to social programs to make it easier to live in and enjoy the community as we age. It was also helpful to hear from two local governments that have been recognized for their work in creating age-friendly communities. In Becoming Age Friendly: Case Studies we learn how they have connected with their local seniors and community organizations to create programs and plans for seniors in their community. Because seniors are involved at the earlier stages and are consulted not just on the barriers or other concerns but also on viable solutions to address their needs, the resulting plans and recommendations have added weight when presented to boards or councils. It’s also nice to see an increased recognition that seniors have a lot of value to bring to the table, and we need to find ways to help them become more integrated into decisions that affect them. I found it highly enjoyable to prepare the articles for this edition thanks to the inspiring stories and impressive work underway across the province. I hope you’ll find the ideas, resources and examples equally rewarding. Therese Mickelson, ABC Editor
A Quarterly Publication of the LGMA Exchange – Summer 2018
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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I am a firm believer in the value that committed local government professionals bring to the communities of British Columbia, and during my term I look forward to highlighting the deeply rewarding work that we do.
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s we approach the 100th anniversary of our organization, it feels like an important time to reflect on both our history and the importance of what we do as local government professionals. Not everyone knows that the LGMA can trace its roots to the 1919 Union of BC Municipalities Conference, where a resolution was adopted establishing the Municipal Officers Association of BC, which in 2000 became the Local Government Management Association of BC. The fascinating history of our organization is made up of many dedicated individuals who have committed great time and effort towards the betterment of communities throughout British Columbia and our profession as a whole. I am especially humbled to serve as President of the LGMA, having seen firsthand the selfless efforts of both the volunteers involved in the multitudes of programs and services that the LGMA delivers, and the many dedicated staff that have worked to ensure that the Association has succeeded for 100 years! Our Chapters continue to thrive, delivering specialized training and programming opportunities throughout British Columbia, while collaboration with our valued partners has further enabled the ongoing success of highly-regarded programs like the MATI courses. As President, I will use the unique opportunity that the 100th anniversary presents to highlight the value of public service. We live in a fascinating time, where powerful tools like social media can serve to engage the public at previously unseen levels. Optimistically, this has the potential to strengthen our democratic institutions and public dialogue, while conversely also having the potential for vocal groups to monopolize meaningful dialogue and politicize or discredit dedicated public servants.
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Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
I am a firm believer in the value that committed local government professionals bring to the communities of British Columbia, and during my term I look forward to highlighting the deeply rewarding work that we do. Let’s celebrate the importance of delivering local government services – knowing that our work directly improves the lives of 4.8 million British Columbians – so that we may retain and attract the brightest talent to our rewarding profession. As leaders, we need to focus on an ongoing pursuit of excellence in what we do. I strongly suggest using all available opportunities to connect within your professional networks to stay current in your practice so that we may best serve the evolving needs of our diverse communities. This edition focuses on aging in place, an important goal for our communities to work toward, especially as we face an oncoming demographic wave unlike anything seen before. By focusing on aging in place, our citizens will be able to transition through the various stages of life seamlessly, thereby making British Columbia’s diverse communities more resilient. I trust that you enjoy this edition of Exchange, and while it takes many diverse professions to ensure a successful society, I also hope that we may pause to reflect on the unique responsibility and privilege that is to serve as a local government professional. Mark Koch President
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
The vote on October 20 will give people a direct say about how local governments spend money and run services in their community. Let’s hope more people take this democratic responsibility seriously and come out to vote.
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pril was elections training month for the LGMA. We held five training workshops around the province to help Chief Elections Officers, their deputies and staff and school board election officials get ready for this fall’s local government elections. Fair, open and accurate elections are the cornerstone of democracy. In my life before local government, I helped to design programs to train staff to deliver elections in countries that had experienced periods of non-democratic or authoritarian rule. As I observed the LGMA training, I couldn’t help but reflect on just how precious our democracy is. If you look around the world today, it’s hard not to conclude that democracy is under threat. Many countries are clearly undemocratic – the recent “re-election” of Vladimir Putin comes to mind – or authoritarian, such as China’s regression to allow its President to be President for life. But what is truly troubling is the apparent erosion of the belief in basic democratic principles in leading democratic countries. A global survey in 2016 by the World Economic Forum found that citizens in the developing world trust authoritarian leaders more than their democratic counterparts. And younger people seem to be dismissing democracy in favour of more authoritarian regimes. Harvard lecturer Yascha Mounk’s book The People vs Democracy highlights that 71 per cent of Europeans and North Americans born in the 1930s think it is essential to live in a democracy, but only 29 per cent of people born in the 1980s believe the same thing. Nearly 25 per cent of American millennials do not think democracy is the best option to govern and run the U.S., and nearly 50 per cent admit they would prefer a strongman leader. That explains for me a lot of the attraction to President Trump’s leadership style. Pundits and political observers often focus more on federal or provincial elections, but since so much of the power around what happens in our daily lives rests in the decision-making of local elected officials, more attention should be paid to local government elections. The vote on October 20 will give people a direct say about how local governments spend money and run services in their community. Let’s hope more people take this democratic responsibility seriously and come out to vote. Citizen participation in local government elections in B.C. is pathetic – CivicInfo’s last election results showed voter turnout was less than 35 per cent. As local government staff gear up for October 20, I am confident that the LGMA has done everything it can to help them get ready.
Administering the local government election is a heavy responsibility, requiring a deep knowledge of both legislation and election procedures. To make sure local government staff can do their jobs effectively, the LGMA has worked closely with provincial partners at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Elections BC, the Ministry of Education and the BC School Trustees Association to develop resource materials and training. We couldn’t have done any of this work without the dedication, incredible support, leadership and significant time commitment provided by our amazing Elections Advisory Committee volunteers. This group, led by very experienced co-chairs Karen Needham and Karla Graham, began its preparations soon after the 2014 local election with an ambitious workplan that included a complete reorganization and rewrite of the BC Local Elections Manual. The Committee was also supported by the knowledge and experience of Lee-Ann Crane, who lent her substantial experience to work on the Manual and shared her commitment and professionalism with her election officer peers, even as she moved into retirement. The LGMA has also provided additional resources for this election, including a downloadable Outlook calendar that can be customized for each community, an array of customizable sample forms, bylaws, notices, training materials and workplans, along with a webinar about the local government election. We owe a huge thank you to our Elections Advisory Committee members for all their work: Karen Needham (City of Kelowna), Karla Graham (City of North Vancouver), Carolyn Black (Thompson-Nicola Regional District), Maureen Connelly (City of Prince George), Tyra Henderson (Peace River Regional District), Paige MacWilliam (City of Duncan), Jess Nelson (City of Vancouver), Janet Prestley, (City of Fort St. John), and Selina Williams (Town of Gibsons). Local governments will be ready for election day, ready to do their part to support democracy at the local level, and we will continue to be available to support you. I wish everyone a lovely summer, hopefully with some time off ahead of the elections! Nancy Taylor Executive Director
A Quarterly Publication of the LGMA Exchange – Summer 2018
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By Olga Rivkin Lidstone & Company
CASE of INTEREST
Zoning for Residential Rental Tenure
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ging in place means growing older without having to move. Among other things, that means having housing options, including rental housing, whether market or affordable. In B.C., local governments have a number of tools to secure rental housing. The new provincial Bill-23, the Local Government Statutes (Residential Rental Tenure Zoning) Amendment Act, 2018, will add further authority to zone areas or units for rental use. But don’t throw away the old toolkit – you may still need it.
When adopted, Bill-23 will allow local governments to limit the form of building tenure (including strata buildings) to residential rental tenure.
The province introduced Bill-23 to grant local governments power to zone buildings or units for rental use. Bill-23 has now passed third reading and will likely soon become law. When adopted, Bill-23 will allow local governments to limit the form of building tenure (including strata buildings) to residential rental tenure. The concept of residential rental tenure can be defined by the local government in the bylaw.
If a strata building has units designated for rental use under a housing agreement, how do you enforce this agreement? Do you go to each occupant of a strata unit and ask if they are an owner or a tenant? How do you verify what they say?
This is a welcome addition to the legislation. Under the current regulatory regime, local governments do not have broad authority to zone in respect to tenure. The only exception to this is section 482(3) of the Local Government Act, which enables local governments to use a zoning bylaw to designate an area within a zone for affordable or special needs housing. However, the owner of the property must consent to the zoning designation, making this section of limited use.
Some local governments get around this issue by registering a covenant under Section 219 of the Land Title Act together with the housing agreement. The covenant can require that parcels of land designated in the covenant are not to be sold separately. If a number of strata units are owned by one owner, it is more likely that these units would in fact be used for rental housing. It is also easy to check title to the units to verify compliance.
The most common way of securing rental housing is by means of a housing agreement. Section 483 of the Local Government Act enables local governments, by bylaw, to enter into an agreement with an owner prescribing (among other things) that a building or units in the building must be used as rental housing (market or affordable). The housing agreement is signed by the owner and the local government and is noted on title to the lands, binding future owners.
It is likely that the same enforcement challenge could arise with rental zoning of a strata building as with a housing agreement. Bill-23 does not address this challenge. A local government that designates units in a new building for residential rental tenure should consider if the building will be a strata. If so, a Section 219 covenant may be prudent.
Where the building is owned by one owner and is not subdivided by a strata plan, a housing agreement is a simple enough tool. The one owner is not likely to use the building for anything but rental housing and, if they do, the local government can argue that the owner has breached the housing agreement. But most newly-constructed multi-family buildings are subdivided to create strata units. Local governments do not approve strata subdivision (with few exceptions) and do not have express authority to prohibit strata by zoning.
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Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
It would appear that the drafters of Bill-23 were aware of at least some challenges posed by strata buildings. Bill-23 contemplates that rental zoning will be applicable to existing strata units. However, those strata units that are not rented out at the time the Bill becomes law will continue as non-conforming. The non-conforming use only disappears if and when the strata is wound up. A change in the strata ownership does not affect the non-conforming form of tenure. In other words, despite rental zoning, existing strata units can continue to be nonrental and be sold and re-sold numerous times before they become rental, if ever.
LGMA UPDATES
CAN YOU HELP? This photo shows Agnes Dunnigan, City Clerk at the City of Merritt; S. Leslie Brice, Municipal Clerk at the City of Chilliwack; Rupert Harrison, City Clerk at West Vancouver District; and C.B. Brown, City Clerk at the City of Burnaby at the LGMA’s (then called the Municipal Officers’ Association) Annual Convention in 1952. We do not have a name on file for the fourth man. If you can identify him, please contact Ryan Hunt at rhunt@lgma.ca.
Celebrating a Century of Impact Preparing for LGMA’s 100th Anniversary By Ryan Hunt, Communications and Membership Engagement Coordinator, LGMA
In 1989 as the LGMA (then called “the Municipal Officers’ Association”) reflected on its 70th anniversary, the Association’s Executive wrote this, “The strength, effectiveness and growth of the [Association] is measured in direct relationship to that of its members.” Supporting the professional growth and success of its members has been the guiding force of the Association over the past 99 years. Now, as the LGMA prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary year in 2019, the Association plans to celebrate the impact its members have made in communities across British Columbia over the past century of service. Our 2018 Annual Conference in Victoria marked the official launch of our centennial year. Over the next year, the LGMA will launch several campaigns designed to celebrate the impact of its members, as well as legacy projects designed to lay strong foundations for member success over the next 100 years.
We announced two centennial legacy projects at our 2018 Annual Conference– a new Indigenous education scholarship designed to support Indigenous education across B.C. and a commemorative tree planting campaign with support from BC Hydro that will encourage every local government in B.C. to plant a tree in recognition and celebration of the work of local government professionals. More information about both of these legacy projects will be sent to members this fall. Be sure to subscribe to the LGMA’s weekly What’s New e-newsletter to receive the latest centennial celebration news.
HELP US CELEBRATE To make this an unforgettable year, we need your help. The LGMA is collecting photos, memories and stories from local government professionals’ careers. This can range from sending the LGMA a photo that best sums up your daily work to sharing a story of your most memorable day on the job. Continued on page 7 A Quarterly Publication of the LGMA Exchange – Summer 2018
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To receive the latest LGMA100 announcements, follow our new Facebook page or subscribe to our weekly newsletter. If you have a memory, photo or story you’d like to share, please contact Ryan Hunt, LGMA Communications and Membership Engagement Coordinator (rhunt@lgma.ca). The LGMA will be sharing these photos, memories and stories on our new LGMA100 Facebook page (facebook.com/lgmabc). We are also excited to announce that the LGMA is producing a 10-part online video series documenting a decade-by-decade history of the LGMA and local government in B.C. This video series is scheduled to launch this fall with a new video ready every month until our Annual Conference in 2019. By contributing your photos, stories and memories to this video series, you are adding to something that we hope will live on to be shown at LGMA anniversaries for decades to come. These are just a few of the projects the LGMA is working on to celebrate the impact of its members over the past 100 years.
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Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
By Therese Mickelson, ABC
CREATING
Age-friendly Communities FROM THE GROUND UP
A Quarterly Publication of the LGMA Exchange – Summer 2018
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Becoming age-friendly – supporting people through all stages of their life – is an increasing priority for B.C. communities.
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ut interestingly, local government’s role is just one part of creating and supporting an age-friendly community. The community itself can do a lot to support local initiatives and assist local government. Seniors and community organizations are increasingly becoming the foundation for effective age-friendly community plans and initiatives. Their involvement is critical from the planning stage right through to program and service delivery, and there are multiple examples of community-led initiatives across the province. Local government’s role may be as simple as being a conduit for grants or connecting organizations to share information and collaborate on projects. Some of the more concrete actions include making policy changes to impact local services and decision-making, investing in improvements to transportation and other infrastructure, and incorporating age-friendly strategies into community planning. The key is that the age-friendly plan needs to start with seniors and include the organizations that support them. The need for age-friendly programs, services and infrastructure will only increase – particularly in B.C. By 2031, Statistics Canada notes that there will be between 9.9 and 10 million seniors in Canada, representing between 23 and 25 per cent of the total population. In B.C., the provincial government’s website indicates that close to 1.5 million residents across the province will be over 65 by 2031 – equal to almost a quarter of the province’s population – and many communities exceed the average. “Seven out of the 10 Canadian municipalities with the largest portion of seniors are located in B,C., which is resulting in communities seeing a need to figure out how to support the aging population,” says Sarah Ravlic, Health Community Planner, BC Healthy Communities.
“The goal is to create communities that are inclusive and accessible for a wide range of needs and capacities, and a wide range of ages.”
Sarah Ravlic
BC Healthy Communities is a province-wide, not-for-profit organization that facilitates the ongoing development of healthy, thriving and resilient communities. They have a number of projects and programs to help address some of the issues stemming from shifting demographics within communities. Their programs support community-based organizations and local government, and they also offer separate consulting services to local government. Ravlic notes that some of the main issues are housing and transportation barriers, as well as the inability to access health care – particularly in more rural areas. But the overarching concern heard across the province is that people want to stay where they are and age in place. “They are connected to where they live and don’t want to go elsewhere,” says Ravlic. “They also have some creative ideas and solutions that could work where they live – they just need to be included in the discussion. The goal is to create communities that are inclusive and accessible for a wide range of needs and capacities, and a wide range of ages.” Continued on page 10
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Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
Creating Age-friendly Communities from the Ground Up Continued from page 9
While there are a number of challenges in developing and applying age-friendly plans and initiatives, a lack of community-based seniors’ services is – perhaps surprisingly – not one of them. Instead, the primary challenges are a lack of cohesion and collaboration in the service sector and a lack of sustainability in programs and services. Ironically, with all these services in place striving to be sustainable, many local governments are struggling with a lack of capacity to develop and implement age-friendly plans. Additionally, on a province-wide basis, there is inconsistency in the level of service from community to community. These underlying challenges, combined with the continued growth in the older population, became the impetus for the Raising the Profile Project. With funding from a mix of B.C. organizations that included the provincial government and the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the project initiated regional consultations across the province to connect with seniors and the community-based seniors’ sector (CBSS). Not only did the sessions result in new insights and understanding about barriers and opportunities, they built the foundation for the development of a network of service providers, governments and other organizations.
The meetings culminated in a Provincial Summit on Aging and a report on key learnings, recommendations and next steps that is a resource for governments and CBSS organizations alike. “The Raising the Profile Project created more awareness about the importance of this sector and its impact on the well-being and health of older adults, but also the cost savings for the health care system when we improve and maintain the health of seniors on a longer term,” says Barbara McMillan, Community and Sector Development Coordinator, United Way of the Lower Mainland. “By creating better connections and fostering opportunities to share tools and resources with other communities, we can reduce duplication and help communities move ahead more quickly with programs because they don’t have to start from scratch.” The United Way of the Lower Mainland has long been involved in providing support to seniors at home and in the community, so when the Raising the Profile Project needed a new home, it made sense for the United Way to take on responsibility for supporting the initiative going forward. This new Healthy Aging team is guided by a CBSS Leadership Council made up of advisors from community organizations and seniors. Continued on page 11
YOU CAN REPLACE THE CONE. NOT THE WORKER.
It’s your responsibility to keep your employees safe – properly setting up and managing your Cone Zone can save lives. To access tools and resources to improve the safety of your roadside workers, visit ConeZoneBC.com.
A Quarterly Publication of the LGMA Exchange – Summer 2018
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An online Knowledge Hub being created for the community-based seniors’ sector will offer resources and information-sharing opportunities to local governments.
A key recommendation of the initiative is the development of a CBSS Knowledge Hub to serve as a central online location to build capacity within the CBSS sector, foster cohesion and increase collaboration so that organizations can more effectively support older adults with increasingly complex needs who want to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. For local governments and others in the sector, the new Knowledge Hub will provide a mechanism to connect with other service providers, researchers and experts. It will be interactive, providing opportunities for mentoring and sharing research and evidence, as well as both open and closed discussion areas. There will be a designated “Municipal Caucus” on the site, where local government CBSS “champions” will provide connections to other local governments, as well as resources such as models for local government CBSS programs and partnerships. Another area will foster connections and provide resources, such as terms of reference for setting up seniors’ planning and action tables to support engagement and consultation of seniors at local levels. The Hub will also provide a centralized site for a Funders Table, which already includes 40 different funders interested in supporting CBSS initiatives, as well as a funding information area with tips on grant writing, opportunities for grants and webinars on the basics of how to seek out grants, and other related topics. In addition to the development of the Knowledge Hub, one of the mechanisms employed for strengthening the CBSS sector is to unite under a shared Declaration that recognizes the importance of CBSS health promotion and prevention work and the need for capacity building. The Declaration also acknowledges the importance of closer collaboration between and among non-profits, municipalities and the provincial health system, and municipalities and regional districts are encouraged to become signatories. “We expect to launch the Knowledge Hub this fall, and it will be an ongoing initiative,” says McMillan, who is leading the project. “The goal is to create a dynamic, interactive platform to support communication, build capacity, and foster connections for collaboration.” The Healthy Aging team will also be visiting communities for more regional consultation, including presentations to local government councils, boards and staff, and a second, province-wide Healthy Aging Summit that will take place in 2019.
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Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
“We want local governments to become signatories to the Declaration but also to be more aware of the value of the services in their communities,” says McMillan. “We want them to take steps to achieve designations as age-friendly communities and to support them in achieving these standards.” McMillan emphasizes that because local governments have such an important role, whether running their own programs or supporting non-profit service providers, it’s essential to connect with them to look for opportunities for partnership, collaboration and capacity building. “They are a key part of the network,” adds McMillan. “We hope that besides signing the CBSS Declaration, they will attend CBSS community forums and consultations, provide input on the Knowledge Hub and engage in it when it is launched to share with us unique ways their own local governments are engaging with the CBSS sector.” Continued on page 12
mfa.bc.ca
Creating Age-friendly Communities from the Ground Up Continued from page 11
McMillan encourages local governments to proactively invite the Healthy Aging team to give 15-minute presentations to their councils and boards, to help them develop and support age-friendly policies, and include the voice of seniors in planning decisions that affect them. Additional support will come this fall from BC Healthy Communities, which supports Barbara McMillan and works directly with local government, through the development of an agefriendly community toolkit to guide local governments in developing and implementing age-friendly policies. The toolkit – to be presented at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention in September – will also include policy examples, such as how to address accessibility in development permit applications and how to design and update infrastructure to improve pedestrian access. “The strongest tool of local government is policy,” says Ravlic. “Through policy, local governments can have a lot of influence over the physical
environment of where we live and work, the social environment of how we connect with others and the services that are delivered in the community. All of these are essential for age-friendly communities.” However, policy isn’t the only way local governments can improve their community’s age-friendly status, Ravlic notes. As an example, a number of local governments have developed age-friendly plans: the City of North Vancouver is developing a dementia-friendly plan, New Westminster has created a Seniors Engagement Toolkit to support improved connections with seniors in their community, and Fruitvale offers a range of programs that reflect the needs of their rural community. Even simple, cost-neutral changes can have a positive impact, like extending the timing on intersection crossings for pedestrians with mobility issues. Local governments can also consider installing ramps, updating their transportation network, and looking at housing barriers, including bylaws that make it difficult for seniors in rural communities to subdivide or share their homes or move into a secondary suite in their back yard. Continued on page 13
A Quarterly Publication of the LGMA Exchange – Summer 2018
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“For age-friendly recognition in B.C., one of the factors we look for is that the local government has developed an advisory group that includes seniors.” The key is to start with active participation of the older residents in the community to find out what they need, develop solutions that will work for them, and build trust. These partnerships ideally include citizens, the health authority, and local businesses and service providers. “For age-friendly recognition in B.C., one of the factors we look for is that the local government has developed an advisory group that includes seniors,” says Ravlic. “Having them involved is one of the single most important principles to good age-friendly planning.” Solutions also exist for capacity and funding issues, which are key for most communities. For example, local governments can partner with community organizations, allowing them to take the lead while providing expertise, venues for consultation and networking, or assistance with connecting organizations in the community. (See Becoming Age Friendly: Case Studies on next page.) Funding shortfalls may be addressed through grants, such as the AgeFriendly Community Grants provided through UBCM and funded by the Ministry of Health, with capacity-building supports from BC Health Communities. Between 2007 and 2017, the Ministry of Health provided $3.75 million to support age-friendly communities, including grants offered to 144 local governments and funding for 286 plans or projects. Grant applications must reflect projects that are community driven, with solutions based on local priorities and plans. The community activities should enable local governments and community partners, including health authorities, to enhance and improve services for older adults in a way that is sustainable over time. The projects should focus on funding priorities and be flexible to reflect the community’s needs. The deadline for the 2018 grants was in November 2017. If grants will be available in 2019, it is anticipated that the opportunity will be announced in the fall. “We recognize that local governments are overwhelmed and building age-friendly communities is just one of many challenges they are facing,” says Ravlic. “What we’re asking for is a more integrated approach – don’t silo projects and approaches within local governments. Instead, look at this sector as a system that recognizes there are interwoven issues and work together to collaborate and share resources.” ❖
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Promoting Professional Management & Leadership Excellence in Local Government
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BECOMING
Age Friendly Friendly:: CASE STUDIES
By Therese Mickelson, ABC
Communities across Canada are looking at ways to become more “age friendly” in areas that include policy, planning, infrastructure improvements and social connections. While the concept of being an age-friendly community relates to all age groups, the growth in the aging population has focused attention on seniors as a key group whose lives can be dramatically improved through targeted changes in the community. These changes are being initiated by seniors, community organizations and various levels of government. The following are two cities that have leveraged grant funding and community partnerships to initiate changes in their community.
NORTH VANCOUVER In 2015, the provincial government recognized the City of North Vancouver as an age-friendly community. The City received this official recognition for accomplishments that included incorporating
age-friendly policies into its Official Community Plan, introducing adaptable design requirements for new residential developments, supporting the Senior’s Today research project and providing ongoing support to non-profit agencies that address seniors’ needs. The City used this initial work as encouragement to further its partnerships and interactions with seniors and local organizations and to continue working on age-friendly programs in the community. According to the 2016 Census, citizens aged 65 years and up comprise more than 16 per cent of North Vancouver’s population, and those numbers will continue to grow. In 2015, when the City began to assess how it could create a more age-friendly community, it quickly became apparent that there were key resources in the community that should be engaged in the process. Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society stepped up as a key partner. Along with the City, the partners were able to secure a grant to begin the review process and identify key needs areas. The process started with conversations with seniors and organizations that support seniors and grew from there. “The early work we did with Lionsview around identifying issues raised by seniors, and then using grant money to create platforms to engage with seniors in an ongoing dialogue, have evolved into a way to empower seniors to make changes in the community,” says Michael Epp, Director of Planning, City of North Vancouver. “Some of the new initiatives that have been developed include the City, but some don’t. The community is able to leverage a lot of community volunteer hours.” A key outcome from the process has been the creation of Seniors Action Tables (SATs) – local groups of seniors who meet regularly to discuss local barriers to being an age-friendly community, plan and implement initiatives, and advocate for policies and programs in their neighbourhoods. There are currently four SATs on the North Shore. The City also connects with and participates in the Lionsview Seniors Coalition, which has more than 50 member organizations that come together regularly to plan services and support strategic improvements for seniors in areas such as transportation and housing. “The SATs have provided input into a lot of transportation planning, as well as a variety of other areas, and the agenda is set by the SAT members who identify areas they want to focus on,” says Epp. “This means it’s led by seniors, they say what they want to discuss and then they invite the City and others, like TransLink, to come and meet with them about the issues or barriers that seniors see as a priority.” Continued on page 15
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Other early work by the City included hosting an information session on how to use City services, including information about bylaws and municipal governance. The City also reviewed its internal processes to identify opportunities to better accommodate seniors, and made recommendations for transportation plans and bus stop designs that came from consultation with local seniors and led to access and mobility improvements. For North Vancouver, the key was building a foundation of partnerships and collaboration with seniors in the community. “In general, the participation in senior-led initiatives is very positive – they are all very vibrant organizations that people want to be part of,” says Epp. “I think it’s partly due to changing perceptions about seniors. They are being seen as valuable members of our society, and when an initiative is led by seniors, other seniors are more attracted to the process.” Epp also notes that working in partnership with other organizations is essential for long-term success.
“When funding opportunities come up, there’s a tendency to just keep the dollars and hire a consultant, but the benefit is in the process, not just the deliverable,” says Epp. “It’s important to use funding to build capacity within your organization and in the community. Plus, if you set it up that you’re initiating a project as a local government, the onus is on you to do it all, so a key to success is to recognize your sphere of influence and try to work beyond that to identify champions beyond your scope who can make sure the project has life afterwards.” Using this partnership approach, the City has been making progress in a number of areas – some involving long-term commitments for change, and others that are simple, low-cost projects with immediate benefits. Current projects include an action plan to become a dementia-friendly community, a strategy to be more age friendly for children and families, a Housing Action Plan initiative exploring how to create a seniors’ roommate registry, and some quick-win projects such as creating outdoor gathering places that are easily accessible to seniors.
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Continued on page 16
VANCOUVER OFFICE
Becoming Age Friendly: Case Studies Continued from page 15
A Focus on Dementia The focus on supporting people with dementia came through conversations in the community and an assessment of community needs beyond the City’s boundaries. There are more than 3,700 people with dementia on the North Shore, with about half living in their own homes. This number is expected to double by 2034. As well, community feedback to an initial City survey on the topic made it clear that a lot of work was required. When the City reached out to see who would like to get involved in the planning process, it quickly received a groundswell of support and interest.
The Dementia-Friendly North Shore Action Plan is a partnershp project that includes both community partners and the District of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, the Alzheimer Society of BC, Vancouver Coastal Health and other organizations.
“The interest in the dementia-friendly planning we’ve been working on is pretty staggering,� says Epp. “People are very eager to be involved in the process because they have family members or close friends who are affected by dementia in some way. As a result, we’ve had a lot of uptake from agencies and people who want to be involved. Endorsed by North Vancouver’s City Council this January, the Dementia-Friendly North Shore Action Plan is a partnership project that includes community partners as well as the District of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver, the Alzheimer Society of BC, Vancouver Coastal Health and other key organizations and community agencies.
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The goal is to raise awareness and develop a community action plan so that people with dementia can experience a better quality of life and live as independently as possible in the community. The City defines a dementia-friendly community as a place with a high level of public awareness and understanding, so that people with dementia and their caregivers are encouraged to seek help and are supported by their community. These communities also adapt their facilities, infrastructure, programs and services to be accessible and inclusive to people with dementia.
Supporting All Ages While the bulk of North Vancouver’s age-friendly work is focused on seniors, the City has also recognized that children, youth and families need support to be better integrated into the community. In response, the City developed a Child, Youth + Family Friendly Strategy – CNV4ME – after surveying more than 1,000 residents. The report has five themes: community engagement, community spaces, housing, programming and services, and community partnerships. A CNV4ME Task Force is focused on implementing the action points. Like the City’s other age-friendly initiatives, consultation and collaboration are the foundation for decision-making. “I think it’s important to always use the appropriate lens when planning or doing things in the community,� says Epp. “There’s a child’s lens and a senior’s lens, and if we engage with those groups to understand their needs, we can apply them to our decisions and achieve better outcomes. Our Council wants a balanced approach to policy making, so we are being more proactive to make sure the voices of the elderly, youth, children, multicultural groups and others are taken into account.� Continued on page 17
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Improving Seniors’ Housing Options
Other Initiatives
As part of its work on seniors’ housing, a roommate registry initiative is under way to develop a program to connect senior homeowners with seniors seeking a place to live.
Among North Vancouver’s other agefriendly projects was a short-term, lowcost intervention that involved installing umbrellas, tables, chairs and artificial turf in different areas of the city.
“The project recognizes that there are some seniors who have extra space and are living alone, often in isolation, while other seniors are having difficulty finding housing,” says Epp. “While the City is involved in the project, it’s being led by Hollyburn Family Services, and I think this is a good example of a blend of working with others in the community. It’s not about the City doing it all themselves, it’s about working together, taking collaborative action and leveraging funding when available to help initiatives like this succeed.” The City is also looking into opportunities to generate funding for non-market housing designated specifically for seniors. “We hear some heartbreaking stories about seniors and their housing situations,” says Epp. “We want to see some solutions in place in our community to address this critical need.”
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“The uptake has been phenomenal,” says Epp. “Different populations go to different Michael Epp spots. We have a spot outside the library that’s become a hangout for seniors. It’s comfortable and safe, with oversight by the library. It wasn’t a large investment, but it’s made a big impact.” Another focus is the built environment – the way that buildings, streets and public spaces are designed – to create walkable areas that can be accessed by everyone and places for social interactions. One example is a project that includes plans for a new Silver Harbour Seniors Centre facility, to be built in a couple of years as part of a new recreation centre. Continued on page 18
Becoming Age Friendly: Case Studies Continued from page 17
The Seniors Centre will be integrated into the recreation centre, with seniors’ programs held in shared spaces to provide for more intergenerational connection opportunities. “I think what is coming out of our community is the need to cultivate connections between people and reduce social isolation,” says Epp. “It’s important for all residents, but with seniors, we know they are often more isolated in the community, and that can be a huge detriment to their quality of life and lifespan. So creating places, environments and social programs where they can connect is essential.” Looking ahead, the City plans to continue working in collaboration with local seniors, community organizations and neighbouring communities to develop age-friendly initiatives that respond to the needs identified by the target groups. “I think supporting projects that come forward as a community need or suggestion is important, and that it will continue to be essential to engage partners on projects,” says Epp.
“As a smaller local government, we are limited in resources, but when we leverage outside agencies and act as a convener or point of access, we can get things done.” “Our role doesn’t have to be money – we can contribute space, expertise, programing or in other ways. As a smaller local government, we are limited in terms of resources, but when we leverage outside agencies and act as a convener or point of access, we can get things done.” Continued on page 19
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DISTRICT OF SECHELT The District of Sechelt also applied a community-based approach to support its age-friendly planning, but has taken it to the next level by including recommended actions for external organizations. Sechelt’s new Age Friendly Community Plan, endorsed by Council in 2017, was initiated, led and developed by the Sunshine Coast Seniors Planning Table, a program offered through the Community Resources Centre. “More than 50 per cent of our population is over the age of 50 – and 33.8 per cent of those are over 65, and it’s going up every year. This is close to double the provincial average. We knew we needed a plan to be more age friendly, but we wanted it to be a community plan – not just what we as the District could do,” says Angela Letman, Municipal Planner, Angela Letman District of Sechelt. “The Seniors Planning Table approached us and together we applied for an Age-Friendly Community Grant, which was then used to fund the project.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
The broad-based plan, with recommendations on actions beyond the scope of local government, evolved as a direct result of input from seniors. As the lead on the project, the Seniors Planning Table took on the bulk of the coordination and consultation work, including consulting with 208 seniors in focus groups to gain insight into local issues and options for removing barriers, improving infrastructure and heightening social connections.
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“The community partnership was key to getting the plan approved,” says Letman. “When it comes from the community, Council can be confident that the plan reflects what seniors want done. And because we were not leading the consultation, we were not seen by the community as trying to set the agenda.”
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Because the age-friendly plan was community-led, it looked at the broad-based needs in the community – not just areas within the purview of local government. As a result, the Seniors Planning Table created a plan with key findings and recommendations that involved multiple levels of government, local agencies and private sector companies.
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During the development process, as the seniors involved identified a needs area, the District directed them to the organization responsible for those areas. District staff also assisted with venues for the consultation and helped with writing the plan.
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Becoming Age Friendly: Case Studies Continued from page 17
“We were the back-up quarterback. We were able to share our input and our expertise, including providing our knowledge of the community and who would be best for addressing various issues,” says Letman. “But the plan itself, and the recommendations for other organizations come from the Seniors Planning Table. District staff disseminated the final Plan, however, it is the Seniors Planning Table that is following up directly with the different agencies. This is important as we, as a local government, cannot ask provincial ministries to make improvements, but the public has an important voice and can do so.” The Age-Friendly Community Plan addresses a wide spectrum of concerns that affect Sechelt seniors, such as outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation and traffic safety, housing and independent living, respect and inclusion, social participation, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services. The District has already begun implementing recommendations within its scope of influence. For example, the new zoning bylaw will reflect recommendations such as scooter parking and electrical charging stations. There will be requirements for developers, such as incorporating wider doorways in single-family homes to improve accessibility and adaptability of housing units. The District is also reviewing its Affordable Housing Strategy and long-term capital projects plan with a view to addressing the plan recommendations and barriers to seniors. “We’ve been using the recommendations from the plan, and it’s already helping us by providing justification for traffic safety improvements and gaining endorsement for things like supportive housing,” says Letman. “It’s part of our toolkit of strategic community plans to help us analyze our projects and planning initiatives.”
The District of Sechelt applied a community-based approach to its age-friendly planning, endorsing an Age Friendly Community Plan in 2017 that was developed by the Sunshine Coast Seniors Planning Table, offered through the Community Resources Centre.
The District has continued to build on the partnerships established with the Seniors Planning Table to guide future decision-making. “We are working with the Planning Table to look for more neighbourhood and community connections to consult on projects, and we can provide them with a conduit to reach out to neighbourhood associations,’’ says Letman. While the District has embraced the plan, the Seniors Planning Table has been working to engage the governments and agencies responsible for implementing the other recommendations, such as the Ministry of Transportation, Sechelt Indian Government, Town of Gibsons, School District 46, Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Ferries, Service Canada, and a range of community organizations involved in the social and physical well-being of seniors. The plan was sent to all the organizations with an accompanying letter outlining how the plan was developed, noting that the recommendations came from the community, and encouraging the agencies to pursue the recommendations.
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“The plan was well-received by a number of the organizations involved, including positive feedback from our local MP, MLA, and BC Ferries, as well as positive feedback from some of the private businesses,” says Letman. “The Seniors Planning Table is doing some follow up with the organizations mentioned in the plan to encourage them to implement their recommendations. While some of the recommendation may not be attainable within the next 10 years, at least the plan is there and has identified them.” ❖
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tips & tactics Age-friendly Work, Research and Local Government Tools in B.C. The following resources provide an overview of the work and research underway related to age-friendly communities, and tools available to support local governments.
World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network for Agefriendly Cities and Communities Work by WHO includes defining eight domains that reflect the elements of an age-friendly community, as well as studies and examples to support local governments and community organizations. • Tactics to address the physical and social environment: www.who.int/ageing/age-friendly-environments/en/ • Considerations for age-friendly cities: www.who.int/ageing/projects/age-friendly-cities-communities/en/ • WHO’s guide to global age-friendly cities: www.who.int/ageing/publications/age_friendly_cities_guide/en/
Age-friendly B.C. The provincial government has collated information on age-friendly communities, businesses and ideas being implemented around the province, and other resources. • www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/aboutseniorsbc/seniors-related-initiatives/age-friendly-bc • www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/aboutseniorsbc/seniors-related-initiatives/age-friendly-bc/age-friendlycommunities/how-to-become-age-friendly
BC Healthy Communities (BCHC) BCHC supports facilitation, planning and implementation of age-friendly communities initiatives and administers a provincial age-friendly recognition award. • www.planh.ca: Implemented by BC Healthy Communities Society, PlanH facilitates local government learning, partnership development and planning for healthier communities where we live, learn, work and play. Working together with health authorities, UBCM and the Ministry of Health, PlanH supports Healthy Families BC and the Province’s health promotion strategy. • Age-friendly Capacity Building Program: https://bchealthycommunities.ca/afcb • Age-friendly Communities Recognition Award: https://bchealthycommunities.ca/agefriendly • Aging Well Program: https://bchealthycommunities.ca/agingwell
Many thanks to Sarah Ravlic, BC Health Communities, Heather Evans, City of North Vancouver and Barbara McMillan, United Way of the Lower Mainland for assisting with these Tips & Tactics.
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Public Health Agency of Canada Age-friendly resources are provided to support the health and wellbeing of seniors, including tips and guides for local government. • www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/agingseniors/friendly-communities.html • Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide: www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/migration/phac-aspc/ seniors-aines/alt-formats/pdf/publications/public/healthy-sante/ age_friendly_rural/AFRRC_en.pdf • Age-Friendly Communities in Canada: Community Implementation Guide: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/ publications/healthy-living/age-friendly-communities-canadacommunity-implementation-guide.html
Seniors Raising Profile Project This project sought to highlight the key role of non-profit and municipal community-based seniors’ services in supporting seniors to build new social connections, remain physically and mentally active, and retain their independence. It also initiated a provincewide network of Community Based Seniors’ Services in B.C. Now transitioned to United Way of the Lower Mainland’s provincial Healthy Aging Department. (www.seniorsraisingtheprofile.ca) • Declaration of the Community-Based Seniors’ Services Sector in B.C.: www.surveymonkey.com/r/CBSSDeclaration • Provincial Summit On Aging: Report on Key Learning & Next Steps: www.seniorsraisingtheprofile.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2018/02/Summit-Report-final-.pdf
United Way of the Lower Mainland (www.uwlm.ca) • Healthy Aging Department: Coordinates consultation and discussion across B.C. to achieve objectives in the Declaration of the Community-Based Seniors’ Services Sector in B.C. • Better At Home Program: Provides services such as house cleaning, minor repairs, shopping, snow shoveling and yard care. • Choose to Move Program: Provides personalized guidance for seniors to help them develop a plan for physical activity. • Active Aging Grants: Funding for local non-profits to provide community-based programs that support physical activity, social connectedness and community engagement. • Knowledge Hub: To be launched this fall, an interactive platform for information sharing, training, coordination and networking with others that support age-friendly communities.
Alzheimer Society of BC’s Dementia-Friendly Communities • Local government information: http://alzheimer.ca/en/bc/Getinvolved/Dementia-friendly%20communities/DFC%20Local%20 Government%20Toolkit • Toolkit: http://www.alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/files/bc/ municipal%20toolkit/dfctoolkitvjan2016.pdf
LGMA UPDATES
Meet the 2018-2019 LGMA Board The new Board of Directors was introduced at the 2018 Annual General Meeting held in conjunction with the LGMA Annual Conference May 15-27 in Victoria. Please welcome:
President Mark Koch
Vice President Ron Bowles
Director of Community Services, District of Lake Country
General Manager, Community Development, City of Campbell River
Treasurer Heather NelsonSmith
Director of Corporate Services, District of Port Hardy
Director at Large Bill Flitton
Director at Large Madeline McDonald
Director at Large Corie Griffiths
Director of Legislative Services/City Clerk, City of Abbotsford
Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Harrison Hot Springs
Director, Economic Development, Regional District of Central Okanagan
West Kootenay Boundary Theresa Lenardon
Rocky Mountain Curtis Helgesen
North Central Karla Jensen
Chief Administrative Officer, District of Elkford
General Manager of Legislative and Corporate Services, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
Chapter Directors
Vancouver Island Darren Kiedyk
Chief Administrative Officer, City of Langford
Thompson Okanagan Raeleen Manjak
Director, Human Resources, City of Vernon
Lower Mainland Wallace Mah
Chief Administrative Officer, District of Kent
Manager, Corporate Administration, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
Celebrating Excellence: 2018 LGMA Awards We congratulate this year’s deserving award winners, announced at the LGMA Annual Conference:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD: VOLUNTEER SERVICE LGMA AD HOC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE • Carol Mason • Terry Melcer • Paul Murray
• Ron Poole • Sheryl Worthing • Jacquie Griffiths
• Ken Bayne • Julie Case • Tom Roper
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD: VOLUNTEER SERVICE • John Leeburn • Julie Douglas
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER AWARD • Rob Buchan • Janis Bell
DISTINGUISHED PARTNER AWARD • Tracey Lorenson • Jan Enns
PRESIDENT’S AWARD • Ron Mattiussi
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD: LEADERSHIP • Monica Dalziel
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MEMBERS PAGE MEMBER MOVEMENT Bruce Anderson, Director, Building and Planning, District of Oak Bay (Formerly Manager, Community and Cultural Planning, City of Nanaimo) Sherri Andrews, Executive Assistant, City of Langford (Formerly Executive Assistant, District of Saanich) Elle Brovin, City Clerk, City of Campbell River (Formerly, Property Services Manager, City of Campbell River) Victoria Chan, Chief Financial Officer, Village of Fruitvale Nicole Cressman, Manager of Legislative Services, District of Summerland (Formerly Executive Assistant, District of Peachland) Debra Hopkins, Deputy City Clerk, District of Oak Bay (Formerly Senior Committee Clerk, District of Saanich) Roger Huston, Manager of Operations, Township of Spallumcheen (Formerly Public Works Manager, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen) Karla Jensen, General Manager, Legislative and Corporate Services, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (Formerly Corporate Officer, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George) Sonia Lachar, Human Resources Manager, District of Squamish (Formerly Human Resources Advisor, City of Surrey)
Adam Langenmaier, Chief Financial Officer, City of Powell River (Formerly Chief Financial Officer, City of Dawson Creek)
Peter Sparanese, City Manager, City of Abbotsford (Formerly General Manager of Engineering and Regional Utilities, City of Abbotsford)
November 21-23 Corporate Officers Forum Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna
Scott Mack, Managing Partner, Townsite Planning Inc. (Formerly Director of Development Services, Municipality of North Cowichan)
Misti Stevens, Finance Specialist, Village of Fruitvale (Formerly Finance Specialist, City of Rossland)
December 7 Webinar: Strategic Planning www.lgma.ca
Anne Williams, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Salmo (Formerly North Salt Spring Waterworks District)
2018 RELATED PARTNER PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Mira Malkowsky, Deputy Corporate Officer, District of Sicamous (Formerly Deputy Clerk, District of Clearwater) Sheila McCutcheon, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of McBride (Formerly Chief Financial Officer, District of Vanderhoof) Andrew McGifford, Senior Manager, Comox Strathcona Waste Management Services (Formerly Manager of Environmental Services, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District) Kim Mushynsky, Administrative Consultant, Chown Enterprises Inc. (Formerly, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Port Clements) Marla Proctor, Director of Community Services, City of Fernie (Formerly Director of Community, Culture and Recreation, Gravenhurst, Ontario) Allison Sinkins, Chief Financial Officer, Village of Queen Charlotte (Formerly Legislative and Administrative Clerk, Village of Queen Charlotte)
RETIREMENTS Ron Mattiussi, City Manager, City of Kelowna George Murray, City Manager, City of Abbotsford
2018 LGMA PROGRAMS & EVENTS August 12-17 MATI Foundations UBC Okanagan Campus, Kelowna September 11 & 18 Webinar: Planning Basics www.lgma.ca September 13 CAO Breakfast Hilton, Whistler September 30-October 5 MATI Community Planning in Local Government Organizations The Cove Lakeside Hotel, West Kelowna
August 19-22 Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Annual Conference Quebec City, Quebec September 5-7 Alberta Rural Municipal Administrators’ Association (ARMAA) Annual Conference Medicine Hat, Alberta September 10-14 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Annual Convention Whistler, B.C. September 23-26 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Annual Conference Baltimore, Maryland October 1-4 Local Government Administrators of the NWT (LGANT) Annual Conference Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
SPECIAL RECOGNITION Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC)
Board of Examiners
These three individuals achieved CMC status:
The following local government employees, recognized for their education and work experience in the local government field, are being awarded Certificates by the Board of Examiners:
• Diane Heinrich, City of Grand Forks • Stephanie Lam, City of White Rock • Diane Vaykovich, Town of Oliver
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Certificate in Local Government Service Delivery: • Dean Banman, Manager of Recreation Services, Regional District of Nanaimo • Kate O’Connell, City Clerk, City of Burnaby • Edith Watson, Senior Executive Assistant, Strathcona Regional District
MEMBERS PAGE OUR TOWN: TOWN OF QUALICUM BEACH Age-friendly Qualicum Beach, a Vancouver Island community with a median age of 66, has found that the amenities and spaces it creates for its older residents are appeciated by all those of ages and abilities.
Which municipality has a postcard-perfect Salish sea view waterfront, three world-class golf courses and Canada’s most senior demographic? Why, the Town of Qualicum Beach, of course! Located north of Nanaimo on the eastern edge of Vancouver Island, Qualicum Beach boasts a median age just shy of 66. Despite being affectionately known as “Canada’s greyest town,” Qualicum Beach is anything but a sleepy retirement community. First incorporated as a Village in 1942, Qualicum Beach has been a haven for retirees from day one. The Town has been stewarded by a long line of visionary Councils that have steered development away from single industries, fast food restaurants, retail chains and sprawl. Yes, much of the Town closes up shop at 5 p.m. sharp. However, the Town does feature energetic leisure activities, including hiking and biking trails, golf (naturally!), lawn bowling, paddle boarding and beachcombing. The downtown core is eminently walkable with charming streetscapes, urban green trails and nooks, boutique stores and all amenities close at hand – including the library, Town Hall, community hall, civic centre, curling rink, playgrounds, skate park, sports fields, doctors’ offices and an airport with two commercial carriers and skydivers. As the median age in Qualicum Beach continues to rise, aging in place has become forefront on the minds of citizens and Town decision-makers alike. One of the Town’s key aging in place strategies undertaken in 2013 was the Age-Friendly Transportation Plan. The Plan focuses on safety and accessibility for people of all ages and abilities, with an emphasis on active modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. At the time it was introduced in 2013, the Plan identified 44 projects on a weighted priority scale. Since then, the Plan has been updated to include new projects in 2014, 2016, and most recently in 2017, and to date 10 of the original 44 projects have been completed. Projects in the Plan include illuminated crosswalks, roundabouts at high traffic-incident intersections, bike routes, traffic calming, accessible pathways and street lighting.
Additionally, the Town has provided hands-on opportunities, both for staff and the community at large, in areas like dementia-friendly training and slips and falls prevention. A local association, Access Oceanside, hosts an annual “Walk-WheelAbout” where members of the public, Council and staff are invited to go on tour throughout the Town using accessibility aids, such as walkers, scooters and wheelchairs, to better understand accessibility Daniel Sailland concerns first-hand. In partnership with the Regional District of Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach undertook an assessment of Town facilities. In response to the assessment, the Town’s Civic Centre, for example, was renovated to include accessible doorknobs and gender-neutral washrooms (which allow opposite-sex caregivers to assist the people in their care without concern). To age in place, one must start younger and well … finish older. The story we tell is that our Town is also home to many young families, enough to maintain two elementary schools and one high school. What we’ve discovered is that when we plan, build and/or create access to spaces and amenities for more experienced individuals, we are actually building to a standard that will be appreciated by all ages and abilities. Aging in place is about being ready for every stage of life, and Qualicum Beach can proudly say that it has established a safe, healthy and active place for all. – Daniel Sailland, Chief Administrative Officer
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