Surrey seniors will benefit from a $20,000 Age-friendly grant to help create programs or tools that address the needs of the city's older residents.

Local governments can now apply to have their efforts in creating supportive environments for their community’s seniors recognized.

Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan today announced additional funding for Age-friendly BC communities for 2013, supporting seniors around British Columbia.

Nine local governments will receive Age-friendly BC Recognition for their efforts to support older residents to remain healthy and active in the community.

Ten public consultations will take place throughout the province in the coming weeks as one of the ways seniors, their families, service providers, and other organizations can help shape the future role of a seniors advocate.

The Province has released a series of online videos to help local governments and communities create an Age-friendly BC.

The countdown is on at the site of the new Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care project. Less than three months remain until the new acute care and residential care buildings open.

B.C. seniors, families and stakeholders are being invited to help shape the implementation of a comprehensive action plan - including the establishment of an advocate - to ensure a more accessible, transparent and accountable approach to seniors' care.