Twenty-six communities throughout the province will receive 2014 Age-friendly BC grants to support a variety of projects designed to help older adults stay mobile, physically active and healthy, Health Minister Terry Lake announced today.

"This year communities were encouraged to consider projects that complemented three provincial priorities for seniors: elder abuse prevention, dementia care and non-medical home support," said Lake. "Each approved project reflects the vision of an age-friendly British Columbia, in which older people are supported to live active, socially engaged and independent lives.

Specific examples of approved 2014 Age-friendly BC grants include: elder abuse and "train the trainer" workshops in Tumbler Ridge to raise awareness about how to recognize and respond to elder abuse; Pemberton's "Seniors Interacting Through Art" program aimed at assisting seniors to communicate and express themselves more fully; and Invermere's companion program designed to match seniors with volunteers who will assist with everyday living activities such as shovelling the sidewalk and grocery delivery.

"Seniors helped build our province and are the cornerstone of families and communities," said Linda Larson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors. "The Age-friendly Community Planning and Project Grant program reflects our work with local governments, Union of British Columbia Municipalities and other partners to achieve a vision where people of all ages and abilities feel included and valued in their communities."

Applications for the 2014 round of age-friendly grants were reviewed by a committee of staff from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Ministry of Health. Sixteen out of the 26 communities approved to receive a grant had not received funding under the program between 2009 and 2013. Close to $500,000 will be awarded to this year's successful grant applicants.

"The approved applications are from rural and urban communities throughout the province," said Rhona Martin, president of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. "We are pleased to see so many new recipients in the current round of funding."

The Age-friendly Community Planning and Project Grant program is a partnership between the Government of British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. To date, age-friendly grants have funded over 200 projects in over 120 B.C. communities helping to keep seniors active, healthy and independent.

Learn More:

To learn more about Age-friendly Community Planning and Project Grants please visit: www.gov.bc.ca/agefriendly

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Age-friendly BC grant recipients

*Indicates communities that have not received funding under this program since 2009.

100 Mile House
Project name: Becoming an Age-friendly Rural Community.
Grant amount: $20,000.

Armstrong
Project name: Age-friendly Community Committee Active Seniors Initiative.
Grant amount: $20,000.

Bowen Island
Project name: Caring Circle Resource Centre Coordinator.
Grant amount: $20,000.

Campbell River
Project name: Fit for Health program.
Grant amount: $5,000.

Clearwater:
Project name: Community Circles for Seniors.
Grant amount: $17,260.

*Fraser Valley Regional District (Rural Areas)
Project name: Addressing Aging in Rural Communities.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Golden
Project name: Age-friendly Plan for Golden & Area.
Grant amount: $19,600.

Granisle
Project name: Good Food Boxes and monthly lunch/healthy eating program at Granisle Seniors' Centre.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Harrison Hot Springs
Project name: Age-friendly Plan.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Houston
Project name: Age-friendly Assessment and Action Plan.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Invermere
Project name: Age-friendly Awareness Campaign: Business Directory, Companion Program, Monthly Luncheons and Mentor Program.
Grant amount: $19,310.

*Langford
Project name: Age-friendly Langford Action Plan.
Grant amount: $18,000.

*Lumby
Project name: Official Community Plan Update: refining polices to create a sustainable and age-friendly community.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Mackenzie
Project name: Mackenzie project to develop better B.C. housing for seniors.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*North Vancouver (District)
Project name: Ageing Well in My Community.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District
Project name: Okanagan Falls Age-friendly Assessment.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Pemberton
Project name: Seniors Interacting Through Art.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Port Moody
Project name: Age-friendly Community Assessment.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Richmond
Project name: Planning for an Age-friendly Richmond.
Grant amount: $20,000.

*Sun Peaks
Project name: Age-friendly Sun Peaks.
Grant amount: $19,980.

*Tumbler Ridge
Project name: Elder Abuse Workshops and "Train the Trainer."
Grant amount: $13,217.

Sayward
Project name: Seniors' Drop-In Activity Centre Health and Wellness program.
Grant amount: $20,000.

Silverton
Project name: Social and Recreational Programming.
Grant amount: $12,000.

Smithers
Project name: Age-friendly assessment, plan and programs.
Grant amount: $18,550.

Vanderhoof
Project name: Vanderhoof Community Garden - Seniors Support Initiative.
Grant amount $20,000.

*Victoria
Project name: Assessment of Social and Housing Needs of Victoria's Aging Populations.
Grant amount $20,000.

Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)