Summary

• $500,000 in age-friendly grants are being awarded across 26 communities in B.C.
• This year, there are 10 Indigenous communities, 17 rural and/or remote communities, and nine communities that are new to receiving Age-friendly Communities Program funding
• In 2026, grants will support initiatives that foster independence, inclusion and well-being for older adults and Elders through policy, programs, services and accessible infrastructure

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Older adults in 26 communities throughout B.C. will benefit from grants for policies and projects that will support them in leading active and independent lives in their communities.

“Funding plans and projects that focus on issues like health and wellness programming, emergency preparedness and climate resiliency means older adults are able to continue to live independently in their communities with deeper connections and inclusion,” said Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care. “We are continuing to work with our partners to accommodate the complex and changing needs of our growing, aging population, so they can age with support and dignity now and in the future.”

Through the Age-friendly Communities program, $500,000 in age-friendly grants are being awarded across 26 communities in B.C. this year, including 10 Indigenous communities.

“We are proud to support B.C. communities in building places where older adults can age with dignity, safety and connection,” said Vanessa Manuel, executive director, BC Healthy Communities. “This year, we are especially moved by the breadth and depth of Indigenous-led projects in the 2026 cohort. Ten Indigenous communities will receive funding, a record for this program, and many of their projects focus on Elder wellness and safety in ways that are deeply rooted in culture and community.”

Program supports planning and action

The program offers two streams of funding to help local and Indigenous governments achieve the vision of building age-friendly communities:

• Stream 1 planning focuses on completing age-friendly assessments and action plans
• Stream 2 projects focus on implementing age-friendly initiatives identified as priorities in the community’s age-friendly action plan

This year, 15 grants were awarded in the planning stream, 11 grants in the project stream.

Through the support of BC Healthy Communities, the program also offers age-friendly tools and resources, an age-friendly recognition component, and customized capacity supports to grant recipients that assist in their planning and projects.

“This grant will make it possible for us to reach older adults in Surrey who are genuinely at risk and don't know where to turn,” said Brenda Locke, mayor of Surrey. “With Surrey's 55+ population already representing more than a quarter of all residents, and growing rapidly, the safety workshop series grant will help bring together police, health, transit and community organizations.”

Preparing for an aging population

The grants aim to remove physical and social barriers, improve community well-being and foster independence among older adults. This year, projects will start in July 2026 and finish in June 2027.

“I meet regularly with mayors and councillors who want to ensure their communities are prepared to help local residents age in the neighbourhoods they have lived in for decades, whether that’s in their own homes, subsidized housing, assisted living or long-term care,” said Dan Levitt, B.C.’s seniors advocate. “The age-friendly program provides the funding and support to help local governments identify gaps and implement improvements that enhance the well-being of seniors and support healthy aging.”

This year, grants will support planning for age-friendly housing, community and Elder financial safety, transportation and accessibility assessments. Additionally, the grants will support projects that include emergency preparedness, food security, community connection, Indigenous-language revitalization and land-based approaches to Elder wellness.

Funded by the Province, the Age-friendly Communities program is delivered by BC Healthy Communities, a provincewide not-for-profit organization that works with communities to facilitate the conditions for health and well-being for thriving and resilient communities.

Quick Facts:

• By 2041, more than 20% of B.C.'s population will be 65 or older.
• The Age-friendly Communities program helps communities respond by supporting initiatives that promote independence, inclusion and community participation among older adults.
• Sixty-two communities in B.C. have been recognized as age-friendly.

Learn More:

• For a listing of 2026 grant recipients, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/AFC_Grant_RecipientsJune2026.pdf
• For more information about BC Healthy Communities and Age-friendly Communities Program, visit: https://bchealthycommunities.ca/index.php/age-friendly-communities/