Seniors’ needs up for discussion in Stouffville
$35,000 grant from province to study age-friendly community planning

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 13, 2015
Sandra Bolan

Bring generations together to create a strong community.

That is the impetus behind WS YOU 177.

On Tuesday, the organization received a $35,000 grant from the provincial government to study age-friendly community planning in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

“It’s all about engaging everyone in this project because each of us deserves to live in a community where we feel at home, where we feel supported,” Helena Jaczek, MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham, told a group of about 40 people who gathered inside the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library to hear how the money will be spent.

So far, 56 organizations and municipalities have been awarded money from the $1.5 million fund, according to Jaczek.

“We want to know what seniors need in terms of services, structures and policies, as well as how young people feel about growing up in our community,” Brian Puppa, director of programs for WS YOU 177 told those gathered.

He noted physical structures like roads, buildings and homes garner the most attention when it comes to communities, “but it’s the underlying psychosocial dynamics, the social infrastructure that makes the community strong.”

Parts of Whitchurch-Stouffville currently have one of the highest densities of people over the age of 65 in York Region, according to Puppa.

He also noted, by next year and for the first time ever, there will be more Ontarians over the age of 65 than children under 14 and by 2036, 35 per cent of the Canadian population will be over the age of 55.

Utilizing the World Health Organization’s eight dimensions for age-friendly communities — public buildings, housing, transportation, community support, civic participation, communication, social participation as well as social inclusion — WS YOU 177 will undertake a community-wide consultation process to better understand the needs of local seniors.

In 10 months a report will be made available to the community and council with recommendations.

“I see where they’re coming from … but it’s a little bit beyond the municipality. We can’t tell the municipality and developers what to do,” Mayor Justin Altmann told The Sun-Tribune.

“It’s one thing to talk about it, but how are you going to implement it?” Altmann asked.

Pat Ogston, president of the 55+ Club likes the idea of an intergenerational community, but admitted some of her club members are struggling with what WS YOU 177 is trying to do.

“It’s a new idea for them and sometimes new things take baby steps to get going,” she told The Sun-Tribune.