Grand Manan Takes First Step To Become Age-Friendly Community

Grand Manan Village is taking strides to transform into an age-friendly community, as highlighted in a recent regular council meeting. The initiative's core objective is to actively bolster the well-being of the village's senior population. During the meeting, Village Clerk Esme Frost shared updates on the progress and unveiled the upcoming steps.

Frost underscored the significance of striving to become a certified age-friendly community based on established national standards. Having this goal signifies the village's dedication to implementing necessary measures to be an inclusive society for all ages. Frost noted, "On May 8th, Council passed a motion to proceed with becoming an age-friendly community. We should be able to complete step one and start step two tonight."

The formation of an Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) committee is a critical step in the process. This committee will be pivotal in executing age-friendly initiatives within the village. A diverse range of community members, including at least one council member to lead the AFC initiative, is expected to constitute the committee. The committee's responsibilities encompass selecting a chairperson for meetings and consistently updating the village council on progress. Frost indicated potential involvement from the recreation programmer, enhancing committee dynamics

The AFC initiative spans eight domains, including housing, programming, and accessibility. Frost clarified that the committee's primary focus would involve crafting a three-year action plan, concentrating on two to three chosen domains. Quarterly committee meetings will facilitate collaborative discussions and status updates.

The council members agreed to postpone the passage of the municipal resolution until after the by-election. This strategic move enables the village to prep for the AFC committee's establishment and encourage community members' participation. Committee formation will follow the election to ensure council capacity. Frost added, "We should be able to complete step one and start step two tonight."