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Senior Friendly Pilot Project
The Healthy Saanich Advisory Committee is currently developing a programme to encourage businesses to adopt suggested guidelines and criteria to eliminate or reduce some of the challenges that seniors face every day. The criteria are based on the results of a survey completed by seniors within the pilot project area earlier this year.
The Pilot Project Area is defined along Shelbourne Street, between Feltham Road and Cedar Hill Cross Road. This area is also defined in the Regional Growth Strategy as a major centre/urban village, and Saanich will be looking at development guidelines to make this area evolve accordingly. The corridor also has the highest number of seniors living within a 15-minute walk of a commercial centre. Finally, statistics confirm that by 2010, one in five residents in Saanich will be over the age of 65.
Although the neighbourhood is predominantly apartments and condominiums with some single family dwellings, there are many seniors’ complexes and care homes. It is well recognized how important it is to allow seniors to age in place, and remain independent for as long as possible. This area offers a variety of retail outlets, banking facilities, restaurants and coffee shops, churches, medical offices and services, a recreation centre, a library, movie theatres and has access to reliable and frequent public transportation.
 The long-term goal of our project is to engage not only the businesses within the pilot area, but eventually throughout the municipality, and have “Saanich Senior Friendly” decals prominently displayed so that seniors know that the particular business or service has taken steps to ensure that it has adapted to meet seniors’ needs as they continue to be active in their community, doing their day to day business.
Global Age-Friendly Cities Project
Saanich is experiencing a demographic shift as are many other cities in the world. Our populations are aging and we need to plan for this change in a positive way. According to the United Nations one million people worldwide turn 60 every month!
Recently the Province of British Columbia selected Saanich to be their partner city to collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other cities in this world-wide project to make cities more “age-friendly”.
The project focuses on the “lived” experience of older people – that is what seniors experience in their daily lives in the community. WHO and partners from many countries, including Health Canada, will first consult with older persons, and then with community leaders and experts to identify the major physical and social barriers to active aging. WHO will then compile the results to create the practical “Age-Friendly City” guidelines that could be used by cities around the world.
A Committee Initiative - "Life in Saanich" Memories Book Project
Cherishing the Past, Valuing the Present and Visioning
the Future Pioneers and students come together to hear each others'
memories, dreams and all they have in common about "Life in Saanich" (PDF 110KB). Books
are available through the Cashier at the Municipal Hall for a
$10 donation to the Healthy Saanich Committee.
Saanich Centennial Pioneer Tea
On the afternoon of May 25, 2006 at Saanich Commonwealth Place, the Municipality and the Healthy Saanich Committee hosted a Centennial Tea to honour residents who have lived in Saanich for 50 years or more, and who have reached the age of 70 years. Many Pioneers were i n their 90s, and one lady will reach the milestone of 102 years in June!
300 pioneers had a wonderful afternoon filled with friends and family, musical entertainment provided by the Juan de Fuca Orchestra and the Sweet Adelines, and a lively talk on the History of Saanich from Dr. Peter Smith – a Saanich Pioneer himself. Also taking part in the festivities were MPs, MLAs, past Saanich Mayors, Mayor Frank Leonard and present-day Councillors, the Police Chief and the Fire Chief.
Of course it wouldn’t be a tea party without the tea – and this was provided together with a wonderful array of finger sandwiches and other delicious treats by Food For Thought Catering, topped off with birthday cake from Art’s Bakery and chocolates generously provided by Rogers’ Chocolates. Almost fifty students from Reynolds, Claremont, Mt. Douglas and Royal Oak schools did a tremendous job of serving the tea, as well as setting up and clearing the tables.
The highlight of this very special afternoon was a surprise visit from Her Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, Iona Campagnolo. Not only did she deliver a thought-provoking speech, but she took the time to mingle with all the pioneers.
The Healthy Saanich Committee will be preparing a memento of the occasion, including photographs and comments from the Pioneers. A copy will be sent to those who attended the event, and it can be made available to others upon a request. (Call the Clerk’s Office at 475-1775 or email)
A collection of photos taken at the Tea will be available for viewing at the Municipal Clerk’s Office. If you would like to place an order for photos from the tea, please call our photographer, John Quick at 475-1775, extension 3571, or email)
The Centennial Pioneer Tea was a culmination of many months of planning and hard work, and with the help of members of the Healthy Saanich Committee and Saanich Staff, it turned out to be a very memorable occasion which will be captured in our archives for Saanich’s bi-centennial celebrations!
Well done to everyone who played a role in orchestrating a very successful afternoon!
Fall Workshop - Saturday, November 25, 2006
Picturing a Healthy Saanich in the Midst of Change: A Community Dialogue
Why dialogue? Community associations and the public are concerned about the development of their neighbourhoods. Developers are worried about financial viability.
Municipalities must generate revenue to manage city infrastructure now and into the future, together with maintaining our quality environment and healthy lifestyles. Planners want to manage growth and promote sustainable development within a vision of the region. Trust and good faith are often tested by less than ideal decision-making processes on development issues.
This will be an important community dialogue among developers, builders, community associations, planners, and the public to explore:
What is the ideal community decision-making process between community members, builders, developers and local government?
Together we will generate an understanding about what a good planning process in Saanich could be. Beginning with a set of photographs taken by citizens of their picture of what makes a community healthy (physically, geographically and socially) this participatory event will include an interactive panel and small group dialogue to bring a thoughtful, creative and inclusive approach to public conversation. For information call Carole at 475-5406
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