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Edmonton Strengthens Commitment to Seniors

June 03, 2010

Edmonton City Council has approved a first-in-Canada declaration committed to making Edmonton a more age-friendly city where seniors remain connected to communities, respected and valued. The Edmonton Seniors Declaration is part of the City’s vision of an inclusive, sustainable and livable Edmonton.

“A community is strongest when all its members can take advantage of its opportunities and participate in its success,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “Age is a gift, and through the senior’s declaration, the City of Edmonton can ensure that our seniors’ wisdom and skills are valued and treasured.”

The Edmonton Seniors Declaration rests on four ideals:

• Individuals are respected regardless of age.
• People of all ages are safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.
• The city’s physical infrastructure allows all people to be involved in city life.
• Older people have ready access to programs, employment, activities and services that help them stay engaged, respected and appreciated.

According to Statistics Canada, seniors are the fastest growing segment of Edmonton’s population, especially those over age 85. Statistics Canada forecasts that by 2025, nearly 20 per cent of Canadians will be age 65 or older compared to 13.7 per cent in 2006.

“The Edmonton Seniors Declaration is at the core of City Council's beliefs and values regarding aging. It strives for a change in perceptions and practices that will allow for the active integration of older people in our society,” said Councillor Linda Sloan, who leads City Council’s Seniors portfolio. “It is timeless in its relevancy and it is my hope that it will be a guiding document for all future Councils to come.”

The declaration was developed by a steering committee including the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC), the Edmonton Arts Council and City staff. The Edmonton Seniors Declaration is a guiding document to help the City plan for and address the needs of seniors.  It was developed with extensive input from seniors, seniors groups and other stakeholders, and written by Edmonton’s former Poet Laureate – Alice Major.

“This is a positive and timely way for the City to honour seniors, make efforts to remove barriers that challenge seniors and to call on the community to do the same,” said Sheila Hallett, executive director of ESCC. “Cities around the world are recognizing the need to be proactive in planning and preparing for larger proportions of seniors in their demographics and Edmonton has responded in a way that leads by example.”

A copy of the Edmonton Seniors Declaration is available online at www.edmonton.ca/seniors.

Information on services for seniors is available online at www.seniorscouncil.net

A demographic profile on the needs and interests of Edmonton’s seniors will be released by the committee later this summer followed by a five-year action plan titled Vision for an Age Friendly Edmonton in the fall.