5. Senior advisory council
Engagement with Richmond residents about how to improve their city led to the development of a Senior Advisory Council, and many improvements in Richmond. (City of Richmond)
See it in action
City of Richmond, BC – Senior’s strategy
Older adults and people living with dementia experience their neighbourhoods in ways that differ from other community members. Learning from their experience is important to creating cities that are inclusive for all ages and abilities.
Challenge: Richmond has one of the fastest-growing older adult populations in the Greater Vancouver area. The City recognized a need to improve the design of its built environment for an aging population, and wanted to ensure that changes were driven by community feedback.
Solution overview: Richmond created an ambassador program, known as the Senior Advisory Council, in which community members act as liaisons between older adults and the city. The ambassadors meet regularly in their neighbourhoods with other local residents, and will either go on walking tours of their neighbourhood or meet in local community centres to share their experiences of how they move through their neighbourhoods. Through this program, the City has been able to address specific concerns within the community, such as implementing changes to a busy intersection and making specific sidewalks more walkable.
This program has helped create connections with the community, while providing opportunities for physical activity. Through this program, the City involves older adults in city planning processes, while sharing information about existing programs and services.
Richmond also has an Accessibility Advisory Committee, building on requirements from the Accessible British Columbia Act.
Solution overview: Richmond created an ambassador program, known as the Senior Advisory Council, in which community members act as liaisons between older adults and the city. The ambassadors meet regularly in their neighbourhoods with other local residents, and will either go on walking tours of their neighbourhood or meet in local community centres to share their experiences of how they move through their neighbourhoods. Through this program, the City has been able to address specific concerns within the community, such as implementing changes to a busy intersection and making specific sidewalks more walkable.
This program has helped create connections with the community, while providing opportunities for physical activity. Through this program, the City involves older adults in city planning processes, while sharing information about existing programs and services.
Richmond also has an Accessibility Advisory Committee, building on requirements from the Accessible British Columbia Act.
Relevance to the guidelines
Strategy 1.1 Land use designation
Strategy 1.2 Street grids
Strategy 1.4 Transit routes
Strategy 1.5 Open spaces
Strategy 2.1 Pedestrian paths and sidewalks
Strategy 3.6 Ground treatments
Strategy 3.7 Grade (level) changes