Older adults and Elders in the Windermere area will benefit from a provincial grant aimed at helping communities better plan for an aging population.
The Province announced this year’s Age-friendly Communities program funding, with ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, near Windermere, receiving $25,000 to develop an age-friendly action plan.
The project, ʔAkisq̓nuk: Centering Elders’ Voices in Community Planning, Housing and Services, will focus on identifying priorities and actions that can be incorporated into the First Nation’s existing programs, practices and policies. The work will be guided by input from Elders and a comprehensive assessment of their needs.
The funding is part of $500,000 in provincial grants being distributed to 26 communities across B.C. through the Age-friendly Communities program.
“Funding plans and projects that focus on issues like health and wellness programming, emergency preparedness and climate resiliency means older adults are able to continue to live independently in their communities with deeper connections and inclusion,” said Susie Chant, parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care.
The Age-friendly Communities program supports local and Indigenous governments in planning for and implementing initiatives that help older adults remain active, connected and independent.
According to BC Healthy Communities, which administers the program, 10 Indigenous communities received funding this year, the highest number in the program’s history.
Projects funded through the program address a range of priorities, including housing, transportation, accessibility, emergency preparedness, food security and Elder wellness.
The ʔakisq̓nuk project is one of 15 planning grants awarded this year. Work funded through the grant is expected to begin in July 2026 and conclude by June 2027.
Dan Levitt, B.C.’s seniors advocate, said age-friendly planning helps communities identify gaps and make improvements that support healthy aging.
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