Symposium

October 1, 2012

OCTOBER PROCLAIMED SENIORS' AND ELDERS' MONTH IN MANITOBA

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Manitoba Hosting International Age-friendly Symposium: Rondeau

Healthy Living, Seniors and Consumer Affairs Minister Jim Rondeau today proclaimed October 2012 as Seniors’ and Elders’ Month in Manitoba and recognized and appreciated the extensive contributions seniors make to the province.
“I am proud to proclaim October as Seniors’ and Elders’ Month in Manitoba to reaffirm our commitment to the needs and interests of older Manitobans and our ongoing support of age-friendly communities throughout the province,” said Rondeau.  “Manitoba seniors helped build our province and our government is pleased to give back by providing programs and supports, such as the Age-Friendly Initiative, to make communities more accessible and help seniors stay in their homes longer.”
Launched in 2008, the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative encourages policies, services and structures that support and enable older adults to live in security, enjoy good health and continue to participate fully in society.  The initiative continues to gain momentum with 80 per cent of Manitoba’s population living in communities that are becoming age-friendly, Rondeau said.
He noted the province contributes $267,000 to key organizations that provide service to seniors and participate as partners on the province’s Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative including:

• the Aboriginal Seniors Resource Centre,
• Age and Opportunity,
• Creative Retirement Manitoba,
• la Fédération des âinés franco-manitobains,
• the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, 
• the Transportation Options Network for Seniors,
• the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba, and
• age-friendly communities.  

In partnership with the University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging, the Government of Manitoba will host an international invited symposium on age-friendly rural and remote communities in Winnipeg Oct. 15 to 17. The symposium will bring together university researchers, community and government leaders, and older adults to develop key priorities for the creation of age-friendly rural and remote communities on a global level.  Delegates will attend from more than a dozen countries including Australia, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Peru, Russia, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and the United States.
The symposium will kick off with a public forum from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery where a panel of experts will explore The Nature of Place:  Can the Place We Live in Become Age-friendly?

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Age-friendlier Manitoba Afoot

December 2, 2011

PROVINCE ANNOUNCES THIRTEEN MORE COMMUNITIES JOIN MANITOBA'S AGE-FRIENDLY MOVEMENT

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Communities Gather in Winnipeg for Age-friendly Orientation: Rondeau

Representatives from 13 Manitoba communities gathered in Winnipeg today to celebrate joining the province’s age-friendly initiative, bringing the total number of age-friendly communities in Manitoba to 85, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.
“These communities are helping older adults to lead active, socially engaged and independent lives, which contributes to healthy aging,” said Rondeau.  “With more than 80 per cent of Manitoba’s population living in age-friendly communities, we are well on the way to becoming the most
age-friendly province in Canada.”
The province contributes more than $475,000 annually to the age-friendly initiative, which includes funding for an age-friendly website and an Age-Friendly Resource Team, which provide hands-on support to age-friendly communities, Rondeau said.  At today’s orientation, the minister presented a cheque for $2,000 to each of the 13 communities joining the age-friendly initiative including the towns of Boissevain, Emerson, Killarney, MacGregor, Russell and Teulon; the rural municipalities of Bifrost, Harrison, Pipestone, South Cypress, Strathclair and Whitemouth; and the village of Somerset.  The grant monies will be used to kick-start age-friendly programs and services in the communities.
“This initiative requires the engagement of many partners across Manitoba and beyond,” said Rondeau.  “We are pleased to join forces with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, and numerous seniors agencies and provincial recreation staff, who are working together to support communities on their age-friendly journey.”
“We are working closely with the province to implement the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative and help seniors to lead healthy, fulfilling lives,” said Dr. Verena Menec, director of the Centre on Aging.  “It gives us a tremendous vehicle to better address the concerns of aging, and from a research perspective, our collaboration with Manitoba communities provides a rich knowledge base on important issues facing seniors.”
The Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative was launched in 2008.  Its vision is to create communities that value and support the contributions of older people and provide age-friendly environments and opportunities for healthy choices that enhance independence and quality of life, Rondeau said.  For more information about Age-Friendly Manitoba, visit http://www.agefriendlymanitoba.ca/.