Media Release

Date: January 7th, 2016
For Immediate Release

The Timmins Economic Development Corporation in partnership with The Venture Centre is currently leading a project to develop an Age-Friendly Community Strategy for the City of Timmins.

The City of Timmins recently received funding from the Government of Ontario as part of its Age-Friendly Community Planning Grant Program. The funding program supports local governments and community organizations to undertake strategic planning and develop local plans to address aging demographics and enable people of all ages to fully participate in community life.

According to the 2011 Census, 36% of the Timmins Population is now over the age of 50 years.  This means that 15,350 of our 43,165 residents are currently over the age of 50.

A Steering Committee comprised of 17 local organizations has been established to lead the project and is looking to engage the 50+ population within the City to obtain their feedback as to how Timmins can become a more Age-Friendly City.

A consulting firm (Paquette Management Services) has been retained to assist the Steering Committee in developing this strategy by conducting research, facilitating consultation with seniors and preparing a detailed summary report.

An extensive consultation process with the local senior’s population has been planned and it is expected that the older adult population will have numerous opportunities to provide their ideas and opinions through a Town Hall meeting, focus groups, interviews and on-line surveys.  This consultation process is scheduled to take place in January and February (2016) and this feedback will be used to identify priorities for action and implementation within the City.

Mayor Steve Black expressed “Our seniors have helped shape our great city and I look forward to ensuring the community continues to address the needs of our aging population and ensuring our seniors maintain a great quality of life here in Timmins.  The public consultation will be a great opportunity to ensure we continue to listen and address the needs and desires of seniors within our community.”

“Our collective challenge is to ensure our communities grow to meet the evolving needs of every person regardless of their age or ability. This is why age-friendly planning is so important and it’s why we are continuing to work with municipalities, seniors’ organizations and other community partners, to help ensure that seniors can participate fully in community life.”
– Mario Sergio, Minister Responsible for Seniors’ Affairs

It is expected that the Timmins Age-Friendly Community Strategy will be completed in March 2016 and that the ongoing involvement and participation of the local older adult population is vital to the success of this initiative.

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For more information on the Timmins project please contact:

Maggie Matear – maggie.matear@timmins.ca or

Roxanne Daoust – roxanne@venturecentre.on.ca , Co-Chairs of the Timmins Age Friendly Steering Committee.

Additional information about Age-Friendly cities can be found at: www.agefriendlyontario.ca/age-friendly-communities

MEDIA RELEASE – Timmins Age Friendly Community Strategy (pdf)