Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
World Health Organization (WHO). Such communities “encourage active ageing by optimizing
opportunities for health, participation and security to enhance quality of life as people age.”116
The community of Cambridge is currently pursuing Age-Friendly status, and has made available
several best practices and tools for other communities to use.117 Another resource from the WHO
provides guidance and a checklist for implementing interventions or policies.118 There are also
excellent resources, tools and lists of potential funders at the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat119 and at
the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
Potential Community Leaders
• Town of Cochrane.
• Seniors Group.
• Economic Development Officer.
• Porcupine Health Unit.
Potential Funding Sources:
• Ontario Trillium Foundation, page 95.
• MEDT’s EnAbling Change Program, page 103.
• Employment and Social Development Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, page
104.
• Frog’s Breath Foundation (for Youth Initiatives) page 104.
7.4.3 Improve Municipal Communication Efforts
A recurring theme throughout the public consultation process is that residents would like more
and better communication from the municipality. This is an issue faced by communities all over
the world, 120 especially as internet-enabled technologies have increased our expectations of
institutional communication capacity. Greater government transparency and communication is
linked to improved relations with and between citizens, elected officials, municipal employees
and media.121
There are two tactics under this project:
7.4.3.1 Enhance the municipal website to be more resident-friendly and promote local
business.
116
World Health Organization. (2012). Guide to Global Age Friendly Communities. Available at:
http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf
117
Seniors Community Needs Assessment. (2012). Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries. Available
at: http://tinyurl.com/m3keqdo
118
World Health Organization. (2012). Guide to Global Age Friendly Communities. Available at:
http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf
119
Visit http://www.seniors.gov.on.ca/en/afc/, http://www.seniors.gov.on.ca/en/afc/resources_tools.php and
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/afc-caa-eng.php for more information.
120
Nittel, Keiko. (1999). Communication Strategies for Municipal Governments. ICURR Literature Summary No. 7.
121
Wheeler, Kenneth M. (ed.). 1994. Effective Communication: A Local Government Guide. Washington, DC:
International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
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