REPORT TO COUNCIL

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SENIORS

MARCH 28, 2003

INFORMATION

1. Annual Report for 2002

The Special Advisory Committee on Seniors was created by a resolution of Vancouver City Council on July 23, 1983. A list of the volunteer members during 2002 is attached as Appendix A.

The Committee's mandates are to contribute to the well-being of the older citizens of Vancouver and to endeavour to improve their quality of life. The Committee
· advises Council on issues of concern to seniors;
· acts as a means of communication or liaison between Council, other Council-appointed bodies and other groups;
· provides support to groups endeavouring to initiate and develop projects assisting seniors;
· disseminates pertinent information obtained and evaluated by Committee members to appropriate agencies and groups throughout the City.

This annual report covers the year 2002.

Guest Presenters

Names of Presenters

Subject

Dr. Jack Altman, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board

Aging in the New Millennium

Linda Thomas, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board

Seniors' Housing

Jeffrey Patterson, Downtown Transportation Planner and Lon LaClaire, Downtown Transportation Engineer

Downtown Transportation Plan

Margaret Hall, BC Law Institute

Private Care Agreements

Brian Barber, Sunrise Development, Inc.

Sunrise Assisted Living, Inc.
989 West 57th Avenue (formerly 7250 Oak Street)

Dan Paccioretti, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

Assistive Communications Systems

Nick Losito, Environmental Health

Food Safety Strategy

Christopher Richardson, Park Board Commissioner

Stanley Park Bus Loop Relocation

Christopher Richardson, Park Board Commissioner and Carol Sogawa, District Recreation Coordinator, Queen Elizabeth District, Vancouver Park Board

Park Board Fees - Seniors and Youth

Ronda Howard, Planner

Financing Growth

Significant Activities

· Participated in the City of Vancouver's Sidewalk Task Force.
· Toured congregate housing facilities.
· Studied Manitoba's aging in place program.
· Supported the Downtown Transportation Plan
· Supported Granville Mall staff recommendations
· Supported elevator accessibility of Granville Skytrain Station

· Supported the continuation of Pacific Transit Cooperative as the HandyDART service provider for the City of Vancouver.
· Supported retention of the low income seniors' bus pass program.
· Supported the Vancouver Public Library's Audiobook Program
· Studied Park Board Program Fees for seniors and youth
· Studied Financing Growth options
· Supported Kay's Place for seniors in the West End

· Recommended Bruce Chown to participate in the Urban Transportation Forum as proposed by the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority (TransLink).

· Investigated the elimination of bus service to Granville Island
· Participated in the City Clerk's examination of Council appointed Boards and Commissions.

Significant Topics Considered

· Health

· Housing

· Sidewalk and pedestrian safety

· Transportation

Future Directions

The Committee expects to pursue the following issues and areas of interest to seniors during the year 2003, subject to any direction which Council chooses to provide:

· Ensure architects, designers and developers incorporate a full range of "aging in place" features into their buildings, and heighten their awareness of the value of such features to the community at large.
· Sidewalk safety
· Continue efforts to encourage affordable, accessible transit services for seniors
· Continue to work with City staff on Congregate Housing guidelines
· Health-related issues for seniors, especially those in care facilities
· Encourage more affordable supportive (i.e., congregate) housing projects for seniors
· Consider possible impacts of 2010 Olympics on seniors in Vancouver
· Comment on plans for a Vancouver-Richmond Rapid Transit Line and its implications for seniors
· Continue to participate in TransLink's Urban Transportation Forum to represent seniors in the City of Vancouver.

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The Special Advisory Committee on Seniors had another busy year and are to be thanked for their contributions to many of Council's initiatives such as housing and transportation.

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APPENDIX A

Year 2002 Members of the Special Advisory Committee on Seniors

Mary Bosze (Co-Chair)
Bruce Chown (Co-Chair/Chair of Transportation Subcommittee )
Sophie King (Vice Chair)
Cynthia Ramsay (Chair of Health Subcommittee )
Gillian Watson-Donald (Chair of Housing Subcommittee)
Agnes Campbell (partial year)
Jacqueline Coinner
Wyn Gladman
Harry Lazar
Beatrice Leinbach
Josephine Mallek
Simon Oosterhuis
James Pau
Joseph Polisky
Carol Smith
Karl Taussig
Beverley Thomas
Anna Welbourn
Miriam Yu
Carmen Zajac

Council Liaison

Councillor Sandy McCormick

Park Board Liaison

Commissioner Christopher Richardson

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© 2002 City of Vancouver