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Kelowna gets money to study accessibility for seniors

Province gives the city a $20,000 “age-friendly” grant.
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The province has given Kelowna $20,000 grant to assess accessibility for seniors in local parks and city buildings.

Kelowna has received a $20,000 “age-friendly” grant from the province to help support a community assessment of city parks and buildings.

These grants supporting communities with an aging population,and, in the case of Kelowna, the parks and building assessment will ensure seniors are able to continue to be active members of our community, said local MLA Steve Thomson.

The Kelowna Community for All Action Plan includes the audit , which will focus on accessibility, safety features and recreational amenities for all ages and abilities.

“Our Community for All Action Plan will help shape Kelowna over the coming years to meet the evolving needs of residents of all ages and abilities and will be a significant step towards creating an overarching Health City Strategy for our city,” said Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, who thanked the Union of B.C. Municipalities for supporting the initiative.

The province’s age-friendly communities grant program is a partnership between the province and the UBCM.

Local governments were invited to apply for grants up to $20,000. For the 2017 grants, communities were encouraged to consider projects that focus on accessibility, aging well, physical activity and non-medical home supports.

Applications were reviewed by a committee from UBCM and the Ministry of Health.

Kelowna is one of 18 municipalities that received a total of $342,430 in 2017 age-friendly grants for this year.

Since 2007, age-friendly communities grants have funded 286 projects throughout British Columbia, totalling $3.75 million.