St. Catharines officially deemed age friendly

St. Catharines director of parks, recreation and culture services Phil Cristi holds the city’s Ontario Age-Friendly Community Recognition Award in city council chambers on Monday, March 26. – Karena Walter, St. Catharines Standard

St. Catharines’ efforts to make the city a welcoming place for older adults has netted it a provincial award.

The Ministry of Seniors Affairs honoured the city with an Ontario Age-Friendly Community Recognition Award at a ceremony in Toronto this week.

The city said the award is in recognition of its older adult action plan aimed at enabling seniors to live independent, active and healthy lives.

“We are one of 88, out of the over 400 municipalities across Ontario, who have an age-friendly plan,” said parks, recreation and culture services director Phil Cristi at Monday’s city council meeting.

“It really is a testament to the work our community put forward.”

In 2013, city council approved the city’s age-friendly plan — A City For All Ages — created by the former mayor’s advisory committee for older adults.

Cristi, who received the award on behalf of the city at Monday’s ceremony, said he wanted to acknowledge the work of the committee, including Barbara Legg, Dawn Dodge, Fred Stevens, Janet Fraser, Mary Stanko, Ruth Hay, Virginia Stewart and city Couns. Jennie Stevens and Matt Harris.

The mayor’s annual older adults forum and the compassionate city initiative, as well as the city’s advocacy for affordable housing and inter-municipal transit, were also taken into account for the award.

“This award is a great recognition of the progress that we’re making to improve the quality of life for all residents in St. Catharines,” Mayor Walter Sendzik said.

Source: St. Catharines Standard