Healthy Rural Communities

Why is planning for special age groups important?

• Rural communities have larger proportions of aging populations when compared to larger urban centres.

• Transportation access is consistently identified as a major barrier in studies on the impacts of an aging demographics (OPPI, 2009).

• Two of the issues which currently face many rural communities are out-migration of youth an aging population.

Township of Prince: Case Study

• The township of Prince has created a 2013-2018 Accessibility Plan. The plan includes extending bus services from Sault St. Marie into the township, and Prince Township has an arrangement with the city for a bus to come to the corner of two highways.

• A co-op program funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Association is a key item that has provided the municipality with funding for their Strategic Plan and Accessibility Plan.

Recommendations for rural municipalities:

• Ensure your planning initiatives bring a focus to the needs of an aging population. The requirements and needs in aging populations will be unique in terms of accessibility, services and transportation issues. The County of Brant & City of Brantford have developed a Master Aging Plan for the comprehensive needs of an aging community.

• Ensure that your planning documents have consideration for youth, such as the inclusion of skateboard parks, arenas and sports fields, among other activities.

• Develop a youth retention strategy. Provide opportunities for education and employment. Take a community economic development approach and seek out opportunities that could exist for youth in your community.

• Tips from practitioners:
  • Use other communities as inspiration; the Town of Hanover is taking on a youth initiative based on the existing one in Ingersoll.