Councillor Neil Nicholson presented the final report of the Senior’s Task Force for Whitewater Region for the Council of the Township of Whitewater Region.
“The Task force stood up in September in 2019 and this will align with its completion according to our term of reference that coincides with the current term of council.
Bev Buchanen, Gwen Bennett, Moira D’Aoust, and Sheila O’Brien were present as part of the Council.
He also recognized Amanda Labbe as being ‘instrumental for getting all of our ideas off the ground.
“The population bubble is approaching for our community, with 23% of the demographic of people over 65 years of age, with a projected 30% in 2030.”
“What that means is that age friendly plan we talked about earlier, now we have to incorporate that into our strategic plan.” he said.
The said the Task Force had held 30 meetings over its three-year period as well as other meetings numbering 170 volunteer hours.
While he said that the coordinated group was ‘very successful’ Councillor Nicholson cited senior-friendly housing and access to senior-friendly services in lacking areas around the Whitewater Region to be future areas that should be emphasized by future councils.
“There is a gap in advocacy and large portions of Whitewater without access to support, to primary care, to the internet.”
He also said that “formal partnerships with Care-for, Eganville Seniors, Renfrew Seniors must be maintained, and membership in Ottawa Valley Ontario Health Team and Older Adults Center of Ontario ”.
“There is a requirement for us to demand recognition for the gaps in access to support, primary care, and the internet, even though it is not the primary responsibility of a lower tier is traditionally responsible for.”
He recommended the Active Transportation Plan be invested in, with feedback from community requesting paved shoulders in Beachburg.
He said that O’Brien had met with BEI in order to discuss
O’Brien said. “When we met with BEI we were really impressed with how positive they were that we did approach them. They were eager to discuss, they’re eager to work with all age groups within the community. We specifically started out speaking of smaller singles or half-doubles built on pads, no steps, no stairs, with a whole range of assistive devices in the home. They were very positive about this, they were very forthright that costs were very high right now. They were hopeful that costs will come down, I think they will over the next five years. There are very few rental facilities in Whitewater, the vast majority of seniors own their own home, throughout the vast range of prices, 300 to 900. BEI is certainly very willing to work with us.”
“I think this is a very good start for us.”
She said that she and Cathy were planning to view one of the planned homes to see them ‘in real time’.
They also said they asked Planner Ivan Burton to create a list of existing vacant, zoned, housing lots to gauge their suitability for seniors looking to move to smaller dwellings to allow them to stay in the region.
“We haven’t looked at co-op housing. We haven’t looked at condominum-style housing.” she said.
“My thing is secondary dwellings.” Gwen Bennett said. “By Secondary dwellings I mean we’d be able to put on a ‘granny suite’ or ‘in-law suites’ so that family members can live close to their support dwelling. They cannot be severed and if they’re sold, then they need to be sold together. We already have that available in whitewater, and I think that’s very exciting. It’s another way to stay in the area, and have supports from their extended family.
Councillor David Mackay suggested a bus service for seniors, similar to one implemented in Lanark, “so that they don’t have to go to the doctor.
“When I get to be a senior, I hope they have that.” he said.
“It’s on our radar.” Moira D’Aoust said, saying they’d considered a ‘grocery bus’ for seniors, and were doing research into other areas.
Councillor McLaughlin asked of the Task Force had made a presentation to the Civitan Club now that the pandemic lockdowns have ended. “Knowing Councillor Nicholson. He’s already on it.”
“I know that housing is an important , and also to try and get affordable housing. I don’t know where we could possibly go with that one.”
Councillor McLaughlin suggested that the Township needs to attract ‘more convenience, more grocery’ in the Township, so that seniors without access to transportation can get food and other required services.
Councillor Chris Olmstead said that he saw an example of senior’s housing in St. Jacobs.
“We’re going to have to do a lot of planning in regards to housing and shops.” he said.
“I didn’t know how this was going to take off when it first started.” Mayor Moore said. “It’s nice to know that we have a lot of strengths. It’s becoming more of a problem; as Neil said, our demographics are changing, and whether it not it be good or not, we need to deal with it.”
Mayor Moore thanked the Task Force for their dedication, and that he “looked forward to Neil telling us about you for time to time. It’s not been a good three years for us. At least now, our residents know that there’s someone out there looking out for them.”
D’aoust acknowledged the council’s support ‘on an ongoing basis’, to a round of applause.
