WHEREAS the Measuring Up initiatives have been successful in helping BC communities assess and improve how livable, age-friendly, disability-friendly, universally designed, and inclusive they are for all citizens and visitors; AND WHEREAS the Measuring Up The North Initiative, through its unique principles and process, has come to serve as a model for all of British Columbia: AND WHEREAS the funding for the Measuring Up initiatives will be ending in August of 2009: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM work with the provincial government to ensure that the Measuring Up initiatives are extended and continue their vital work; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial government provide adequate funding to local governments to implement Measuring Up initiatives.
Ministry of Healthy Living Sport The Province recognizes the importance of healthy built environments in improving the health of people of all ages, abilities, cultures and income levels. The Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport is a supporting partner of the Measuring Up the North Initiative. This partnership has created opportunities for increased engagement between the Province, local government and communities. The partnership has also led to the development of many new planning tools to assist communities in becoming more age-friendly, disability-friendly and inclusive for all citizens and visitors. The Ministry will continue to play a stewardship role in promoting healthy built environments and work with local governments to achieve the provincial governments vision for greener, healthier and more sustainable communities. Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport - Seniors Healthy Living Secretariat Creating age-friendly communities is one of four cornerstones in Seniors in British Columbia: A Healthy Living Framework, Governments action plan to support BC seniors in living healthy, active, independent lives. The Province works with stakeholders to promote age-friendly communities through the Age-friendly Leaders Partnership, which brings together more than 20 leaders from business, senior-serving organizations, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities UBCM, ethno-cultural and Aboriginal organizations, and other sectors, to further age-friendly planning and practices in communities across BC. Government also supports municipalities in becoming more age-friendly through the work of the Age-friendly Communities Implementation Team AFCIT. Since its establishment, AFCIT has directly supported 24 local governments and managed the development, production and distribution of age-friendly information materials such as How Age-friendly is Your Community? A Guide for Local Governments to Getting Started. ACFIT and Measuring Up are working together to integrate age-friendly and disability-friendly initiatives, beginning with three pilot sites: Sechelt, Port Hardy and Taylor. The results of these pilots will inform future work to create more accessible, inclusive communities across BC. Age-friendly criteria were incorporated into UBCM and provincial government grants and infrastructure programs for local governments, to encourage them to consider age-friendliness in the development of new initiatives.