The Municipality of Emerson-Franklin recently received a $10, 000 grant from Manitoba Association of Senior Communities for it's Age Friendly initiatives.

Age-friendly is a province-wide multifaceted approach to address the needs of a growing senior population. 

"We were very pleased, obviously, and feel fortunate to receive the funding," said Tracey French, CAO for Emerson-Franklin. "It doesn't look like a lot of grants went out. We were probably one of the only municipalities in our region here to receive one, so we're very excited."

The municipality has been an age-friendly community since 2008. In that time, they've done a lot of age-friendly consultation and planning through their municipal strategic plan said French. 

"One of those areas had to do with main street accessibility and enhancing public green spaces. This project will see some benches along the main street areas, shaded benches, some improvements to some pathways, landscaping and things like that."

The grant money will focus on projects in two specific communities. French says they hope to begin work this year on green spaces along Waddell Avenue in Dominion City and on Main Street Emerson.  

"Relating to seniors housing facilities that are located within those areas and short distances to the main street, wanting to improve their daily errands, accessing basic amenities and things like that to be more accessible This project will see some benches along the main street areas, shaded benches, some improvements to some pathways, landscaping and things like that."

French says with the high number of seniors in the region, they want to enable them to age in place as long as possible. Some of these projects encourage that process.

"We've done a lot of planning and community collaboration. But a lot of those projects need funds to be able to get those off the ground. This is one of our first projects other than basic maintenance and accessibility things like sidewalks and things like that, which we're already integrating with our maintenance and our operation side of things. But this is a little bit of, let's say, more fun money to do something more for residents and curb appeal, but also increasing accessibility."

The municipality's current strategic plan focuses on suitable housing and infrastructure, be it sidewalks, streets and those types of things.

"Making sure our services are at a level with respect to snow clearing and things like that, that promote age friendly," adds French. "They are bigger strategies that take a lot more resources. This is kind of a kickoff to some future projects we hope to see."

According to a news release from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Age Friendly communities, a global plan driven by the World Health Organization, has gained significant traction across Manitoba. 93 municipalities officially joined this initiative and are on the pathway to reduce barriers and enhance resources, making their community more age friendly for residents of all ages. 


~With files from Candace Derksen~