TRACADIE (GNB) – Tracadie is the latest municipality to be named an age-friendly community by the provincial government as part of the Age-Friendly Community Recognition Program.
The program, launched more than a year ago, was developed to encourage communities to take sustainable action in order to become more age-friendly. The award acknowledges the success of Tracadie in establishing policies and services to promote healthy aging and wellness.
Environment and Local Government Minister Serge Rousselle presented the certificate on behalf of Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Lisa Harris in Tracadie on Monday. The presentation coincides with Wellness Week in New Brunswick.
“It is so exciting to see more communities embrace the age-friendly approach,’’ said Rousselle. “It is extremely important that seniors are healthy and able to age independently in their own communities.”
In order to achieve recognition, communities must have completed four milestones developed from the World Health Organization framework. These milestones are based upon engagement and sustainable action.
“It is important to build a promising and ambitious future for the elderly and the general public,’’ said Tracadie Mayor Denis Losier.
“We are seeing the impact of becoming an age-friendly community and most importantly, the seniors are the ones benefitting,” said Stephanie Sonier, co-ordinator of the age-friendly committee in Tracadie.
Tracadie joins Moncton, which has also been named an age-friendly community. Another municipality has also reached the status and will be officially recognized this week. Across the province, about 18 communities have completed at least two of the four milestones.
More information about the Age-Friendly Recognition Program is available online
The Age-Friendly Community Recognition Program is an initiative developed as part of the Home First Strategy and works in harmony with the We’re all in this together: An Aging Strategy for New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Family Plan.
03-10-17