Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Ontario: A Grassroots Stakeholder Based Approach

Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Ontario:A Grassroots Stakeholder Based

Approach

Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Stakeholder Committee

September 10 2013

Québec City, Québec, Canada

Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Ontario Canada 2

AGE-FRIENDLY THUNDER BAY ONTARIO

Age-Friendly Thunder Bay was initiated on the basis of

community based participatory action research

conducted by Dr. Mary Lou Kelley and the

Centre for Education & Research on Aging & Health,

Lakehead University.


STAKEHOLDER BASED COMMITTEE


Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Committee

For Profit Not For ProfitIndividuals

Community Members at Large

COMMUNITY SURVEY: PURPOSE


• In 2010 a community survey was conducted by the Centre for Education & Research on Aging & Health, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay

• The purpose of the survey was:To look at the City of Thunder Bay from a critical “aging” lens in order to celebrate its strengths and determine potential areas of improvement”

COMMUNITY SURVEY: METHODOLOGY


The research questions were:

1. How does the physical, social and cultural environment in Thunder Bay currently support and provide challenges to the quality of life and independence of its aging population?

2. How can the physical, social and cultural environment in Thunder Bay be modified to better support the quality of life and independence of the aging population?

The survey information was collected by seniors.

The information was gathered from seniors exiting public health flu clinics located throughout the Thunder Bay community.

COMMUNITY FINDINGS: STRENGTHS


• Older people feel respected.

• There are pleasant outdoor spaces for walking and recreation.

• There are opportunities for meaningful involvement through

volunteerism.

• Thunder Bay has opportunities to stay active.

• There is an affordable overall cost of living.

• There are many cultural opportunities.

COMMUNITY FINDINGS: BARRIERS


• Affordable housing options (choice).

• Affordable and accessible transportation.

• Safe neighbourhoods.

• Easy access to information.

• Opportunities for meaningful involvement through employment.

• Feeling included within the municipal government.

Ontario Trillium Foundation Funding

• In November 2012 the AFTB Committee received $75,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

• The funding was managed by a steering committee comprised of a collaborative of organizations.

• The work was conducted by members of the AFTB Committee who volunteered to work in specific task groups.


STAKEHOLDER BASED COMMITTEE


Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Committee

For Profit Not For ProfitIndividuals

Community Members at Large

Collaborative Steering Committee Ontario Trillium Foundation

Senior CharterTask Group

Business GuideTask Group

Intergenerational EducationTask Group

Public Awareness Task Group

AFTB Business Guide:Task Group Engagement Process Stage 1

• The business guide development process took place over a year and a half.• Representatives sitting on the Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Committee volunteered

for a task group that guided the work.

• Literature was reviewed and best practices identified.• The design and content of the business guide were developed and refined during

several meetings of the task group over the late summer and fall of 2012:• Development of draft ideas.• Task group review and meetings.• Refinement of ideas.• Task group review and meeting.• Development of draft business guides (two drafts).• Task group review and meetings.• Development of business guide prototype.


AFTB Business Guide:Underlying Principles

• Welcoming, appealing, attractive

• Easy to manage, portability, convenience

• Access options

• Provocation, reflection

• Inclusive

• Provides opportunity for input

• Provides opportunity for feedback (evaluation, reflection)

• Considers implementation process and the toolkit as a product


AFTB Business Guide:Task Group Engagement ProcessStage 2

• Key informants interviews were conducted with representatives from the community and local businesses who had reviewed the initial business guide prototype– Findings from the key informants were reviewed by the task group and

changes were made to the business guide

• A second prototype was reviewed by focus groups conducted with seniors and owners of local businesses– Findings from the focus groups were reviewed by the task group and changes

were made to the business guide

• The ongoing graphic design and printing of the materials were completed by locally owned and operated Thunder Bay businesses.



The AFTB Business Guide “package” contains:

• A letter of introduction.

• A detailed business guide geared to senior managers.

• A condensed business guide geared to managers and supervisors.

• A checklist “card” for easy reference by staff and volunteers.

AFTB Business Guide:Distribution Process

• The goal of the distribution process was to ensure "quick successes" with locally

owned businesses.

• The task group developed a priorised list of twenty locally owned small businesses.

• The packages were mailed through Canada Post

• Protocol for follow-up phone calls included three questions:

– Did you receive the package?

– Do you have any feedback with regards to the business guide?

– Would you like to meet or hear from AFTB at a later date?


AFTB Business Guide:Contents

The business guide is divided into 5 major sections:

1. Introduction

2. Communications

3. Inclusive Design

4. Iterative feedback loops

5. Business Quality Improvement Process


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Age-Friendly Thunder BayCentre for Education & Research on Aging & Health (CERAH)Lakehead University955 Oliver Road | Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1Tel: 807-766-7123 | fax: 807-766-7222Email: [email protected]: www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca/

Age-Friendly Thunder Bay Ontario: A Grassroots Stakeholder Based Approach

Documents

thunder bay community

city of thunder bay

aftb committee

aging health

steering committee

survey information

cultural opportunities

aging population