The Township has been officially recognized as an Ontario Age-Friendly Community by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility!
The municipality was selected by the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility as a successful applicant for the 2024-2025 Inclusive Community Grant and received $34,000 in grant funds to obtain a consultant to create an Age-Friendly & Accessibility Action Plan. An RFP for a consultant was circulated in February 2025 and K.A Community Consulting was selected to create the plan.
Council adopted the 2026-2029 Age-Friendly & Accessibility Action Plan at their regular meeting on December 10, 2025.
The Plan can be viewed here- Age-Friendly & Accessibility Action Plan.
MEDIA RELEASES
May 22, 2025 – Community Survey is Open!
June 11, 2025- Open Houses are scheduled and you’re invited!
December 23, 2025- Adoption of Age-Friendly & Accessibility Plan
Age-Friendly Community & Accessibility Planning
Communities across Canada—and around the world—are seeing a big demographic shift: more and more people are over the age of 60. This growing population of older adults brings new opportunities and new needs.
To help everyone continue living active, healthy, and connected lives as they age, municipalities like Sables-Spanish Rivers are taking a closer look at how our services, facilities, programs, and spaces can support residents of all ages and abilities. This includes ensuring our community is safe, accessible, and inclusive for everyone.
What is an Age-Friendly Community?
An Age-Friendly Community is one where policies, programs, services, and physical spaces are designed to help older adults age with dignity, independence, and good health. The concept comes from the World Health Organization’s Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide, which outlines eight key areas that make a community age-friendly:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social Participation
- Respect and Social Inclusion
- Civic Participation and Employment
- Communication and Information
- Community Support and Health Services
Why it matters in Sables-Spanish Rivers
Seniors already make up a significant portion of our community—and that number is expected to grow.
| % Residents 65+ | % Residents 85+ | |
| Sables-Spanish Rivers | 24.4% | 1.2% |
| Ontario | 18.5% | 2.4% |
| Canada | 19.0% | 2.3% |
creating the plan!
Phase 1: Learning from the Community
We reviewed current programs, services, spaces, and experiences in the Township. This included:
- Reviewing existing Township plans and documents
- One-on-one interviews with community members and stakeholders
Focus group sessions
- Site visits and facility assessments
- Program and service reviews
- Budget and administration reviews
- A community-wide survey
Phase 2: Building the Action Plan
Development of the Age-Friendly & Accessibility Plan included:
- Identifying practical solutions and priority actions
- Determining resource needs and possible partners
- Setting timelines
- Creating tools for tracking progress
- Sharing the plan for community feedback