The Township of Tiny has been designated as an Age-Friendly Community by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is included in the prestigious Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
This recognition is a result of the township's dedicated and ongoing commitment to enhancing the well-being of our senior population. Since 2017, the Township of Tiny's Senior Advisory Committee has actively worked towards this designation through the implementation of the Local Aging Plan.
The Local Aging Plan is a comprehensive framework that outlines goals and objectives across eight essential domains, focusing on improving the overall quality of life for older adults in the community.
Domains of Age-Friendly Communities
The WHO Age-friendly Cities framework developed in the Global Age-friendly Cities Guide proposes eight interconnected domains that can help to identify and address barriers to the well-being and participation of older people. These domains overlap and interact with each other.
Community consultation and input opportunities for Tiny's Local Aging Plan were structured to obtain resident and stakeholder viewpoints in the context of eight globally recognized domains of Age-Friendly Communities.
Key Achievements
A key achievement through the Local Aging Plan and the tireless efforts of the Senior Advisory Committee include the development of the North Simcoe Directory of Senior Services, a collaborative project with neighbouring municipalities aimed at providing a centralized listing of services and agencies for seniors.
The township fosters a vibrant, inclusive community through various initiatives such as celebrating June as Senior’s Month and the Senior Symposium held every June, the Seniors' Speaker Series every fall, and recognizing outstanding seniors with the 'Heart of Tiny' award which is part of the annual Citizen of the Year awards. The township continues to promote senior-friendly activities, including pickleball, shuffleboard, Coffee and Connect technology drop-ins, and the cooperative art circle, ensuring there is a diverse range of opportunities for older adults to stay engaged and active.
The establishment of partnerships with local senior centres and the creation of volunteer opportunities for seniors further emphasize the township's dedication to building a community where older individuals are valued and can enjoy good health, happiness, and fulfillment.