UPPER NAPPAN - Cumberland County council has received widespread input from several of its communities as part of its participation in the provincial Age-Friendly Communities Program.
As a result of five focus groups held in Advocate, Pugwash, River Hebert, Tidnish and Wentworth, the county saw participation from 66 people, who in turn were able to reach 22 different communities. Seventy-five mail surveys and 50 online surveys were also received, according to Vicki Weaver, the county's recreation and physical activity co-ordinator.
"We were pleased with the conversations and many interesting discussions were raised," Weaver reported to council at its July 6 session. "The Nova Scotia Centre for Aging will be synthesizing the data we collected and we will expect to hear back from them with some results in the early fall."
The Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) Program Grant is a funding program of the Department of Seniors that helps Nova Scotia communities embrace, support and embody age-friendliness. The overall goal of the AFC Program grant is to help communities to become more age-friendly by assisting communities with strategic planning promoting healthy, active ageing.
In appreciation of the support shown from the participating seniors, council presented $200 cheques to local non-profit groups of their choice on behalf of the seniors. Councillor John Reid presented cheques to Bob Smith for the Wentworth Recreation Centre and Tanya Tuttle-Comeau for the Tidnish Crossroads Community Association. Cheques will also be presented to the Pugwash Volunteer Fire Department, the Advocate Volunteer Fire Department and Heritage Models Museum.
(For the full story, see the July 14 issue of The Citizen-Record)
