Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Town of

The Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands completed their Age Friendly Community Plan in 2016. They are currently in the Implementation stage of the planning process. The council has been quite successful in implementing several components and action items within the plan and they will continue to work towards implementing the goals moving forward. To date, some of the focus areas have included enhancing community infrastructure, such as the completion of a minimum of 100 meters of sidewalks each year, developing an Age Friendly Community Trail throughout the community, encouraging the provision of transportations services for individuals with disabilities and promotion of alternative transportation options such as cycling. 

Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings

• Building an Age-Friendly Community Walking Trail
• New Sidewalks (523 meters of new sidewalks installed in two highly travelled and populated streets)

Transportation

• Active Transportation (Supported and encouraged the provision of transportation services for individuals with disabilities and promoted alternative transportation options such as cycling)

Housing

• Seniors Housing Development (2017 – a brand new eight housing development for seniors was completed by the private sector)
• Zoning for Alternative Housing (Council’s new Official Plan supports the consideration of multi-residential alternatives, specific to urban and/or rural zoning, with potential unit size specifically to granny flats and basement suites)

Social Participation

• Workshop Learning Series (Focused on a variety of educational learning opportunities such as estate planning, how to not outlive your money, navigating technology, Staying safe in your home, etc. and included having Seniors mentoring Seniors)
• Regular weekly programming (Indoor Winter Walking, Adult Crafts, Adult Free Skates and Weekly Board Games)
• Tech Workshops

Community Support & Health Services

• Soup to Tomatoes (Arm chair based exercise program in partnership with the Sudbury District Health Unit)
• Happily Ever Active (Fitness program where seniors 55+ were eligible to receive a one-month free gym membership)

• Northeastern Manitoulin Age-Friendly Community Plan