Vancouver Park Board
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
News Release
Park Board takes steps towards second seniors' centre in southeast Vancouver
Seniors in the Sunset neighbourhood might one day have their own centre.
At a Board meeting last night, Vancouver Park Board directed staff to investigate potential sites for a seniors' centre near Sunset Community Centre.
If built, the seniors' facility would be the second one in southeast Vancouver after Killarney Seniors' Centre. Construction on that centre is scheduled to start early next year and be completed in 2018.
"Vancouver's seniors' population is set to explode in the next 25 years, so it's important there are facilities where seniors' can connect in high demand neighbourhoods such as Sunset," said Vancouver Park Board Chair Sarah Kirby-Yung.
"It has been a pleasure discussing the potential for a new facility with the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, MP for Vancouver South. Minister Sajjan is a strong supporter of the proposed seniors centre at Sunset Community Centre."
Staff will explore a funding model similar to the Killarney Seniors' Centre whereby the Board contributes land with funding from the City of Vancouver and other levels of government. Plans would take into consideration the existing Sunset Community Centre Master Plan.
"On behalf of the Sunset Community Association board, we are pleased to fully support a new south Vancouver seniors centre in Sunset. As a neighbourhood with tremendous diversity and a growing population of seniors, it will be a way to better serve more members of our community," said Sunset Community Association President Greg Hubbard.
A seniors' centre in the Sunset neighbourhood aligns with the Park Board's direction to staff in February to develop a comprehensive seniors' strategy, which is being created to address how seniors can be best served and supported long-term by Park Board facilities, services, and programs.
Staff is to report back early next year on proposed sites for the seniors' centre.
In the next 25 years, the number of residents aged 65 - 74 will increase almost 80 percent and the number of citizens older than 75 will more than double.
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Media contact:
Vancouver Park Board
604-257-8699
www.vancouver.ca
