Page 15 - 2015WellBeing
P. 15
our people 15
Engaging seniors
Ensuring that seniors do not become marginalized within their communities
is going to be vital in the years to come. As the population continues
to age and additional retirees are attracted by the temperate climate
and inexpensive housing of Windsor-Essex County we must make sure
that our community’s social services adapt to the needs of this growing
demographic group. Although organizations like Life After Fifty, are actively
engaging this age group through programs like the Promoting Seniors
Independence which does community outreach with seniors in low-income
neighbourhoods, more needs to be done.xxiii
As the population continues to age, additional strain will be placed on
health care and social services to assist seniors. If our region does not take
pre-emptive measures to ensure that this population remains healthy and
active within our communities we could face difficult choices in the future
as to how we support this population in our urban and rural communities.
Integrating new arrivals
Statistics Canada has estimated that by 2031, migration could account for
80 percent of Canada population growth.xxiv What this means is that
structures and mechanisms need to be in place to assist new arrivals to
Canada so they can properly integrate into our communities while still
maintaining their distinctive culture. As outlined in this section, the first
few years after arriving in Canada are some of the hardest, with the lowest
earning potential.
Initiatives like the Windsor Essex County Local Immigration Partnership
are an important tool and first step in ensuring immigrants are successful
in transitioning to life in Canada. Specialized programing like Place du
Partage’s Youth Agora Homework Club which provides an afterschool
program for francophone African youths in our region is an example of the
type of specialized programing that will become important as we move into
the future. We will need to expand types of programing to ensure the new
arrivals of all ages can obtain the language and employment training to
make their joining of our communities as easy as possible.
Engaging seniors
Ensuring that seniors do not become marginalized within their communities
is going to be vital in the years to come. As the population continues
to age and additional retirees are attracted by the temperate climate
and inexpensive housing of Windsor-Essex County we must make sure
that our community’s social services adapt to the needs of this growing
demographic group. Although organizations like Life After Fifty, are actively
engaging this age group through programs like the Promoting Seniors
Independence which does community outreach with seniors in low-income
neighbourhoods, more needs to be done.xxiii
As the population continues to age, additional strain will be placed on
health care and social services to assist seniors. If our region does not take
pre-emptive measures to ensure that this population remains healthy and
active within our communities we could face difficult choices in the future
as to how we support this population in our urban and rural communities.
Integrating new arrivals
Statistics Canada has estimated that by 2031, migration could account for
80 percent of Canada population growth.xxiv What this means is that
structures and mechanisms need to be in place to assist new arrivals to
Canada so they can properly integrate into our communities while still
maintaining their distinctive culture. As outlined in this section, the first
few years after arriving in Canada are some of the hardest, with the lowest
earning potential.
Initiatives like the Windsor Essex County Local Immigration Partnership
are an important tool and first step in ensuring immigrants are successful
in transitioning to life in Canada. Specialized programing like Place du
Partage’s Youth Agora Homework Club which provides an afterschool
program for francophone African youths in our region is an example of the
type of specialized programing that will become important as we move into
the future. We will need to expand types of programing to ensure the new
arrivals of all ages can obtain the language and employment training to
make their joining of our communities as easy as possible.
