The Town of Amherstburg applied for, and received $60,000. from the provincial Inclusive Communities Grants Program that helps communities become more inclusive and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

Ontario.ca:

“The Inclusive Community Grants Program helps ensure local governments and community organizations consider Ontarians of all ages and abilities at every stage of community planning and development. Inclusive communities respond to both the opportunities and challenges of an aging population by:

• creating physical and social environments that support independent and active living
• enabling older adults and people with disabilities to continue contributing to all aspects of community life

Ontario’s Inclusive Community Grants Program supports community projects that:

• benefit local communities
• promote accessibility, safety and active living for people of all ages and abilities
• meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities.”

In a report to council, then-Clerk Paula Parker stated, the primary purpose of this initiative is to help Amherstburg to become an age-friendly community by ensuring that the needs of the residents of all ages and abilities are considered in every stage of community planning and development. The Town will engage a consultant to complete a Needs Assessment and Action Plan which will involve obtaining direct input from those most affected, seniors 55+, older adults 65+ and persons with disabilities and disenfranchised populations in the immediate region, community stakeholders, including municipal officials, local businesses, and providers in the recreational and health sectors.

At the Regular Council Meeting Monday, April 12, 2021, Councillor McArthur congratulated town staff for getting up to $60,000 from the province to be spent on seniors’ initiatives and asked what are we going to spend the money on?

Then-CAO Miceli explained we are going to be spending money basically developing a Seniors Master Plan showing the services and the needs of seniors in our community, a more inclusive and welcoming community for our seniors. The work plan will develop a significant amount of public consultation with our seniors groups, throughout various locations in Amherstburg. At the end of it all we’re going to have a plan that’s going to be a guiding document for council on what our seniors would like to see in our community of Amherstburg.

McArthur said we’ve been after this seniors master plan for a while and asked what the timelines was. Miceli said the timeframe to complete the project would be spring 2022. 

A committee was formed, a consultant was hired and the Inclusive Community Program (ICP) Final Report and the 2022 03 23 ICP Needs Assessment and Action Plan were presented to council on March 28, 2022. At the same meeting, it was recommended that: The Seniors Advisory Committee composition BE REDUCED by one lay member.

OTHER MUNICIPALITIES USED THE GRANT for a variety of projects, including accessible kayak launch, beach access mats, inclusive picnic tables, accessible pathway,  several accessible washrooms, upgrade accessible trails to meet AODA standards, making outdoor spaces and public buildings more accessible, accessible charging stations in local parks, accessible (CNIB) approved signage and resting benches,

Read the full listing: A total of 55 projects received an Inclusive Community Grant.