Skip to main content

Skip to navigation

The access keys for this page are:


Bookmark and Share
Seniors BC

Why Should My Community Become Age-friendly?

Age-friendly BC

The world’s population is rapidly aging, and British Columbia is no exception. By 2031, close to 1.5 million British Columbians across the province will be over 65—almost a quarter of the province’s population.

Around the globe, communities are getting ready to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities of an aging population.

Everyone benefits in an age-friendly community.

  • Seniors are supported to age actively, enjoy good health, and remain independent and involved in their communities.
  • People of all ages and abilities benefit from safer, barrier-free buildings and streets, better access to local businesses and facilities, and more green spaces.
  • Businesses benefit from the increased support and spending power of older customers, and are better able to support older workers.
  • The community benefits from the increased participation of older adults in community life.

Age-friendly BC Community Videos

Visit the Age-friendly BC (AFBC) community videos page to watch videos showcasing AFBC projects across the province. If you are new to AFBC, you can view videos on the age-friendly community process, or watch a feature video on a topic such as transportation or housing that your community wants to investigate.

What Is An Age-friendly Community?

The creation of age-friendly communities in British Columbia builds on findings from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-friendly Cities project, which produced Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide, and the Canadian Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities project, which resulted in Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide.

These projects identified eight key features of an age-friendly community.

See Becoming an Age-friendly Community for information and links to resources on transforming your community into an age-friendly community.