1. As Salmon Arm's population ages, what specific actions would you support at the municipal level to help seniors remain connected, mobile, independent and included in community life rather than becoming increasingly isolated?

This would fall under the 2 areas of my campaign (Sustainable Growth and Common Sense). Communication is a must - so being sure of clear messaging, advertising of events, and continuous invitations and offers to them to provide feedback on how things can be improved. Continue my participation on the City of Salmon Arm's Active Transportation Advisory Committee to advocate for more BC Transit requests, continuous sidewalks, good lighting at crosswalks, pedestrian rest points, etc. Look into even more Inter-Generational activities or groups - i.e. the Intergenerational Choir is a superb example of bringing generations together in a fun and meaningful way. Also, I love the Indigenous model where elders are recognized as pillars of their community. Tapping into the wisdom of seniors in Salmon Arm will help them feel listened to and valued. If we listen, we can gather ideas and invaluable wisdom.

2. What steps would you support to ensure that older adults, particularly those living alone or without access to smartphones and the internet, can receive timely information and access essential resources during emergencies such as wildfires, evacuations and prolonged power outages?

This would fall under the Responsible Governance section of my campaign. Rather than only relying on digital communication like Alertable, etc., we need to continually support updates to programs which assist seniors - for example neighbourhood emergency programs; physical wellness checks; ensuring that senior buildings are adequately cooled and heated, depending on the season. Some of this would also fall on the CSRD responsibilities list. Emergency updates on the radio and on physical notification bulletin boards at the 5th Ave. 50Plus Activity Centre, or other central locations like the rec centre, malls, and the library. During long power outages, door-to-door checks would be a must.

3. How would you work with local seniors, community organizations, emergency management partners and service providers to identify gaps and ensure that age-friendly planning and emergency preparedness translate into meaningful action?

Under the Open Dialogue section of my campaign, I would suggest establishing or strengthening of council advisory groups to include seniors. Using the community hubs such as the Seniors' Resource Centre and the Fifth Ave. 50 Plus Activity Centre would be a must. For emergency preparedness, maybe teaming up with the Shuswap Emergency Program to do some joint preparedness drills. I know that at Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities, we are always practicing with staff IN ADVANCE of emergencies. Seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and care. If they don't have the same sort of access (physical, digital, connected) that the rest of the community has, then that responsibility falls on the rest of us in the community to ensure that measures are in place to prevent such barriers for them.