Laval officials reach out to English seniors

editor robert

11 years ago

Mayor’s office to help fill gap in municipal services

By Genevieve April
www.thesuburban.com

Laval Mayor Marc Demers crowned the city’s long sought-after senior-friendly city accreditation, Feb 3, by unveiling a new action plan detailing several initiatives that will help the city’s seniors. The designation came after almost four years of reflection and consultations with various groups that work to improve seniors’ well-being.

Although the action plan is aimed at all of Laval’s seniors, regardless of language, city officials admitted that it remains a challenge to reach the non-francophone population. Few—if any—social activities are available in English through the Bureau municipal de loisirs and Place des aînés, and local social services lack English services and documentation.

“A lot remains to be done to inform non-francophones of the available services, mainly through communication,” acknowledged François Brochu, public affairs director for the mayor’s office, in an interview with The Suburban.

“We will invest extra effort into advertising the policy to the English community and we will also reach out to community stakeholders,” he promised. “Not only are they welcome to participate in the next round of consultations that will take place in June, but we will also value their input regarding what services and activities could be improved or created to better serve their clientele. Laval’s social activities department, headed by Pierre Tessier, is open to suggestions, should a group present a request.”

Laval has long offered an array of excellent services for the city’s seniors. It’s new policy aims to make further improvements.

It spells out concrete measures that will help senior citizens achieve a more enriching and healthy life, by adapting both the city’s social and structural environment to accommodate their needs.

Be it by modifying the street planning and improve their maintenance, encouraging senior social and volunteer organizations to better include seniors of or by providing information and support to prevent isolation and abuse, the mayor expects the new action plan to deliver better services that will ultimately set a new standard in allowing seniors to be more active, by tailoring them more closely to their physical and social needs.
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