Good Planning or Good Intentions: An Age-Friendly Plan Evaluation of Victoria, Canada

Abstract

Cities across Canada are aging—fast. As the “baby boom” generation enters older adulthood, cities are facing a dramatic demographic shift. However, it is unclear whether cities in Canada are prepared to meet the needs of the growing older adult population. Through the case study of one of Canada’s demographically oldest cities, Victoria, BC, we assess the age-friendliness of local plans and policies. Specifically, we conduct a plan evaluation content analysis to assess the city’s Official Community Plan and supporting statutory plans to determine whether the city is truly planning for an age-friendly environment. We find that while the city is aware of the aging population, it fails to explicitly mention or provide targeted policies for older adults in its planning documents. We unpack the practical challenges of planning for an aging population and provide targeted recommendations for municipalities to incorporate age-friendly elements within their statutory plans.

Keywords

• age-friendly
• older adults
• plan evaluation