Sixty-four Burns Lake community members came out to an age-friendly assessment workshop held by the Village of Burns Lake’s (VBL) economic development officer, Krystin St. Jean.
St. Jean was collecting feedback from residents regarding the challenges seniors in the district might face regarding transportation, social and leisure opportunities, and a life in Burns Lake in general.
Participants gathered at Lakes District Secondary School on Nov. 13, 2013 and perused several sign boards that highlighted information St. Jean and the age-friendly assessment committee had collected, as well sign boards giving participants the opportunity to post sticky-notes with comments.
Perhaps not surprisingly, many of the comments addressed mobility issues, like parking close to shops so that a senior’s downtown experience didn’t include too much walking, especially in difficult winter months.
Comments were often specific, like adding flashing crosswalk signage at the main crosswalk downtown between the Royal Bank and the Gwynn’s Green Grocer, or making sure that sidewalks were clear of ice and snow.
Parking seemed to be a common theme as well. Central parking may be ideal from some points of view, but it presents challenges to anyone with mobility challenges, especially in the winter. And participants were quick to point that out.
On the positive side, residents felt that Burns Lake provided a healthy level of leisure and social activities for seniors, and that the Lakes District News is a good source of information for local activities and events which seniors are interested in.
“Over the next couple of weeks the information will be compiled, analyzed and used to make a series of recommendations that will be the focus of an Age Friendly Assessment final report,” said St. Jean.
Comment is still invited. You can call St. Jean at the Village of Burns Lake office, or contact her by email at kstjean@burnslake.ca
