Grant: Operating Grant: College and Community Innovation Social Innovation Fund

<html> <head> </head> <body> Canada is experiencing rapid aging of its population. In British Columbia, more than 20% of people are aged 65 or over, and demand for equitable, accessible community and health care services continues to grow. In the past decade, the number of people waiting for long-term care in BC has increased by 200%, exposing the limits of institutional models and the need for innovative, scalable approaches to support older adults. This project is grounded in the False Creek South (FCS) neighbourhood in Metro Vancouver. Originally developed as a mixed-income waterfront community, FCS now has a higher proportion of older adults, than other communities in Vancouver. Many residents face challenges to aging in place, including social isolation, fragmented access to supports, underused community assets, and limited connection to neighbourhood life. We are launching a three-year, community-driven social innovation project to design and implement a community-based support system to help older adults age safely, confidently, and meaningfully in their community. The project will bring together residents, local organizations, care providers, and researchers to co-create solutions based in local knowledge and lived experience. In partnership with the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association, The Broadway Group, and Douglas College,Emily Carr University of Art + Design will use community-based participatory research and participatory design to: identify and connect community assets; develop and pilot community-based initiatives; create a governance framework with attention to sustainability; and evaluate and document the support system to enable transferability. A Community Stewardship Team, including older adults and community members, supported by a Community Connector, will guide decision-making and ensure initiatives reflect diverse perspectives and priorities. In the short term, we hope older adults in FCS will experience stronger social connections, clearer pathways to support, and greater awareness of available resources. In time, we aim to build a community-owned support system to strengthen neighbourhood resilience, reduce isolation, and enhance quality of life. Practical tools and evaluation findings will be shared to help support replication in other communities across BC and Canada. </body> </html>