Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Vancouver Island University (VIU) is submitting the proposed Take Back Your Sidewalks Café in Qualicum Beach is to raise community awareness about pedestrian-friendly design issues for seniors' safety and ease of access. Recent research on age-friendly environmental design points to the overwhelming importance of the pedestrian environment in creating safe spaces for seniors and for promoting their healthy lifestyles and active living. Falls and fall-related injuries are a major health concern for seniors as they have been linked to increased risk of hospitalization, mortality, and costly healthcare utilization. According to recent census profiles, 41 % of the Qualicum population is 65 years, with a median age of 61 years (far exceeding provincial averages, where 15% of the population is aged 65+ years, with a median age of 41 years). The proposed Cafe will create a unique and important opportunity to: 1. Create an open exchange of pedestrian-friendly environmental design information to identify factors in the built environment known to promote or hinder safe, convenient, and easy access for seniors; 2. Promote the use of fall/injury prevention research and validated measurement tools for assessing the overall quality of the pedestrian environment in downtown public places; 3. Identify the barriers and political constraints associated with upgrading the built environment in central segments of the downtown core; and 4. Develop specific strategies for local policymakers, city planners, engineers, business owners, service providers, and seniors to work together to make meaningful improvements in downtown walkways that are grounded in evidence-based research and safety practices.