2008
In 2008, the Peterborough Seniors Planning Table was formed to create opportunities for integration and capacity building within the system of services that support seniors and their families. Members were cross-sectoral representatives from senior support service organizations. The Seniors Planning Table was an informal group with City staff involvement and two co-chairs who provided leadership to the 60 members.
2014
In 2014, we recognized the need to have older adults incorporated into the conversation, so the governance was changed, and the group was branded as the Peterborough Council on Aging. Ontario Trillium Foundation funding was received, and a Coordinator was hired to conduct research, community engagement and develop the Community Action Plan.
2017
In 2017, the Community Action Plan was completed, and endorsed by City Council, County Council, all eight Townships, Curve Lake First Nation, and Hiawatha First Nation. The Plan was organized into four goals and 146 actions were proposed.
In 2017, the organization was rebranded as Age-friendly Peterborough and the City of Peterborough agreed to be the lead. The Age-friendly Peterborough Advisory Committee (AFPAC) was approved as a sub-committee to the City/County Joint Services Steering Committee (now the Peterborough Regional Liaison Committee) by the City of Peterborough Council on July 31, 2017 with the mandate of implementing the Age-friendly Peterborough Community Action Plan.
In the same year, a family bequeathed approximately $375,000 to the United Way for projects that support seniors. Thereby, the United Way provided funding for AFP initiatives outlined in the Community Action Plan.
2018
In 2018, the City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough agreed to create a a full-time Age-friendly Coordinator position to implement the Community Action Plan and focus on aging issues in the community.
In 2018, AFPAC accepted 2 awards: Sustainable Peterborough Partnership Recognition Award and Ontario Age-friendly Community Recognition Award.
2019
In 2019, AFPAC provided input to the City’s Planning and Development Services that applied an age-friendly lens to the draft Official Plan.
2020
In 2020, COVID-19 had a significant impact across the globe. AFP and other senior sector organizations provided innovative solutions to keep older adults in the greater Peterborough area engaged, promote interaction, and combat isolation.
In 2020, AFPAC submitted a letter to Peterborough area MPs Maryam Monsef and Philip Lawrence, and MPPs David Piccini and Dave Smith to emphasize the need for improvements in our long-term care system.
Trent University and peopleCare Communities are collaborating to improve the lives of local seniors, advance research on aging, and enhance student learning through the creation of a new not-for-profit 224-bed long-term care (LTC) home located on the University’s Symons Campus. Representatives from AFPAC provided input for the university-integrated seniors village. AFP will be involved in the planning process as the project progresses.
At the onset of the pandemic, AFP was instrumental in the senior community by enhancing communication. AFP and Peterborough Public Health co-chaired the Teleconference: Agencies Supporting Older Adults through COVID-19 to provide a forum that enabled information sharing and partnerships to respond to COVID-19 and post-pandemic responses to support seniors.
Starting in 2020, AFP has co-chaired the Eastern Ontario Age-friendly Network.
2021
AFP received Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility Inclusive Community funding to evaluate the AFP Community Action Plan, conduct an internal process review, and facilitate community consultation to prepare AFP for a new strategic plan. The one-year project started in April 2021 and will be completed in March 2022.
2022
AFP received a Seniors Community Grant to develop the Be Prepared - Emergency Preparedness Workshop and Workbook
2022-2024
AFP delivered Be Prepared workshops to approximately 1000 older adults in the Peterborough region
2025
AFP produced the first Information Guide and Directory for those 50+ in the Peterborough Region in collaboration with Community Care Peterborough and District and United Way Peterborough and District
2026
AFP received a Seniors Community Grant to revise the Be Prepared Workshop and workbook to include lessons learned from the 2022 Derecho and 2025 Ice Storm as well as further information related to recognizing to Frauds and Scams and Intimate Partner Violence and what to do about them.
