Representatives from the Township of Langley raised a flag marking the International Day of Older Persons on Oct. 1.
On hand for the ceremony was Acting Mayor Petrina Arnason, Leslie Gaudette, from the Fraser Valley Branch of the National Association of Federal Retirees, Langley Seniors Community Action Table co-chair Sylvia Anderson, and representatives from the Township of Langley’s Community Recreation Department.
“The Township of Langley has recently been awarded an ‘Age Friendly Community’ designation from the province of BC. This has created a broad and robust framework for municipal leaders to follow in order to enact measures to ensure that our communities will be more inclusive for our senior adults,” said Arnason.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize that older persons are an enormous asset to society and make a significant contribution to global development.
In Canada, the event is organized and endorsed by a collaboration of over 50 groups representing seniors, retiree and advocacy. They have come together as ‘Seniors Vote’. Some of the leaders for this endeavour are the National Pensioners Federation, the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada, Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) and the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia.
“Recognizing that in this election year, the mandate of seniors can be advanced. This event was organized to bring attention to the need for action in four key areas of concern to seniors: pensions, health care, housing and growing inequality in Canada”, said Herb John, president of the National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation.
The theme of this year’s event is Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment. The United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated in his address marking the occasion the need to make cities inclusive for people of all ages.
“On this International Day of Older Persons, I call on governments to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable so that no one – of any age – is left behind,” he said.