Back to Search“Older adults in Wasaga Beach will benefit greatly from community awareness about the experiences of aging and what older consumers value,” said Jeff Burke, Chair of the Age-Friendly Community Advisory Committee. "We're excited to have a tool to complement the County of Simcoe's program and ignite important conversations about what it means to be age-friendly and how its good for businesses.”
Wasaga Beach - Through its Age Friendly Community Advisory Committee (AFCAC), the Town of Wasaga Beach has launched a new educational initiative for local businesses.
Titled "Applying An Age-Friendly Lens to Business and Service," and made possible through an Age-Friendly Municipal Grant from the County of Simcoe, this free, self-paced online training, designed for business owners, non-profit organizations, and front-line workers, offers a comprehensive curriculum that can be completed in approximately 70 minutes. It provides invaluable insights into effectively serving older adults, encompassing topics such as optimizing customer interactions, enhancing storefront layouts, and much more. This training is also ideal for those who are new to the concept of "age-friendliness."
These training modules complement the "Building an Age-Friendly Simcoe County – Business/Organization Guide & Recognition Program," published by the County of Simcoe. By engaging with the Committee’s online modules and completing the County's assessment tool, local businesses and organizations can evaluate their age-friendly status and implement simple, yet impactful changes that cater to an older adult clientele.
Participating businesses will also have the opportunity to enter the County's Age-Friendly Business Recognition Program, receiving certificates and decals that identify them as establishments committed to making service and business experiences positive for older adults. This program celebrates businesses contributing to age-friendly practices and many businesses will discover that they are already implementing noteworthy measures that keep older adult visitors returning.
Two Wasaga businesses, Wasaga Tax and Accounting, and Georgian Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, have already earned age-friendly recognition from the County of Simcoe. Dr. Marco Aldrovandi D.C., from Georgian Family Chiropractic is featured in the introductory module of the training, sharing insights on the importance and ease of the County’s recognition program.
The comprehensive training program is readily accessible on the Age-Friendly Community page of the Town of Wasaga Beach website: wasagabeach.com/agefriendly. Businesses interested in the County's Age-Friendly Business Recognition Program are encouraged to apply before the September 30th deadline.
Chair Jeff Burke encourages all local businesses and organizations to join the age-friendly conversations with the Committee: “We would be really pleased if as a result of the Town’s online training there was a flood of applications from Wasaga Beach businesses and organizations to the County’s recognition program. We look forward to seeing more local businesses and organizations proudly displaying the County’s age-friendly decals in their windows and encourage them to take some steps to get their applications in before the September 30th deadline for 2023.”
Volunteer age-friendly business ambassadors will begin to connect with local businesses and organizations, offering guidance and link them to the educational resources available. For inquiries, please contact the Age-Friendly Community Advisory Committee at agefriendly@wasagabeach.com.
Quick facts:
- Wasaga Beach is a preferred retirement destination, with 33% of the community aged 65 and above. This demographic is expected to grow to 41% by 2041 when all of the baby boomers will be in this age bracket, creating a substantial consumer segment.
- The Age-Friendly Community Advisory Committee (AFCAC), established in 2015, advocates for the diverse needs of older adults in Wasaga Beach. By encouraging a community that respects and empowers older adults and remembers them in future community planning, the AFCAC envisions an active, independent, and supported aging population. Ultimately, in building communities that are “age-friendly” the result is communities that are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for ALL abilities, regardless of age.
- The AFCAC's annual Senior's Expo, which last took place on June 21, 2023, attracted 600 attendees and 77 exhibitors
Additional resources:
Learn more about the Age Friendly Community Advisory Committee
Learn more about the County of Simcoe’s Building an Age-Friendly Simcoe County – Business/Organization Guide & Recognition Program
Media contact:
Sandra Watts
Director of Strategic Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs
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