Courtenay is changing, and one of the most significant demographic changes is the growth of our older population.
The City's Housing Needs Report projects that senior-led households will increase substantially by 2041. This has implications for housing, transportation, accessibility, recreation, public spaces and the way municipal services are planned.
Preparing for an ageing population is not simply about creating programs specifically for seniors. It is about designing a community where people can continue to participate in everyday life as their needs change.
That requires long-term planning and coordination among the City, other levels of government, health-care providers, housing organisations and community groups.
An age-friendly community benefits everyone
Courtenay has already established an important framework through its Age-Friendly Community Action Plan.
The plan recognises that an age-friendly community supports people through all stages of life. Many of the improvements that make a city easier for an older resident to navigate also benefit people with disabilities, parents with strollers, children and residents recovering from injuries.
Safe sidewalks, accessible crossings, places to rest, nearby services, appropriate housing and opportunities for social connection are not exclusively senior services. They are characteristics of a well-designed community.
This is why planning for an ageing population should be integrated into broader decisions about neighbourhoods, infrastructure and municipal services rather than treated as a separate issue.
Housing is fundamental to ageing in place
For many seniors, remaining in their community is a priority.
The ability to do that depends heavily on housing.
Courtenay's 2024 Housing Needs Report identifies seniors as one of the groups facing particular housing challenges. Senior-led households are projected to increase by 62 per cent by 2041, creating additional demand for accessible housing.
A community dominated by one type of housing cannot respond effectively to changing needs.
Some residents may want to remain in a detached home for as long as possible. Others may prefer a smaller apartment, townhouse or accessible unit that requires less maintenance. Some will eventually need supportive housing or other forms of care.
Providing a greater range of housing options makes it easier for people to move into a home appropriate to their circumstances without having to leave their neighbourhood or community.
This is one reason the City's work on housing supply, accessibility and non-market housing is directly connected to senior services.
Accessibility supports independence
The adoption of Courtenay's first Accessibility Plan in 2026 provides another important framework.
The plan addresses barriers in City programs, services, facilities, public spaces and information. Community feedback identified concerns involving sidewalks, transportation, public buildings, recreation, communication and housing.
These issues can become increasingly important as people age.
A missing sidewalk connection, difficult crossing or inaccessible entrance may be a minor inconvenience for one person and a significant barrier for another.
Improving accessibility therefore supports independence.
Municipal decisions about sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bus stops, parks, recreation facilities and public buildings should continue to consider how people with different levels of mobility can use them safely and comfortably.
The objective is not simply compliance with accessibility standards. It is creating a city where residents can continue participating in community life as their circumstances change.
Transportation affects independence
Driving remains important for many older residents, but not everyone will be able or choose to drive throughout their later years.
That makes transportation alternatives increasingly important.
An age-friendly transportation network includes accessible sidewalks, safe crossings, connections to transit, appropriate bus-stop infrastructure and neighbourhoods where everyday destinations can be reached without requiring every trip to be made by car.
This does not mean eliminating vehicle access. Seniors have diverse transportation needs, and many will continue to depend on personal vehicles.
The goal is to provide options.
A resident who can safely walk to a nearby shop, reach a transit stop or use a mobility device on a connected sidewalk network has greater independence than someone whose only practical transportation choice is driving.
The transportation investments discussed earlier in this series—including safer streets, pedestrian infrastructure and improved active transportation connections—are therefore also investments in age-friendly communities.
Recreation supports health and connection
Recreation is another important component of healthy ageing.
Courtenay already has a strong foundation through the Evergreen Club, supported by the City of Courtenay and the Courtenay Recreational Association. Operating from the Florence Filberg Centre, the club provides activities, events, trips and opportunities for residents aged 55 and older to connect.
The importance of programs like these extends beyond physical fitness.
Social isolation can have a significant effect on quality of life. Recreation facilities, clubs, parks, cultural activities and community events provide opportunities for people to maintain friendships, develop new interests and remain connected to their community.
The City's broader recreation system also provides fitness, wellness, arts and social programming for people of different ages and abilities.
As the senior population grows, maintaining accessible and affordable opportunities for recreation and social participation should remain an important part of municipal planning.
Affordability matters
Accessibility also has a financial dimension.
A program or facility may be physically accessible but remain out of reach if the cost is prohibitive.
Courtenay currently provides recreation subsidy programs for lower-income residents, including the Recreation Access Program and the regional Leisure for Everyone Accessibility Program.
These programs help reduce financial barriers to recreation.
Affordability needs to remain part of the discussion as the population ages. Seniors have widely different financial circumstances, and people living on fixed incomes can be particularly affected by increases in housing, transportation and everyday living costs.
Municipal government cannot control most household expenses, but it should consider affordability when establishing fees, designing programs and making decisions about services residents depend upon.
Parks and public spaces need to work for all ages
Age-friendly planning extends beyond buildings.
Parks, trails, greenways and public gathering spaces contribute to physical activity, mental health and social connection. Their design determines who can comfortably use them.
Accessible pathways, seating, shade, washrooms, safe crossings and connections to surrounding neighbourhoods can make the difference between a public space that is technically available and one that is genuinely usable.
Courtenay's Official Community Plan recognises the importance of accessible parks and open spaces within walking distance as the city becomes more urbanised.
This becomes particularly important as neighbourhoods add more apartments and other forms of higher-density housing, where residents may have less private outdoor space.
Well-designed public spaces provide an extension of the neighbourhood and create opportunities for people of different generations to interact.
Health care remains part of the picture
The previous article in this series addressed family doctor recruitment and primary care.
That issue is particularly relevant to an ageing community.
Municipal government does not operate the health-care system, but access to health care influences whether people can remain healthy and independent in their communities.
The same collaborative approach that supports physician recruitment should apply to broader senior needs.
The City should continue working with provincial agencies, Island Health, community organisations and regional partners where municipal planning intersects with health and well-being.
That does not mean taking responsibility for provincial services. It means recognising that residents experience government as a whole, and effective partnerships can help address gaps that no single organisation can solve independently.
Supporting seniors requires regional cooperation
Many services used by Courtenay residents operate across the Comox Valley.
Health care, transit, recreation, housing and community services frequently cross municipal boundaries. Seniors living in Courtenay may participate in programs or receive services elsewhere in the region, while residents of neighbouring communities regularly use facilities in Courtenay.
Regional cooperation is therefore essential.
The City's decision in 2026 to support a regional bid for a future 55+ BC Games provides one example. Council committed in-kind support if the joint Comox Valley and Campbell River bid is successful. Hosting the Games would promote sport and recreation for older adults while showcasing the region as an age-friendly community.
Whether through major events or everyday services, cooperation allows local governments to make better use of facilities, expertise and resources.
Senior services are also an infrastructure issue
Planning for an ageing population has financial implications.
Sidewalks, recreation facilities, parks, transportation infrastructure and public buildings require capital investment and ongoing maintenance.
The appropriate response is not to create a separate category of infrastructure exclusively for seniors. It is to ensure that investments being made for the entire community incorporate age-friendly and accessible design from the beginning.
Retrofitting a poorly designed facility later can be more expensive than considering accessibility during initial planning.
This connects directly with the approach to asset management and fiscal responsibility discussed earlier in this series: understand future needs, plan and make investments that provide long-term value.
Demographic change should be treated in the same way.
If we know Courtenay will have substantially more older residents in the future, municipal planning should account for that reality now.
Listening to seniors
Good planning also requires direct participation from the people affected.
Older residents are not a single group with identical needs.
A healthy and active 60-year-old may have very different priorities from someone in their eighties who no longer drives or who requires mobility assistance. Income, housing, health, family support and personal circumstances all influence what people need from their community.
Municipal decisions should therefore be informed by a range of experiences.
Courtenay's accessibility and age-friendly planning processes provide mechanisms for identifying barriers and establishing priorities. Continued engagement with seniors, caregivers, accessibility advocates and community organisations can help ensure future investments address real needs rather than assumptions about ageing.
Planning for an ageing Courtenay
The growth of Courtenay's senior population is not a temporary issue. It is a long-term demographic change that should influence how the community plans for housing, transportation, recreation, infrastructure and public spaces.
Much of the necessary work also benefits the wider community.
More accessible housing creates options for people with disabilities and families as well as seniors. Better sidewalks help children and parents. Safer crossings benefit everyone. Parks with seating and shade are more comfortable for residents of every age. Diverse housing allows people to remain in their neighbourhoods as their circumstances change.
This is the broader value of age-friendly planning.
My priority is to ensure Courtenay plans for an ageing population by supporting housing choice, accessibility, recreation, transportation and regional partnerships that help people remain active, independent and connected to their community.
A city that works well for people throughout their lives is a stronger city for everyone.