Minister of Seniors Affairs

Office of the Minister

Sherri Moroso
City of Greater Sudbury
199 Larch Street
Sudbury, Greater, ON P3A 5W5

Dear Sir/Madam:

Re: Ontario Age Friendly Community Recognition Award File Number: 2018-007

I am delighted to inform you that the City of Greater Sudbury has been selected to receive the 2018 Ontario Age-Friendly Community Recognition Award under Category 1. The Award has been established to celebrate the work of Ontario communities that are striving to become age- friendly and to showcase promising practices across the province.

It is my pleasure to invite you to the inaugural Age Friendly Community (AFC) Symposium on March 26, 2018. Leading experts and community representatives will present their work, and attendees will engage in a number of activities designed to support one another and spark new ideas. At this event, the Awards will also be presented, and your community will be one of the recipients.

Age-friendly communities are characterized by accessible and inclusive environments, both physical and social, that enable seniors to live independent, healthy and active, safe and socially connected lives. Communities selected for the Award demonstrate a strong commitment to key principles for creating age-friendly communities, including engagement with local seniors, collaboration with a diversity of community partners, and significant impact on the local community.

Formal recognition from Ontario enables your community to have access to streamlined eligibility for national recognition through the Pan-Canadian AFC Recognition Framework developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). PHAC’s endorsement will also trigger the World Health Organization to invite your community to join its Global Network of Age- Friendly Cities and Communities.

As a recipient of this award, your community’s initiative will also be showcased on the websites of both the provincial government: www.ontario.ca/seniors, and the Age-Friendly Communities Planning Outreach Initiative: www.agefriendlyontario.ca. We encourage you to connect with the AFC Outreach Initiative team and other communities engaged in age-friendly initiatives to share ideas and best practices.

The AFC symposium, the first of its kind in the province, will honour both urban and rural regions, including multicultural and Indigenous communities. We hope you’ll join us.

Your community may wish to consider hosting a local event to honour the efforts of individuals and organizations that have contributed to the success of the City of Greater Sudbury. A celebratory event can also be an opportunity to raise awareness and build support among local citizens, businesses and organizations for your initiative.

Congratulations on your achievements, and thank you for your commitment to creating an age- friendly Ontario. Your efforts make Ontario a better place for seniors and help to strengthen our communities and our province.

Yours truly,

Dipika Damerla Minister

cc. France Gélinas, MPP (Nickel Belt)
Hon. Glenn Thibeault, MPP (Sudbury)