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Seniors Emergency Preparedness Information Guide

The City of Nanaimo is developing a Seniors Emergency Preparedness Information Guide to help older adults prepare for emergencies. The project is supported by the Province of British Columbia’s Age-Friendly Communities Grant Program, which funds work that helps older adults stay safe, included, and connected.

Older adults can be more affected by emergencies, especially extreme heat and other weather-related events. This project responds to the need for clear, easy-to-use emergency information that reflects the needs of Nanaimo’s diverse community.

Project Description

The project will help seniors prepare for emergencies by giving them clear, practical, and easy-to-read information.

Core content includes:

  • How to sign up for emergency alerts, such as Voyent Alert
  • Key emergency contact information
  • What to include in a grab-and-go kit
  • Ways to stay cool at home during extreme heat
  • Where to find cooling centres and local supports

    Key features include:

  • Plain language and easy-to-read design
  • Translations in commonly spoken community languages
  • Content that reflects different cultures and experiences
  • A printed format for people who do not use or have easy access to digital information
  • Progress
    • June 2026 | City receives grant funding to develop and distribute a Seniors Emergency Preparedness Information Guide – we are here now

     

    Future project Milestones

    • July 2026 | Partner engagement 
    • August 2026 | Research & content development
    • October 2026 | Refine conten and complete equity and accessibility review
    • January 2027 | Design layout and translate content into priority languages
    • April 2027 | Finalize design and produce print and digital versions
    • May 2027 | Distribute guide through partners and public outreach
    • June 2027 | Track use, gather feedback, and complete project reporting to funder
  • Documents
  • Details
  • Background
    • In 2019, Council adopted the Nanaimo Age-Friendly City Plan. The plan includes actions to improve access, social connection, transportation, housing, outdoor spaces and communication for older adults.  One key goal is to make sure seniors can get timely, clear, and culturally appropriate information.  These goals are also supported by City Plan and the Integrated Action Plan (IAP), both of which embed age-friendly principles.
    • In 2022, the BC Chief Coroner identified that older adults, especially those living alone, face a higher risk during extreme heat events. In 2023, the City also completed the Extreme Heat Mapping, Assessment, and Planning project to better understand where support may be needed.  That work recommended clearer heat-safety information for homes, a heat-relief map, stronger emergency-preparedness resources, closer work with community partners and Snuneymuxw First Nation, and translations in commonly spoken community languages.
    • On June 3, 2026, the City was successful in securing funding through the Age-Friendly Communities Grant program for the development and distribution of a Seniors Emergency Preparedness Information Guide.

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Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Personal information will only be used by authorized staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected, or for a use consistent with that purpose.

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