A committee in Riverview continues to advocate for seniors.
Seniors Roundtable provided an update to the Town Council this week.
It started back in 2022, with over 500 responses to surveys that were provided both online and in person. The data collected was used for an age-friendly report.
Riverview then received its designation as New Brunswick’s 15th age-friendly community in December of 2023.
Spokesperson Jane Dunnett says some of the things they advocate for seniors include housing and transportation.
The Seniors Roundtable also now has a new website and a new brochure that has been redesigned to suit the needs of seniors.
“Over the last several months, we increased the size of our committee, and we now have 10 groups represented,” Dunnett told Town Councillors.
Those groups include the Riverview Veterans Association, area churches, the Albert County Food Bank and other seniors groups.
Another way they encourage seniors to get involved is by being a volunteer, “We emphasize the importance of volunteerism, not only to help people stay active and actively involved in the community, but also because community organizations desperately need volunteers, and that’s a great role for seniors to take on.”
During the presentation to the Town Council, Dunnett thanked the Parks and Rec department for putting up benches along Riverview’s walking trails, “Part of our mandate is encouraging physical activity among seniors. The benches are important because they provide regular rest stops. They also create shared spaces for rest and socialization, and that helps to build the sense of community,” Dunnett stated.
Work is currently underway by the group to prepare a report with an age-friendly action plan for the province.
Councillor Cecile Cassista, who is also the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, thanked Dunnett and the group for all of their efforts.
Dunnett also told the Town Council that plans are underway for a celebration to be held in October 2026 to recognize 20 years of volunteerism.
