Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee

Accessibility Strategy

Members of this committee are guiding the work of the Accessibility Strategy as part of the Accessibility Task Force.

The mandate of the Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee is to advise Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for older persons and elders to fully participate in City services and civic life.

*Please note, the Older Persons and Elders and Elders Advisory Committee was known as the Seniors' Advisory Committee until 2023.

Meeting updates

Meeting Format:

Civic Agency meetings may be in-person, electronic (as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law), or a hybrid of the two. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online under the ‘Meetings’ tab below.

Virtual Meeting Platform:

Virtual meetings use Cisco WebEx Webinars (formerly Webex Events). No software download is required.

Attending Meetings:

  • To view a meeting online or listen by phone, follow instructions provided below.
  • Join link is made available at least 24 hours before the meeting.
  • For in-person attendance at City Hall, seek directions to the meeting room from Security staff. If arriving after 5:00 pm, enter via the 12th Avenue entrance by using the intercom (this entrance is equipped with a wheelchair ramp).

Note:

Unlike meetings of City Council, there is usually no public speaking option during Civic Agency meetings. Virtual attendees will be muted and unseen by meeting participants. If you wish to get in touch with a Civic Agency, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Next Meeting Details:

  • Date: November 22, 2024
  • Time: 10 am
  • Location: Webex Webinars
  • Meeting Password: OPAC (Dial 6722 from telephone keypad)

Joining via Webinar:

  • Click Join the Meeting (link will be updated the day before the meeting)
  • Enter the meeting password when prompted: OPAC

Joining by Phone (Audio Only):

  • Dial 1-604-646-8916 (Local) or 1-855-699-3239 (Canada/US Toll-Free)
  • Enter the access code followed by pound: 2773 484 2931#
  • Enter numeric meeting password followed by pound: 6722#

Consent - Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

To view or participate in meetings virtually, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information outside Canada as described below. The City of Vancouver collects your personal information in accordance with section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for purposes of organizing and administering civic agency meetings. For virtual advisory body meetings, your contact information will be shared with the City’s web conferencing provider, Cisco WebEx. Information submitted to WebEx will be stored on servers in the United States and may be accessed in the United States or internationally for technical support purposes. If you have questions about the collection of this information, please contact the director of access to information and privacy by emailing privacy@vancouver.ca or mailing a letter to 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4.

Mandate and scope

  • Advises Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for older persons and elders to fully participate in City services and civic life
  • Monitors City programs to ensure that the needs of older persons, elders, and their families are considered
  • Works collaboratively with counterparts from other civic agencies to identify opportunities for joint action on issues of mutual interest
  • Works co-operatively with external agencies and groups whose activities affect constituent communities
  • Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities

Meeting and administrative procedures

  • The Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee holds six regular meetings per year, in addition to working sessions generally scheduled during intervening months throughout the year.
  • Type A Advisory Committees may, at their discretion, establish sub-committees focused on relevant topics of interest, non-members may participate in sub-committees and attend regular meetings if invited.
  • A member who is absent from more than two consecutive regular meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned.

Remuneration

  • Type A Advisory Committee members and alternate members are eligible to receive reimbursement for certain meeting-related expenses.
  • Non-member subcommittee participants are not eligible to receive reimbursement.
  • A light meal will be provided to Type A Advisory Committee members attending in-person regular meetings held over lunch or dinner hours.

Eligibility

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee shall meet the following essential criteria:

  • Not be employed by the City of Vancouver
  • Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver
  • Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver
  • Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities, and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body
  • Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity

Term limit

Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve for more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

Full guidelines

Membership

Appointments end December 31, 2024

  • Sana Aziz
  • Warren Chan
  • Richard Earthy
  • Varouj Gumuchian
  • Linda Johnston
  • Andrea Krombein
  • Dale Lutes
  • Andrea Sara
  • Susan Scott Gabe
  • Tricia Sirrs
  • Kara Turner
  • Marc White

Liaisons

Council Liaisons

  • Councillor Christine Boyle
  • Councillor Mike Klassen

Staff Liaison:

  • Anthony Kupferschmidt, Strategic Lead, Aging and Older Persons

Vancouver Public Library Liaison: 

  • Mark Koep, Branch Head Kitsilano

Vancouver School Board Liaison:

  • Trustee Jennifer Reddy

Vancouver Police Department Liaison:

  • Detective Constable Anna Grigoletto

Terms and Membership Composition

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee shall meet the following essential criteria:

  • Not be employed by the City of Vancouver;
  • Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver;
  • Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver;
  • Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body.
  • Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity.

Composition:

  • Up to 12 members of the public (quorum is a majority of appointed members);
  • Up to 2 non-voting Council liaisons (appointed by Mayor);
  • Up to 2 non-voting staff liaisons (appointed by City Manager);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioner liaison and/or staff liaison (optional);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver School Board Trustee liaison (optional);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver Public Library staff liaison (optional);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver Police Department staff liaison (optional).

Length of term:

  • Term ends immediately before the first Monday after November 1 in the year of a general local election. However, no regular meeting shall be held between the last day of the nomination period and general voting day.
  • Members are appointed until December 31, 2024, at which point appointments are automatically renewable to the end of the term, and recruitment shall be conducted to fill any vacancies arising.
  • Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve in more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership. 

Meetings, agendas, and minutes

All meetings are open to the public.

In addition to the regular meetings listed here, the committee also meets several times per year for informal working sessions. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information.

2024 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 26, 2024 Agenda Minutes 
March 22, 2024 Agenda Minutes
May 17, 2024 Agenda Minutes
July 19, 2024 Agenda Minutes
September 20, 2024 Agenda Minutes
November 22, 2024    

2023 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
July 21, 2023 Agenda Minutes
September 22, 2023 Agenda Minutes
November 24, 2023 Agenda Minutes

2022 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 21, 2022 Agenda Minutes
March 11, 2022 Agenda Minutes
April 29, 2022 Agenda Minutes
May 20, 2022 Agenda Minutes
July 15, 2022 Agenda Minutes
September 16, 2022 Agenda Minutes

2021 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 22, 2021 Agenda Minutes
March 19, 2021 Agenda Minutes
May 21, 2021 Cancelled  
July 16, 2021 Agenda Minutes
September 17, 2021 Agenda Minutes
November 19, 2021 Agenda Minutes

2020 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 10, 2020 Agenda Minutes
March 6, 2020 Agenda Minutes
May 1, 2020 Cancelled  
June 5, 2020 Agenda Minutes
September 4, 2020 Agenda Minutes
October 2, 2020
(Special Meeting)
Agenda Minutes
November 6, 2020 Agenda Minutes

2019 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
June 14, 2019 Agenda Minutes
September 6, 2019 Agenda Minutes
November 8, 2019 Agenda Minutes

2018 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 19, 2018 Agenda Minutes
March 16, 2018 Agenda Minutes
May 11, 2018 Agenda Minutes
July 20, 2018 Agenda Minutes
August 17, 2018 Special Agenda Special Minutes
September 21, 2018 Agenda Minutes
     

2017 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 27, 2017 Agenda Minutes
March 17, 2017 Agenda Minutes
May 12, 2017 Agenda Minutes
July 21, 2017 Agenda Minutes
September 15, 2017 Agenda Minutes
November 17, 2017 Agenda Minutes

2016 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 27, 2016 Agenda Minutes
March 11, 2016 Agenda Minutes
May 20, 2016 Agenda Minutes
July 8, 2016 Agenda Minutes
September 23, 2016 Agenda Minutes
November 18, 2016 Agenda Minutes

2015 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
March 20, 2015 Agenda Minutes
June 19, 2015 Agenda Minutes
September 18, 2015 Agenda Minutes 
November 20, 2015  Agenda Minutes

2014 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 17, 2014 Agenda Minutes
May 9, 2014 Agenda Minutes
September 12, 2014 Agenda Minutes
November 21, 2014 Agenda Minutes

2013 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
February 22, 2013 Agenda Minutes
May 17, 2013 Agenda Minutes
September 20, 2013 Agenda Minutes
November 15, 2013 Agenda Minutes
December 13, 2013 (Special Meeting) Agenda Minutes

2012 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
April 20, 2012 Agenda Minutes
June 15, 2012 Agenda Minutes
September 21, 2012 Agenda Minutes
November 16, 2012 Agenda Minutes

2023 - 2026 Work Plan

Report of Activities, 2021–2022

An overview of the committee's 2022 accomplishments.

View the Committee's report (pdf)

2021-2022 Work Plan

The 2021-2022 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives.

2019-2020 in Review

An overview of the committee's accomplishments in 2019-2020, along with future goals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no Council of Councils event was held.

2017 in Review

An overview of the committee's 2017 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on October 12, 2017.

2017-2018 Work Plan

The 2017-2018 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives

2016 in Review

An overview of the committee's 2016 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on November 9, 2016.

2012-2014 Report of activities

2012-2014 Council of Council presentation

An overview of the committee's closing term accomplishments and recommendations for continuation of the work was presented at the Council of Councils in December 2014.

Fall 2012: Advised and supported the City's Seniors Dialogues

The City of Vancouver held six Seniors Dialogues to ask local seniors, their caregivers and seniors service providers to share their ideas on how Vancouver can prepare for a growing seniors and older adult population. In particular, the City wanted to hear how City facilities and services can be more age-friendly – how they can be made more accessible and inclusive of older residents with diverse needs, an important consideration in pursuit of Vancouver’s Healthy City Strategy goal of making a healthy city for all.

Staff Contacts

Staff Liaison

Anthony Kupferschmidt, Strategic Lead, Aging and Older Persons

604-307-3528

anthony.kupferschmidt@vancouver.ca

*Contact the Staff Liaison for subject matter expertise and information on City programs, services, and initiatives.

Clerk

Julie Emmerson, Committee Clerk

604-673-8385

julie.emmerson@vancouver.ca

*Contact the Clerk for information on meetings, schedules, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and procedure.

Resources for Civic Agency members