Seniors' Advisory Committee

Terms of reference:

Role of Advisory Bodies

The primary role of all advisory bodies is to provide input to Council and / or staff on issues of concern related to their unique mandates. Furthermore, an advisory body:

• Considers matters which may be referred to it by Council or staff;
• May take positions on policy initiatives from other levels of government as they relate to its mandate;
• Works cooperatively with other advisory bodies as appropriate;
• Acts as a resource for staff in public engagement processes and / or civic events; and
• Exchanges information with the public on issues of interest.

Authority

The Seniors’ Advisory Committee is established by Council resolution under authority of the Vancouver Charter section 159.

Mandate

• Advises Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for seniors’ to fully participate in City services and civic life; and
• Monitors City programs to ensure that the needs of the elderly and their families are considered.

Reporting and Accountability

The Seniors’ Advisory Committee reports to Council, provides input to Council and City staff and undertakes the following reporting activities:

Joint meetings with other advisory bodies:

The Chair and staff liaison work collaboratively with counterparts from other advisory bodies to identify opportunities for quarterly joint-briefing sessions on overlapping issues of interest.

Collaboration with the public and external agencies:

• Works co-operatively with external agencies whose activities affect constituent communities;
• Exchanges information with the constituent communities and the general public about relevant programs and issues of interest; and
• Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities.

Annual reporting activities:

• Produces an annual work plan with specific objectives by April of each year, in consultation with Council and staff liaisons, for distribution to Council and civic departments for information;
• Presents accomplishments and progress to date at the annual Council of Councils event; and
• Submits an annual report to Council describing its accomplishments for the year, including reference to each objective set out in the work plan and any arising issues to which the committee has responded.

All advisory bodies should conduct their activities in accordance to the Guidelines for Advisory Bodies which set out the roles and responsibilities for advisory body members, chairs / co-chairs, staff and Council liaisons.

Meeting frequency

The Seniors’ Advisory Committee holds six regular meetings per year, in addition to regular working sessions, generally scheduled during intervening months throughout the year.

Attendance requirement

A member who is absent from more than two consecutive formal meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned.

Membership

• Stuart Alcock
• Sana Aziz
• Donna Clarke
• Penny Goldsmith
• Conrad Guelke
• Varouj Gumuchian
• Linda Johnston
• Jenny Konkin
• Anthony Kupferschmidt
• Dale Lutes
• Jose Mendoza
• Andrea Sara
• Susan Scott Gabe
• Jacqueline Weiler
• Marc White

Liaisons

• Council Liaisons: Councillor Boyle and Councillor Swanson
• Vancouver Park Board Liaison: vacant
• Vancouver School Board Liaison: vacant
• City Staff Liaison: Winston Chou, Manager, Traffic and Data Management
• Park Board Staff Liaison: Ian Broadbent, Supervisor of Recreation Services, Kerrisdale Community Centre
• Vancouver Public Library Staff Liaison: Karen Liebel, Coordinator, Accessible Services

Terms and Membership Composition

Persons appointed to an advisory body 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 in Vancouver; and
• Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body.

Composition:

• 15 members of the public (8 is quorum) 
• 2 non-voting Council liaisons
• 1 non-voting Park Board Commissioner liaison
• 1 non-voting staff liaison
• 1 non-voting School Board Trustee liaison
• 1 non-voting Vancouver Public Library staff liaison
• The appointment of civic members to each advisory committee shall meet the composition objectives set out in the Diversity on Advisory Bodies policy

Length of term:

• Committee members are appointed until November 6, 2022.
• No member of the public shall serve for more than four consecutive years on the same advisory body. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year out of office

Remuneration

Advisory body members shall serve without remuneration. 

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.

2021 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2020 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2019 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2018 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2017 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2016 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2015 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2014 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2013 meetings, agendas, and minutes

2012 meetings, agendas, and minutes

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.

• View the poster
• View subcommittee reports

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.

• View the poster PDF file

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

• View the work plan PDF file

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.

• View the poster PDF file (933 KB)

2012-2014 Report of activities

• View the committee's report

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.

• View the committee's presentation PDF file (1.8 MB)

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.

• Learn about Vancouver's Healthy City Strategy