(Osborne Village, Fort Richmond, Pinawa)
FALL 2011
Instructors: Dr. Richard Milgrom with Scott McCullough
This studio serves as an introduction to community and neighbourhood planning and the basic principles of urban design. Through fieldwork, documentation and analysis, readings and lectures students were introduced to a variety of concepts and skills. They undertook group and individual work that led to the production of two neighbourhood analysis presentations and reports, precedent research, a community planning/design project, and posters that documented the process and outcomes of their work.
The specific focus of the term was to produce visions of age-friendly human environments, in urban, suburban and rural settings. The first of the baby boom generation started to retire in 2011, and its corresponding population bubble will rise to the top of population pyramids. Baby boomers are known as a well-educated, vocal generation that has high expectations for the lives that they lead. But there are questions about whether cities and towns are prepared for this impending demographic change, and whether they meet the needs and desires of older adults in general. Is suitable housing available? Are transportation systems adequate? Can older adults remain independent and active as they age, or will they become an increasing large burden on health and social services?
The World Health Organization (WHO) (2007) states that an age-friendly city:
- encourages active aging by optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. In practical terms, an age-friendly city adapts its structures and services to be accessible to and inclusive of older people with varying needs and capacities.
Unfortunately, none of Manitoba’s cities and town can claim to be age-friendly. However, programs like the Age-friendly Manitoba Initiative and the Age-friendly Communities—Active Aging Alliance (based at the University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging) are attempting to change this. More that 70 municipalities, towns and cities have expressed interest in the Provincial program and are establishing committees and working groups to address concerns. And the Alliance - a Community University Research Alliance (CURA) - has brought together researchers and community-based organizations with the modest goal of making Manitoba the most age-friendly province in Canada.
This studio examined three different human environments—one urban (Osborne Village), one suburban (Fort Richmond), and one rural (Pinawa)—to determine how age-friendly they are. It studied precedents for improving the physical form and services available and accessible to older adults in other places. And finally, the studio students illustrated how to improve the age-friendliness of the three study locations. This work was be documented in posters that will act as a resource for the study communities and for others that would like to address similar issues.