NWP commits to helping residents age well in New Westminster

New Westminster, B.C. (September 9, 2026) — The New Westminster Progressives have released Age Well New West, a commitment to help more older adults remain independent, connected and supported in the neighbourhoods they call home.

“Older adults helped build New Westminster, and they continue to make our city stronger every day,” says Daniel Fontaine, NWP mayoral candidate and current New Westminster councillor. “They deserve a city that supports their independence, values their contributions and helps them stay connected to the people and places they love.”

Age Well New West includes practical steps such as neighbourhood accessibility reviews, more benches and shaded rest areas, support for accessible housing, stronger partnerships with Century House and seniors’ organizations, and wellness check programs during extreme weather and other emergencies.

“This is about helping people continue to live well in the city they know and love,” Fontaine says. “Small, practical improvements — safer crossings, places to rest, better emergency planning and stronger community connections — can make a real difference in people’s daily lives.”

The full NWP Age Well New West commitment includes five platform areas:

• Build a More Age-Friendly New Westminster. Creating a city that works for seniors makes New Westminster better for residents of every age. We will:
  • Develop an Age-Friendly New Westminster Action Plan with measurable goals, timelines and annual public reporting.
  • Conduct neighbourhood accessibility and walkability reviews to identify improvements to sidewalks, crossings, lighting, benches and public spaces.
  • Apply an Age-Friendly Lens when designing new parks, streets, civic facilities and transportation improvements.
  • Continue working toward making New Westminster one of British Columbia’s most age-friendly municipalities.
    
    
• Help Seniors Age in Place. Most older adults want to remain in the neighbourhoods they know and love. We will:
  • Support more accessible housing and universal design principles in new residential developments.
  • Encourage more seniors’ housing and rental options close to healthcare services, shopping, parks and public transit.
  • Advocate for increased provincial investment in affordable seniors’ housing, assisted living and supportive housing options.
  • Support housing choices that allow older residents to remain close to family, friends and community supports.
    
    
• Improve Mobility, Accessibility and Safety. Remaining active begins with safe, accessible neighbourhoods. We will:
  • Install additional benches, shaded rest areas and accessible public washrooms in key neighbourhoods.
  • Review pedestrian crossing times at intersections with higher concentrations of seniors.
  • Improve sidewalks, curb ramps, lighting and pedestrian safety throughout the city.
  • Review snow and ice removal priorities around seniors’ housing, community centres and healthcare facilities.
    
    
• Strengthen Community Connections. Healthy aging means remaining active, engaged and connected. We will:
  • Protect and strengthen Century House as New Westminster’s premier seniors’ community hub.
  • Partner with Century House to host an annual Mayor’s Healthy Aging Forum, bringing together seniors, caregivers, community organizations and healthcare partners to identify priorities, share ideas and help shape future City initiatives.
  • Expand partnerships with seniors’ organizations, Fraser Health, Residents’ Associations and community groups to reduce social isolation and increase community participation.
  • Support more intergenerational programs connecting seniors with youth, schools, sports organizations and community groups.
    
    
• Improve Emergency Preparedness and Community Support. Older adults can be among the most vulnerable during emergencies. We will:
  • Integrate seniors into the Royal City Responds emergency response network announced as part of our Stronger Together platform.
  • Develop neighbourhood wellness check programs during extreme heat, wildfire smoke events, prolonged power outages and other emergencies.
  • Expand access to cooling centres, clean air spaces and emergency preparedness information for older adults.
  • Work with community organizations, volunteers and first responders to strengthen emergency planning and neighbourhood resilience.

Helping residents age with independence, dignity and connection.

The NWP is running a team of 13 candidates for New Westminster city council and school board in the upcoming municipal election. The NWP’s platform is informed by ongoing conversations with residents through New West City Matters, the party’s community listening initiative.

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