Health Minister, Jim Reiter. (photo: Government of Saskatchewan)Saskatchewan will be introducing an Age Friendly Community Recognition Program. The program was created in partnership with the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM), a non-profit, volunteer organization that brings Saskatchewan seniors' groups together and advocates for better quality for seniors.

Health Minister and MLA for the Rosetown-Elrose Constituency, Jim Reiter, announced the program last week, "It's going to be a program that recognizes communities across the province that are, in the mechanism's term, 'age friendly'. They can do a number of different things and they'll have criteria that they'll evaluate, things like accessibility services, community activities for seniors."

Reiter said the program has been in the works for a while now, "The criteria and everything was determined by the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism, and they approached me a few months ago and it intrigued me so I agreed that the province would play a role in it as well."

He noted that it's important to recognize these community groups, and the people they help, "We'd like to see more (Age Friendly Groups), our demographics say our population is aging. 1 in 7 people in Saskatchewan are over 65 and that's going to increase in the coming years. We think that it's important that that demographic is recognized."

Rosetown established an Age Friendly Committee a few years ago. The group just recently wrapped up their pen pal program with Walter Aseltine students and seniors for the year.

Reiter said it's great to see the community of Rosetown already taking action, "I love the community, I think it's fantastic and I'm hoping they'll go into consideration for the award next fall."

Age Friendly communities will be recognized with a plaque during each fall Legislative session, starting in 2018.

For applications, head to Sk Senior Mechanism or Age Friendly Sk.