Peterborough Council on Aging
Discussion paper series – #8, 2015
Communication and Information
Staying connected with events and people and getting timely, practical
information to manage life and meet personal needs
is vital for active aging (1).
Accessible and easily available information is important to help people stay connected to their
community and access the services they need to thrive. Older adults may have specific information and
communication needs based on their degree of comfort with new technologies and l evel of vision and
hearing ability.
According to an Age-friendly Communication guide published by the Public Health Agency of Canada:
“Face-to-face or telephone contact is often the first, and sometimes the only, communication between
seniors and health and social services professionals.”
(2)
The same guide suggests that word of mouth is
the preferred information source of Aboriginal seniors.
Significant technological changes have occurred in how information is disseminated since this guide was
published, and older adults are proving to use the internet more frequently to access information.
Figures from Statistics Canada show that internet use by Canadians ages 65 and older rose from 40% in
2010 to 48% in 2012 (3). The same study also indicates that Canadians with the lower incomes access the
internet less than those in the higher income range, regardless of age (3).
Online Events Calendars
There are a number of online sources of local information in the Peterborough region.
Each township in the County of Peterborough hosts its own local community events calendar or
community events listing. The City of Peterborough hosts a calendar of events for seniors’ activities,
which is accessible through the City of Peterborogh’s Seniors’ page
(www.peterborough.ca/Living/Seniors.htm).
The Peterborough Public Library also hosts an online calendar of events happening at the library
(http://www.peterborough.library.on.ca/News___Events.htm).
Two local media outlets, Snapd Peterborough and KawarthaNOW, also host online community event
calendars.
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Communication and Information
Print Media
There two local newspapers serving the Peterborough region: the Peterborough Examiner and
Peterborough This Week. There are also a number of local newspapers and newsletters distributed
across the County of Peterborough including the Lakefield Herald, The Dummer News, the Apsley Voice,
the Millbrook Times, the Trent Hills independent and the Keene Correspondent. Other local print
publications include Snapd Peterborough, Greenzine, and The Link.
A number of non-profit, service organizations and community centres serving older adults also publish
their own newsletters. These are often distributed by mail and email. Community Care Peterborough,
for example, publishes The Thread twice annually.
Home owners also receive local municipal news as part of their property tax mailings.
Radio & Television
Peterborough has two local Television stations, CHEX TV and TVCOGECO Peterborough, the latter is only
available with a cable subscription. CHEX TV covers local news and events each weekday on CHEX Daily,
and Newswatch. Both stations have shows which feature local news and events.
There are also seven radio stations broadcasted from Peterborough. Of these seven stations one is a
talk radio format (Extra 90.5) and one other is a community radio format (Trent Radio) which features
both talk and music based programming. All other stations feature music based programming.
Emergency Situations
There is a comprehensive plan in place should an
emergency occur within the Peterborough region.
This plan considers implications to the population,
with special attention paid to vulnerable
populations that may not have the means to care
for themselves following a disaster
(4)
.
The Emergency Management Division of the City of
Peterborough connects with a network of
Community Partner Agencies to identify how best
to serve vulnerable populations in the event of an
Did You Know?
If a City or County wide
emergency should occur, the
Public Inquiry Centre line will
open to provide residents with
the information they’ll need.
Call: 705-876-4636
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Communication and Information
emergency. These community partners include: Community Care Access Centre, Canadian Hearing
Society, and the Peterborough Housing Corporation to name a few.
The City’s Emergency Plan encourages seniors living in Peterborough to develop personal emergency
plans that align themselves with a family member, a neighbour, or community agency to assist them
during an emergency. The Ontario Government outlines several tips in a Fact Sheet called “Seniors and
Emergencies” which highlights personal preparedness, emergency planning, and support networks (5).
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
The goal of the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA) is to make Ontario accessible
by 2025. The law applies to all public, private and
non-profit organizations across Ontario with at least
1 employee.
The AODA includes standards for Communications
and Information. For example, organizations will
ensure their websites meet international standards
for web accessibility, provide communication
supports quickly and at no additional cost, and
make their feedback process accessible.
Fast Fact?
1 in 7 people in Ontario
have a disability, that’s 1.85
million Ontarians. By 2036,
that number will rise to 1 in 5
as the population ages (6).
References:
(1) World Health Organization, 2007. Age-friendly Cities and Communities: A Guide.
(2) Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010. [Age-friendly Communication]
(3) Statistics Canada, 2013. [Individual Internet use and e-commerce]
(4) City of Peterborough Emergency and Risk Management Division, 2015. Personal correspondence.
(5) Ontario Ministry of Safety & Correctional Services, 2015 [Seniors and Emergencies]
(6) Ministry of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure, 2015. [Understanding Accessibility]
Contact:
Sarah Cullingham
Age-friendly Coordinator
[email protected]
www.peterboroughcouncilonaging.ca