Dementia-friendly community
$5,000 to start the Alzheimer Society's steps toward becoming a dementia-friendly community. Pushed back in 2023 for housing-law work, then from 2028 to 2029 by Eaglecrest.
- Amount
- $5,000
- Got
- $0
- Where it stands
- To 2029. Moved by the Eaglecrest funding plan, Jul 2025.
What it is
This is $5,000 to begin a five-step program run by the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Towns that take part are officially recognized as working toward being dementia-friendly over several years.
The $5,000 covers the first three steps. They are workshops for Council and the public, a working group that includes people living with dementia, and a dementia-friendly action plan.
Staff estimated 200 hours of staff time. They also expected ongoing staff time from 2028, which they said would need about $20,000 more in property taxes. Staff said it is “similar in scope to the creation of the Accessibility Committee.”
What happened
- January 11, 2016Council told staff to work with local groups on next steps toward a more dementia-friendly community (motion by Councillor Skipsey). Carried.
- July 17, 2017Councillor Skipsey reported on dementia-friendly training attended by Town staff, the Regional District of Nanaimo and Parksville. The 2017 Annual Report lists the training as done.
- November 10, 2023The item was scoped again at strategic planning (SI-07-24). Staff noted it was pushed from 2027 to 2028 or later because of the Province's November 2023 housing announcement.
- 2025The 2025–2029 Financial Plan shows $5,000 in 2028.
- July 23, 2025Council moved it from 2028 to 2029 as part of the Eaglecrest funding plan (Resolution 25-180, carried 4–1, Councillor Harrison opposed).
- April 1, 2026The adopted 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows $5,000 in 2029.
Why it matters
- In the 2021 Census, 865 Qualicum Beach residents, or 9.3%, were 85 or older. That was the third-highest share among 737 Canadian municipalities with at least 5,000 people.
- At $5,000, this is the smallest item on the deferred list.
- It has been pushed back twice. The first delay, in 2023, was because of provincial housing legislation. Only the second, in July 2025, was part of the Eaglecrest funding plan.
- The Alzheimer Society of B.C. offers a toolkit to help local governments with this work.
- The 2026–2030 Financial Plan says Council's ability to go ahead with 2027 and later initiatives depends on paying back the Strategic Initiatives Reserve, expected in 2027 and 2028, and that Council will set priorities at its 2027 strategic planning.
Sources
- Special Council agenda and deferral lists, Jul 23, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Staff report: 2025–2029 Financial Plan Amendment, Oct 22, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Committee of the Whole agenda, Nov 10, 2023 (scoping sheet SI-07-24) (opens in a new tab) pp. 28–29
- Committee of the Whole minutes, Nov 10, 2023 (opens in a new tab) p. 3
- Regular Council minutes, Jan 11, 2016 (opens in a new tab) p. 1
- Regular Council minutes, July 17, 2017 (opens in a new tab) p. 4
- 2017 Town of Qualicum Beach Annual Report (opens in a new tab) p. 8
- 2025–2029 Financial Plan (opens in a new tab) p. 21
- Special Council minutes, Jul 23, 2025 (opens in a new tab) Resolution 25-180, pp. 2–3
- 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (opens in a new tab) pp. 20–21
- Statistics Canada, A portrait of Canada's growing population aged 85 and older (2021 Census) (opens in a new tab) Table 1, p. 16
- Alzheimer Society of B.C., What is a dementia-friendly community? (opens in a new tab)
- Alzheimer Society of B.C., Local Government Toolkit (opens in a new tab)
Last checked September 18, 2026. Report a mistake.