Youth & Family Attraction and Retention Strategy PART 2: Experience of Other BC Communities – Sechelt & Sydney Other communities similar to Qualicum Beach in size, location and demographics have taken steps in community planning to mitigate the effect of a diminishing youth population. While the outcomes and strategies vary according the unique needs of the communities sampled, the steps taken and the resulting procedures may be of value. The information here offers us a picture of how Sechelt and Sidney have approached the challenges. Sechelt identifies the challenges, frames priorities related to aging in their Official Community Plan, and then moves to specific strategic measures. Sidney defines the challenge clearly but is in the earlier stages of implementing their recommendations.
Sechelt….. similar to Qualicum Beach Sechelt…. different than Qualicum Beach
Both around 8,500 – 9,0000 residents While many of Qualicum Beach’s service workers commute INTO Qualicum, a good percentage of the work force commutes OUT of Sechelt (mainly to Vancouver)
There is a substantially lower percentage of young adults aged 20- 29 in both Sechelt and Qualicum compared to the rest of B.C. and fewer in the “young family” age group of 30-44 population compared to BC mean
Both amongst the oldest average age population (of towns in It appears that more people remain in Sechelt past the age of 80 BC ): approx 50 years of age, about 10 years higher than the years, whereas in Qualicum Beach the tendency is to move to provincial mean larger urban areas after 80 years
Average age of citizens increasing - Sechelt is the largest town in the immediate area of Sunshine Coast – whereas Qualicum Beach shares the region with larger towns of Parksville and Nanaimo
Oceanside town with tourism emphasis While the average wage of those with full employment is almost identical to Qualicum Beach ($38,000). But Sechelt has a lower percentage of retirees; the number of people working full time is 1965 compared to Qualicum Beach’s 1295.
No major industry Although median value of dwellings are roughly the same (400,000) , the monthly median rental cost is higher in Qualicum Beach: $926 compared to $729 per month in Sechelt, making it harder for young families to afford accommodation.
Both about 8 % population Growth 2001 – 2006 Sechelt places focus on Arts & Culture, but is not as advanced as Qualicum Beach – ( has a clear priority on developing Arts & Culture)
Local employment in both is predominantly retail & service Mixed- many commuters to Vancouver Industry” ; some commute to Parksville and Nanaimo
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.1
Town of Qualicum Beach Sechelt: (data from 2006 Census)
Source of above: http://www.city-data.com/canada/Sechelt-District-municipality.html
WHAT HAS SECHELT DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE OF AGING POPULATION?
The Sechelt OCP places a strong focus on the need to ensure a multigenerational community. ( Please see next page..)
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.2
http://www.district.sechelt.bc.ca/Portals/0/Public%20Document%20Library/Community%20Plans/OCP%20Bylaw%20492.pdf
Sechelt OCP: Excerpts selected from P. 8 -
An Aging Population Sechelt has a substantially older population compared to the provincial average. Some of the notable characteristics from the 2006 census: § Sechelt has a median age of 50.7, some ten years higher than the provincial median age of 40.8 years. § Sechelt has as many residents over age 85 as it has preschoolers (0-4 years). § There is a substantially lower percentage of young adults aged 20-29 in Sechelt (6.6%) compared to B.C. (12.4%), as well as fewer in the “young family” age group of 30-44, which is only 15% of Sechelt’s population compared to 21.4% in B.C. § Sechelt has close to double the percentage of seniors over age 65 (25.3%) compared to B.C. (14.6%). This demographic that is similar to other communities on the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and Kootenays, all of which are experiencing a retirement “boom”. § Sechelt has a higher percentage of female residents (52.9%) than males (47.1%) in total, and within most age groups. Fig.5 shows the distribution of age groups by gender (as a percentage of the total population).
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.3
Sechelt / Cont’d: Why does this matter?
Planning for the requirements of an increasingly older population is a significant and immediate issue for Sechelt. With a high proportion of seniors, new development needs to provide housing forms that focus on smaller housing units, single-storey living and housing that is closer to amenities and services. Health care and community service providers will need to prepare for increased demand for all forms of health care and for more “accessible” forms of transportation (buses, safe walking environments and provisions for scooters).
The very low numbers of young adults also highlight the need to increase employment/business and educational opportunities, a challenge if Sechelt is to retain the young people needed to sustain a multigenerational community.
Sechelt OCP – Excerpt from p. 6
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.4
EXAMPLES: SECHELT OCP: Some specifics steps identified, for example on Page 76:
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.5
EXAMPLES: SECHELT OCP: Some specifics steps identified, for example on Page 38:
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.6
http://www.sidney.ca/Assets/Administration/Vision+2020+Strategic+Plan+March+2011.pdf
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.7
Sidney’s OCP - Completed in 2007
Neil’s Note: Comparable with Qualicum Beach and Sechelt, Sidney is a town slightly larger than Qualicum Beach (it is about 11,500), has close to the oldest average age (almost the same as Qualicum Beach) is a coastal community, and like Qualicum, is proximal to a larger urban centre (Central Victoria).
EXTRACT FROM THE OCP: http://www.sidney.ca/Assets/Development+Services/Bylaws/1920+OCP+-+2010.pdf
51% of the Town’s population is over the age of 50, compared to 36% in the CRD (Capital Region) and only 31% across the province.
As expected, another observation is the Town of Sidney has far fewer people between the ages of 20 to 29 than the CRD or the Province of BC. This age group represents 7% of the total population in Sidney, which is the lowest population group as a percentage of total population. In the CRD, it represents 12.6% of the population and 12.4% for the Province.
These statistics show that Sidney must consider the service needs of its aging population and its challenges in retaining its youth and attracting young families to ensure a balanced community. Challenges such as high housing costs, secondary education, and employment opportunities have been identified and will be considered as the community develops
Neil’s Note: Sidney has clearly identified the challenges related to an aging population and initiated action steps with some specific policy changes. For example, in housing:
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.8
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.9
TQB Youth Attraction/Retention - Planning Session with Council – Pacific Leadership Design - 2012 p.10