Planning for Longevity

What is Planning for Longevity?

Planning for longevity is a life-course approach to city building that considers how neighbourhoods, housing, services, transportation, and public spaces shape health, independence, and quality of life over time.

Rather than treating aging as a separate issue, planning for longevity focuses on creating communities where people can walk more easily, stay connected, access services, and find housing that meets their changing needs throughout life. The goal is to help residents remain healthy, connected, and independent as they age while building more inclusive communities for everyone. That means planning for:

• housing options that support aging in place
• safe and welcoming streets, parks, and public spaces
• access to services, amenities, and community supports
• neighbourhoods that encourage social connection and everyday activity

Planning for longevity helps the City look at these needs together so Maple Ridge can continue to grow as a liveable, inclusive, and caring community.

This work is part of Maple Ridge’s Housing Action Plan, Building Our Community for All and builds on the City’s long-standing commitment to age-inclusive planning.

Guiding principles

Maple Ridge’s Planning for Longevity approach is guided by three core principles:

1. Create compact, complete neighbourhoods: Plan neighbourhoods so residents can more easily access housing, shops, services, recreation, and public spaces close to home.
2. Plan ahead for social infrastructure and amenities: Support the spaces and services that help people stay connected and supported as they age, including community facilities, programs, and welcoming public places.
3. Strengthen partnerships and local data: Work with community partners, residents, and researchers to better understand changing needs and support informed, community-based planning.

Research and Community Engagement

To help shape this work, the City partnered with graduate students from UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) and members of the Seniors Network in 2025/26. Over eight months, the student team focused on the Town Centre neighbourhood, where many older adults live. They worked with residents, community organizations, service providers, and City staff to explore how Maple Ridge can better support people as they age while remaining connected, independent, and engaged in community life.

Their work included research, site visits, workshops, and engagement sessions. Several key priorities were identified:

• improving pedestrian accessibility
• expanding housing options that support aging in place
• creating welcoming public spaces
• fostering social connection
• strengthening partnerships with community organizations to improve access to services

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Read the complete SCARP Report: Towards a Carescape - A Vision For An Age-Inclusive Maple Ridge Town Centre. 

Over 2026/27, City staff will continue refining the Planning for Longevity approach through additional research and engagement. This includes a well-being needs assessment to better understand service gaps and infrastructure needs across the community. The results will help guide future planning, including a social infrastructure plan and actions to support a more liveable and age-inclusive Maple Ridge.

Commitment to Age-Inclusive Planning

Maple Ridge has a strong foundation in age-inclusive planning. An Age-Friendly Community Action Plan was endorsed by Council in 2016, and an implementation strategy was developed in 2018. An update to the plan was proposed as an item in the 2024 Housing Action Plan to better align and integrate planning for an ageing community with the City’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report and 2025 Official Community Plan. In 2019, Maple Ridge became the first community in British Columbia to join the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.

Planning for longevity builds on this work and updates the City’s approach to meet today’s needs and plans for the future.