News release
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – Saanich Councillor Judy Brownoff was honoured to be invited to Matsumoto, Japan to deliver the keynote address at the 9^th annual World Health Capital Conference October 16 and 17. This year, the two day conference focused on the theme Food and Exercises: Healthy Connections with Everyone.

“This experience showcased that many cities in the world are experiencing longevity in older adults and there are many opportunities for active and creative aging,” said Brownoff. “Our populations are aging and we need to plan for this in a positive way.”

The conference included many interesting topics and panel discussions including health promotion policies in Russia, the Superhuman Sports Society and health management. The exhibition hall showcased many new products featuring food, health, exercise, and manufacturing companies. A product of particular note was a finger rehabilitation support apparatus that could be used to exercise arthritic hands.

“Through these events, we collect advanced information from all over the world and learn and exchange views on healthy longevity,” said Matsumoto City’s Director of Health Industry Hiroyuki Kobayashi.

 Brownoff’s keynote address highlighted the initiatives in Saanich that were created to meet and engage aging residents as they continue to be healthy and active in their older years. Saanich has been part of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Communities initiative since 2006 and continues to design policies, services and improvements to built environments to help older adults age actively in the community.

“The presentation provided me with many ideas for Matsumoto,” said Matsumoto City Mayor Akira Sugenoya. “The Sustainable Healthy City Matsumoto is a town in which each citizen plays the central role in extending their healthy life expectancy, and continues to live with a sense of life purpose.”

Brownoff has an extensive background in age-friendly communities. She is the co-chair with the Public Health Agency of Canada of the Pan Canadian Age-Friendly Communities Reference Group. This group meets via a monthly conference call with age friendly cities across Canada to discuss areas of concern, such as social isolation, dementia, housing and other emerging issues.

As the keynote speaker, Brownoff’s travel expenses were covered by the conference organizers.

Learn more

Read Saanich’s Age-Friendly Cities Project report and Older Adults Strategy at Saanich.ca. Brownoff also highlighted the new Saanich Beautiful by Nature video at the World Health Capital Conference. The video is available to view at Saanich.ca.

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Media contact:
Councillor Judy Brownoff
judy.brownoff@saanich.ca  
250-727-2008