The City of Brantford has been formally recognized by the Government of Ontario as an Age-Friendly Community, underscoring the municipality’s long-term commitment to accessibility, inclusion and quality of life for older residents.
The designation was awarded during the Ontario Age-Friendly Community Recognition Ceremony on Jan. 18, 2026, held as part of the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA) conference. The recognition highlights Brantford’s efforts to design programs, services and infrastructure that support residents across all stages of life, with a particular focus on the needs of seniors.
Mayor Kevin Davis accepted the award on behalf of the city, acknowledging the role of municipal staff and community partners in advancing Brantford’s age-friendly initiatives.
“I am incredibly proud to accept this award on behalf of the City of Brantford,” says Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “Ensuring people of all ages and abilities have opportunities to thrive in our community is a key priority for Brantford. I applaud City staff and our community partners’ ongoing efforts to support our aging population through social participation, civic pride, and better overall mental and physical well-being.”
Ontario’s Age-Friendly Community recognition program is designed to acknowledge municipalities that are taking concrete steps to create environments where older adults can live safely, remain active and stay connected. Communities are evaluated on factors such as accessibility, transportation, housing, social participation and community support services.
Brantford’s recognition follows City Council’s recent approval of the Healthy Aging Strategy 2025–2027, which builds on earlier initiatives and sets out 20 new priority actions aimed at strengthening the city’s age-friendly framework. The strategy reflects feedback from older residents, service providers and community stakeholders, and aligns municipal planning with provincial and international best practices.
Key priorities outlined in the strategy include the installation of additional pedestrian crossing signals, curb cuts and tactile warning indicators to improve mobility and safety. The city has also committed to ongoing improvements to street lighting, with a focus on enhanced light levels and greater energy efficiency, supporting both pedestrian safety and environmental sustainability.
Transit improvements remain a central pillar of the strategy. Brantford plans to implement Phase 2 of the Brantford Transit Moving Forward Plan, which is intended to expand accessibility, improve service reliability and better connect residents to essential services and community destinations. In addition, the city will continue to offer free Seniors Month activities throughout June, promoting social engagement, physical activity and community connection.
Since first launching its Healthy Aging Strategy in 2018, Brantford has recorded measurable progress in a range of areas tied to age-friendly living. Municipal achievements include an increase in kilometres of paved pathways and sidewalks, the introduction of a fully accessible transit fleet, and a growing number of transit stops equipped with shelters.
Facility upgrades across the city have improved accessibility in public buildings, while investments in affordable housing have expanded options for older adults. The city has also supported ongoing community services at affordable seniors’ housing sites and increased participation by older residents in recreational and social programming.
Brantford’s efforts have received recognition beyond Ontario. In 2017, the city was internationally recognized by the World Health Organization as an Age-Friendly Community, placing it among municipalities worldwide committed to supporting healthy aging. Since that designation, Brantford has also received awards from the Ministry of Seniors Affairs acknowledging its continued progress in building an inclusive and supportive environment for older adults.
Municipal officials say the latest provincial recognition reflects both sustained investment and an understanding that demographic change requires long-term planning. As Brantford’s population ages, the city’s approach emphasizes not only infrastructure, but also social inclusion, civic participation and access to services that support physical and mental well-being.
Residents and stakeholders can learn more about Brantford’s age-friendly programming, events and resources through the city’s Healthy Living initiatives, available at Brantford.ca/HealthyLiving.
With provincial and international recognition reinforcing its direction, Brantford’s leadership says the city will continue to integrate age-friendly principles into its planning and service delivery, positioning the community to meet the evolving needs of residents today and in the decades ahead.
