Policies, Plans and Strategies
Community Social Development undertakings are guided by a number of Council-adopted policies, plans, strategies and guidelines.
Official Community Plan
Social Development Strategy
Age-Friendly Action Plan
Community Wellness Strategy
The Official Community Plan (OCP)
An Official Community Plan (OCP) is a legally required City bylaw which enables City Council to plan, co-ordinate and manage the City's sustainability, social, economic and land use interests, over the long term. The overall Plan (Schedule 1) includes a chapter devoted to Social Inclusion and Accessibility that addresses:
- Social Equity and Inclusion;
- Engaging our Citizens; and
- Building on Social Assets and Community Capacity.
The OCP also consists of Area and Sub-Area Plans (Schedule 2) for the various planning areas within the Richmond. The City Centre Area Plan includes a section on Social Equity and Community Services.
The Social Development Strategy 2013-2022
Richmond City Council adopted the
Richmond Social Development Strategy which is intended to guide the City’s decisions and resource allocations on social development matters. It is also a resource for external stakeholders which:
- Identifies social development priorities for City attention between now and 2022.
- Clarifies the roles of the City (and other stakeholders) with respect to addressing particular social development topics.
- Provides a foundation for a more integrated, coordinated, and sustainable approach for social development in Richmond for the future.
Age-Friendly Assessment and Action Plan
The Age-Friendly Cities initiative, started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006, was designed to optimize the health, participation and security of older adults throughout the course of aging by encouraging communities to adapt structures and services to increase accessibility and inclusion.
Since 2009, the BC Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Union of BC Municipalities, has funded Age-Friendly projects in over 120 communities across the province, including Richmond. The City of Richmond has many Age-Friendly policies and practices in place. The
Age-Friendly Assessment and Action Plan, approved by Richmond City Council on March 23, 2015, builds on this foundation, bringing a more deliberate age-friendly focus to the many strategies and activities currently being pursued. The Plan identifies priority actions requiring attention over the next five years (2015 – 2019) and presents an implementation plan to realize the Plan’s vision “for Richmond to be the best place to age, at all stages, for all residents”. In recognition of steps taken, as well as ongoing commitment, Richmond received "Age-Friendly BC Recognition" in 2015.
The City of Richmond Community Wellness Strategy 2018–2023 was adopted by City Council in July 2018. The purpose of this five-year strategy is to take a collaborative and holistic approach to improve wellness for Richmond residents and to increase opportunities for individuals, neighbourhoods and communities to be active and healthy.
The Community Wellness Strategy 2018-2023 was developed in partnership between the City of Richmond, Vancouver Coastal Health – Richmond and Richmond School District No. 38. This five-year strategy prioritizes wellness as a contributor to a vibrant, appealing and livable community and identifies innovative approaches to most effectively impact wellness outcomes.
Healthy Richmond
To provide a local perspective on health and wellness issues to support the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Richmond Community Wellness Strategy, Vancouver Coast Health developed the Healthy Richmond Survey in 2012.
To view the full report, please visit: www.vch.ca
Information about a number of other plans and strategies is provided in the following links:
Affordable Housing Strategy
Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy
Youth Service Plan
Seniors Service Plan
Richmond Intercultural Strategic Plan
Age-Friendly Assessment and Action Plan
Richmond Community Wellness Strategy