2011 On-going

Since the 1980s, the population of many rural and small town places in northern BC communities has been aging. This research project examines the role that voluntary organizations, community groups, and volunteers play in both supporting older people and in influencing community development in aging resource communities. It also examines the influence of seniors in volunteer organizations and community development initiatives. In 2011, reports were completed to provide preliminary information about the dimensions of voluntarism in two pilot study towns. These communities include Quesnel and Tumbler Ridge. In 2013, profiles were created for a series of voluntary sector initiatives in these communities. The goal was to explore a range of roles in the voluntary sector and in community development in order to explore how seniors’ engagement and voluntary initiatives are reshaping and changing these communities. The project is based out of the UNBC Community Development Institute in collaboration with Mark Skinner at Trent University and Alun Joseph at the University of Guelph.

2013 project reports include:

• A Review of Socio-Economic Characteristics in Tumbler Ridge, BC
• A Review of Socio-Economic Characteristics in Quesnel, BC
• The Transformative Role of Voluntarism in Aging Resource Communities: Community Report for Tumbler Ridge, BC
• The Transformative Role of Voluntarism in Aging Resource Communities: Community Report for Quesnel, BC

2011 project reports include:

• Dimensions of Voluntarism in Aging Resource Towns: Preliminary Scan of Quesnel, BC
• Dimensions of Voluntarism in Aging Resource Towns: Preliminary Scan of Tumbler Ridge, BC