Seven Years of Healthy Aging CORE BC: Celebrating Collaboration, Connection, and Community Impact
Seven years ago this month, United Way British Columbia launched Healthy Aging Collaborative Online Resources and Education (CORE) BC, a first of its kind online hub created to strengthen the Community-Based Seniors’ Services (CBSS) sector. What began as an innovative idea has grown into a trusted, province wide network where organizations, partners, and volunteers come together to learn, share, and collaborate to better support older adults across B.C.
Today, CORE BC is more than a platform, it’s a community. And it’s making a difference every single day.
A platform built for the sector, shaped by the sector
CORE BC was designed to make life easier for the people working within the CBSS sector who support older adults: community groups and agencies, academia, volunteers, researchers, and sector partners. By bringing resources, training, and peer learning opportunities together in one place, CORE BC helps those working on the ground feel more connected, informed, and equipped.
As one CORE member recently shared:
“It’s been incredibly informative and I look to it first thing in the morning every single day to look for funding opportunities and news/resources.”
Another noted:
“It is an important resource for staying in touch with the sector.”
This consistent engagement is exactly what CORE BC was created for.
Turning knowledge into action
CORE BC delivers far more than information. Through webinars, training sessions, research, communities of practice, and a rich library of tools, the platform helps organizations immediately put new knowledge into practice. It builds capacity across the province while making sector-wide collaboration possible.
As Justine Keirn, CBSS Leadership Council Co-Chair, highlighted:
“As a Co-Chair of the CBSS Leadership Council and Executive Director of a community agency dedicated to enhancing seniors support services across British Columbia, I want to highlight how vital Healthy Aging CORE BC has become in our collective work. This platform is much more than a repository of information — it is a dynamic, collaborative knowledge hub that supports strategic decision-making, improves efficiencies, strengthens programming, and helps keep our network aligned and informed.”
She goes on to say:
“It [CORE BC] is a great way to collaborate with other programs along with the obvious provision of resources and excellent way for United Way BC to communicate with funded agencies.”
Her comments reflect what CORE BC is designed to do: strengthen connections, support better decision-making, and keep the sector aligned as it works to improve services for older adults.
Growing impact, growing community
Over the past year, CORE BC’s reach has continued to expand—now supporting more than 3,200 registered users and generating over 400,000 website interactions. The platform offers more than 2,800 resources and hosts 13 active CORE Groups.
These numbers represent more than activity—they reflect real people showing up to learn, share, ask questions, and support one another.
Members can also subscribe to the bi‑weekly Healthy Aging CORE BC newsletter, now reaching over 2,160 subscribers and helping keep the sector informed about new resources, events, and funding opportunities.
As one member shared:
“It is helpful to connect with others in similar roles.”
Another added:
“Overall I find it to be very helpful for my work.”
When people in the sector feel supported, stronger services for older adults inevitably follow.
Expanding beyond British Columbia
The success of CORE BC has helped inspire expansion beyond our province. After its launch in British Columbia, United Way BC introduced CORE Canada, later transitioning management to HelpAge Canada.
Today, CORE is active in Alberta, with other provinces exploring adoption. This growth reflects the strength of the CBSS sector and a shared commitment to helping older Canadians age in place.
A heartfelt thank you
We are incredibly proud of what CORE BC has accomplished over these seven years—and deeply grateful to the community that made it possible. The CBSS sector’s leadership, knowledge, generosity, and dedication continue to shape CORE BC into a vibrant, trusted hub for connection and learning.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the Government of British Columbia for their ongoing support in strengthening this essential work.
Together, you’ve transformed CORE BC into a space where knowledge becomes action, where challenges become collaboration, and where sector partners feel supported and inspired.
Looking ahead
As CORE BC continues to evolve and inspire similar platforms across Canada, one thing remains constant: our commitment to strengthening the CBSS sector and supporting older adults to thrive in their communities.
Thank you for seven years of collaboration, innovation, and meaningful impact—and for all the years still to come.
Community agencies, partners, and volunteers in the CBSS sector can access CORE BC at bc.healthyagingcore.ca to sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter and explore resources, training, webinars, and more.