Funding for local programs aims to keep seniors happy, healthy
June 9, 2023
NEWS RELEASES
LLOYD LONGFIELD, MP GUELPH
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Seniors have made and continue to make significant and valuable contributions to their families, communities and workplaces. However, the pandemic had a detrimental effect on the well-being of seniors, limiting their ability to socialize. The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting local organizations that empower seniors, promote engagement within their communities, and contribute to their health and well-being.
Today, Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera, announced an investment of $165,206 for 10 community-based projects in Guelph. The projects will help seniors stay active, informed and socially connected in their community. This funding was awarded through the most recent call for proposals for community-based projects through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
Local organizations receiving funding are:
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph is receiving $3,334 for their project Between Generations: Empowering Seniors to Build Connections and Mentor Youth
• The Church of the Apostles is receiving $9,334 for their project Living Better on Less for Seniors to help protect against elders and financial abuse of seniors
• The City of Guelph is receiving $25,000 for their project Garden Fit to get seniors involved in community gardening
• Compass Community Services is receiving $25,000 for their project Seniors Support to provide wellness checks and promote volunteerism
• Guelph Chinese Canadian Cultural Group is receiving $$20,000 for their project Our Best Years to get seniors involved and promote social inclusion in the community
• Guelph Lawn Bowling Club is receiving $19,578 for their Revitalization and Growth project to purchase equipment to provide lawn bowling opportunities for seniors
• Pickleball Guelph Association is receiving $17,134 for their project to deliver training programs and promote physical activity and social engagement through Pickleball
• The Elliott Community is receiving $12,769 for their Java Project to address social isolation and provide peer support and mentoring programs
• The Guelph Black Heritage Society is receiving $17,734 for the Phoenix Seniors Social Club to organize and lead recreational activities as well as workshops on computer literacy
• The Guelph Enabling Garden will receive $15,323 for the Garden Community Enhancement project to purchase garden beds and run a story telling program to support social participation of seniors
In Budget 2022, the Government proposed an additional $20 million over two years, with $10M in 2022-23 and $10M in 2023-24, for an expanded NHSP to support more projects that improve the quality of life of seniors and help them to continue to participate fully in their communities.
As part of the 2022-23 NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects, organizations were invited to apply for funding that created opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities and reflect the national priorities:
• supporting healthy aging through engaging social, physical and artistic activities
• preventing senior abuse such as through financial literacy training, fraud prevention training, and digital literacy sessions
• celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion by promoting intergenerational mentoring, serving vulnerable groups and holding peer support sessions; and
• helping the majority of seniors who want to age in their own homes to do so by providing practical supports.
Through a simplified application process, organizations submitted project proposals to help seniors move beyond the pandemic and continue to play important roles in their communities.
This announcement builds on the Government’s commitment to improving the quality of life of seniors. In Budget 2023, the Government of Canada announced the creation of a new Canadian Dental Care Plan. This initiative aims to provide vital dental care coverage for uninsured Canadians who need it the most. By the end of 2023, seniors, people with disabilities, and children under 18 will be covered under that plan. Budget 2023 also introduced a one-time Grocery Rebate to help offset the cost of groceries, which will go into the pockets of seniors on July 5.
Quotes
“Promoting healthy aging and empowering seniors is essential in building inclusive, age-friendly communities. Every year, the New Horizons for Seniors program plays a crucial role in enhancing seniors’ quality of life by providing funding for thousands of projects across Canada. Those initiatives offer hands-on activities that enable seniors to remain active, expand their social network, engage in learning experiences, and age in their own homes and communities. By participating in these projects, seniors across the country can lead fulfilling lives and remain engaged members of our communities.” – Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera
“Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is once again providing funding to a wide range of community based groups that deliver opportunities for seniors in Guelph to participate in meaningful activities that nurture their personal growth and foster community vitality. These programs ensure the well-being and positive mental health for our local seniors.” – Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph
Quick facts
The New Horizons for Seniors Program is a federal grants and contributions program whose goal is to support projects that help seniors stay active and engaged in the community. Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding.
Since its inception, NHSP has funded more than 36,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, with the Government of Canada having invested a total of more than $780 million.
Program funding supports projects that engage seniors in their communities and addresses one or more of the program’s five objectives: social participation, volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse and providing capital assistance.
Every year, organizations are invited to apply for NHSP community-based funding through a call for proposals. The projects announced today were approved as part of a call for proposals that was launched on Sept. 21, 2022, and closed on Nov. 1, 2022.
Budget 2022 proposed an additional $20 million over two years, with $10M in 2022-2023 and $10M in 2023-2024, to support more projects that improve the quality of life of seniors and help them continue to participate fully in their communities.
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