Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program. Its goal is to strengthen seniors’ social inclusion so they can benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life in their communities.

The objectives of the NHSP are:
 

• to promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations;
• to engage seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;
• to expand awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• to support the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and 
• to provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors. 
   

Since 2004, the NHSP has funded over 43,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, with the Government of Canada investing more than $970 million. Program funding supports community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects.

Community-based projects

Community-based project funding supports activities in which seniors are socially engaged, connected and actively involved. Seniors lead and inspire projects that make a difference in their lives, the lives of others and in their communities. More than 400 communities benefit from community-based projects each year. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding.

As part of the 2025–2026 NHSP community-based call for proposals, organizations are encouraged to apply for funding that supports the national priorities for this cycle:

Priority 1: Supporting healthy aging, which includes:

• addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors’ digital literacy;
• addressing ageism; and
• supporting mental health and seniors living with dementia.

Priority 2: Preventing senior abuse, which includes:

• providing measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors, including elder abuse; and
• developing educational material to prevent unscrupulous practices, financial fraud and scams from happening to seniors.

Priority 3: Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion, which includes:

• promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement;
• advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and helping to secure a better quality of life for Indigenous seniors; and
• collaborating with diverse communities, notably by serving members of the following vulnerable groups: low-income seniors, Indigenous Peoples, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, members of official language minority communities, seniors who primarily speak languages other than English or French, members of racialized and newcomer groups, persons with disabilities, veterans and seniors living in rural or remote areas.

Priority 4: Supporting financial security, which includes:

• helping seniors navigate and access government services and benefits and providing support to file their taxes; and
• supporting the financial empowerment of seniors.

Following the 2024-2025 call for proposals, a total of 2,905 community-based projects were approved for immediate investment, representing $60.3 million.

Breakdown by province and territory: