WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, January 21, 2008 — The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board and Regional Minister for Manitoba, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors), today announced funding for 48 projects under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). This funding will ensure that seniors in Manitoba have the opportunity to participate and take an active leadership role in their communities.
Total funding of $724,588 is being provided to support 33 communities throughout Manitoba.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Minister Toews. "These projects will encourage seniors to continue sharing their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit others."
In the 2007 federal budget, the Government of Canada announced an additional investment of $10 million per year for two new components of the NHSP: raising awareness of elder abuse, and providing capital assistance for upgrades to facilities and equipment used for existing seniors' programs. Projects funded under these new components will be announced in the spring of 2008.
The federal government is also acting to address the needs of Canada's seniors through the introduction of a series of important measures that include:
establishing the National Seniors Council to advise the Government on issues of importance to older Canadians;
enabling 1.6 million low-income seniors to benefit from increased monthly benefits available under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and to make a one-time application for the GIS. As long as these seniors file income tax returns every year, they will never have to reapply;
providing more than $1 billion in tax relief to Canadian seniors and pensioners in Budget 2007;
allowing seniors to build their retirement savings in Registered Pension Plans and Registered Retirement Savings Plans for an extra two years until age 71; and
raising the amount that seniors can claim under the age credit on their tax returns for 2007. With less income taxed, seniors save more.
Since its launch, the NHSP has funded over 2,600 projects across Canada, inspiring seniors to bring their leadership, energy and skills to projects that benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/community_partnerships/seniors/index.shtml
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A detailed list of funded projects in Manitoba is included in the attached backgrounder.
This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
Additional information (media only):
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
backgrounder
New Horizons for Seniors Program
Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) helps to ensure that seniors are able to benefit from and contribute to the quality of life in their communities through their social participation and active living. This is achieved through funding community projects that help seniors share their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit others, while reducing their social isolation.
Building on the success of the NHSP, in Budget 2007 the Government of Canada increased the Program's budget by $10 million per year to provide capital assistance for repairs to facilities and equipment related to existing seniors' programs, and to raise awareness of elder abuse across Canada. This has increased the total budget for the NHSP to $35 million per year.
As a result, the Program now offers three types of funding to organizations:
Pre-existing component
Community Participation and Leadership Funding: This funding supports community-based projects across Canada. The projects encourage seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.
New funding components
Capital Assistance Funding: This funding will help non-profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors' programs and activities. It will enable seniors to continue to lead active lives by participating in existing programs and activities in their communities.
Elder Abuse Awareness Funding: This funding will help non-profit organizations and coalitions raise awareness of the abuse of older adults on a national or regional level. Through this funding, new educational and awareness resources about elder abuse will be available to improve quality of life, safety and security for seniors.
backgrounder
FUNDING TO NEW HORIZONS FOR SENIORS PROJECTS IN MANITOBA
Organization
Project Title
Location
Amount
Arden Senior Crocus Club
Seniors Embracing Technology
Arden
$8,066
Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc.
Safe and Sound Program
Brandon
$10,300
Cartier Senior Citizens Support Committee Inc.
Seniors Enjoying Life
Elie
$8,000
Southquill Health Services
Passing Aboriginal Community Traditions Forward
Erickson
$20,475
NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority (FF)
Social Outings for Seniors
Flin Flon
$23,120
Friends of Spruce Woods Inc.
Oral History Project of the Criddle/Vane Homestead Heritage Committee
Glenboro
$6,000
Raystone Memorial Centre Inc.
Raystone Memorial Centre New Programs for Seniors
Glenboro
$10,500
Grandview Manor Inc.
Manor Beautification
Grandview
$13,610
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
Sioux Valley Health Centre Dakota Elders Intergenerational Project
Griswold
$15,100
Hamiota Seniors Council Inc.
Get Up and Go Gang
Hamiota
$2,543
Headingley Seniors' Services Inc.
Headingley Seniors Learning Centre
Headingley
$18,000
McCreary Seniors Drop In Centre
New Beginnings for Seniors
McCreary
$18,180
Winnipeg River Senior Services Inc.
Strength for Seniors
Pine Falls
$25,000
Plumas and Area Senior Support Program/Inter-Ridge Recreation
Bridging the Gap-Bringing Seniors and Computers Together
Plumas
$8,875
Portage Service for Seniors
Seniors Online
Portage la Prairie
$20,905
Richer Young at Hearts Club Inc.
Dance Lessons for Seniors
Richer
$5,000
Fédération des aînés franco-manitobains
Relations Intergénérationnelles
Saint-Boniface
$19,500
Club des Pionniers St-Jean Baptiste
La roue de ma vie-je m'en occupe
Saint-Jean-Baptiste
$15,146
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
BON Elders Sharing Their Gifts
Scanterbury
$21,230
Sifton Historical Society
The Russian Orthodox Settlers in Sifton Manitoba
Sifton
$24,769
Club Jolys Inc.
Better and Stronger Future with Seniors Leading the Way
St. Pierre-Jolys
$12,200
Paradise Village Residents Association
Woodworking Shop and Fitness Centre
Ste. Anne
$7,900
Serving Seniors Inc
Seniors Challenging Technology
Steinbach
$4,450
Services aux aînés du village de St-Pierre-Jolys
Aînés en santé pour un meilleur avenir
St-Pierre
$20,850
Lorne Community Support Services
Connecting Seniors to the Computer World
Swan Lake
$15,380
Swan River & District Community Resource Council Inc.
Centennial Senior's Art Activity "Portrait of a Senior"
Swan River
$2,750
Teulon & District Senior Resource Council Inc.
Community Unity
Teulon
$10,000
The Pas Golden Age Group Inc.
Exercising for Seniors
The Pas
$1,000
Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre Inc.
Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre Elders' Program
Thompson
$25,000
Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council
Seniors Sharing Life Experiences
Thompson
$10,000
Senior Scene Inc.
Seniors and Students Going the Extra Mile
Victoria Beach
$20,436
The Virden HUB
Photovoice to Build Community Capacity
Virden
$2,000
Nay-Ah-Quong Elders Group
Nay-Ah-Quong Gathering Gardens
Waywayseecappo
$25,000
Winkler & District Multi-Purpose Senior Centre Inc.
Expect Participation
Winkler
$25,000
Aboriginal Senior Resources Centre (Winnipeg) Inc.
Aboriginal Seniors Connect
Winnipeg
$24,600
Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba
Peer Leadership in Rural Manitoba
Winnipeg
$25,000
Agape Villa Residents Association
Exercise for Healthy, Happy Living
Winnipeg
$9,050
Age & Opportunity Inc.
Provincial Elder Abuse Conference
Winnipeg
$25,000
Charleswood Senior Centre Inc.
Community Outreach Program
Winnipeg
$15,000
Gwen Sector Creative Living Centre
Cooking Up Good Health
Winnipeg
$20,000
Keewatin/Inkster Neighbourhood Resource Council Inc.
The KINector - Senior Transportation Options
Winnipeg
$8,500
L'association des résidents de l'accueil Colombien
Seniors in Motion
Winnipeg
$10,000
River Heights Community Center Inc.
River Heights Seniors' Community Center
Winnipeg
$17,200
Seven Oaks Historical Society, Inc.
Seven Oaks Neighbourhood: Ordinary People with Extraordinary Stories
Winnipeg
$20,550
Société franco-manitobaine réseau communautaire
Soyez connectés
Winnipeg
$24,500
St. James - Assiniboia Senior Centre Inc.
A Solution for Seniors Isolation
Winnipeg
$15,000
Transcona Council for Seniors Inc.
Expanding Horizons via Popular Dance
Winnipeg
$10,000
Winnipeg New Horizons Band
New Horizons Band Outreach
Winnipeg
$23,903
