July 29, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOURIS, Prince Edward Island-The Silver Threads Senior Citizen Club, which has served the Souris community for 34 yea ars, received upgrades to make the facility more user-friendly thanks to funding from the federal and provincial governments. This funding provided materials and labour to build wheelchair-accessible washrooms, install windows and doors, conduct general r epairs, and replace furniture and appliances and dishes. This funding was announced today by Minister Peter MacKay, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, along with the Honourable Allan Campbell, Mi nister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Minister MacKay. "The project, with Silver Threads Senior Citizen Club, will not only enable the continuation of programs and activities that play an important role in ensuring quality of life for seniors, but also allows four local individuals to gain the skills, knowledge, and experience they n eed to find work."
"Seniors are active and vital members of our communities, and I am pleased to support this project, which will enhance the facility and enable it to better serve the needs of seniors in the Souris area," said Minister Campbell. "Strengthening programs and services in communities to serve all its citizens is a priority of the provincial government."
Service Canada, under the Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market D evelopment Agreement, provided $59,346 in overhead and participant benefits to enable four local individuals to gain hands-on construction experience by completing renovations to the seniors club. The Province of Prince Edward Island provided $10,000 thro ugh the Community Development Bureau.
Minister MacKay also announced $9,735 in funding under Human Resources and Social Development's New Horizons for Seniors Program. This funding is provided under the Capital Assistance com ponent of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, and it benefits seniors by improving the facilities and equipment needed for them to stay involved in their communities. The Silver Threads Senior Citizen Club will replace furniture and appliances, which wi ll encourage new membership and allow for the continuation of current programs and activities. This will benefit close to 150 participants, many of whom are seniors in the community.
"We are very happy with how the whole project came togeth er," said Helen MacDonald, past president of the Silver Threads Seniors Club. "Our clubhouse is just beautiful now. We are very grateful for this funding support."
These projects reflect the Government of Canada's commitment to creating a strong economy for all Canadians. Through its Advantage Canada plan, the Government is building on Canada's strengths and gaining a global competitive advantage by reducing taxes for all Canadians, increasing competiti on in the marketplace, and building modern infrastructure.
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however t hey choose-by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY)
Media inquiries:
Media Relations Office
Service Canada and Human Resources and Social Development
819-994-5 559
Wayne MacKinnon
Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture
and Rural Development
902-368-4888
Public inquiries:
1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1-800-926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca
Backgrounder
Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement
The Canada/Prince Edward Is land Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) is a co-managed agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island. Under the agreement, the federal and provincial governments manage six labour market development program s and services in Prince Edward Island . These programs and services are funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by Service Canada.
LMDA funding for the Silver Threads Senior Citizen Club was provided through Job Creation Partnerships. The Job Creation Partnerships employment benefit supports projects aimed at giving insured participants opportunities to gain meaningful work experience. At the end of the projects, clients will have recent work experience to add to their résumés. This experience, together with the networking opportunities available while on a project, increases participants' chances of successfully finding long-term employment.
New Horizons for Seniors Program
Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program helps to ensure that seniors are able to actively contribute to and benefit from the quality of life in their communities.
The Program now offers three types of funding to organizations:
- Community Participation and Leadership funding (up to $25,000 in funding): This funding supports community-based projects across Cana da . 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.
- Capital Assistance funding (up to $25,000 in fu nding): This funding helps non‑profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors' programs and activities. It enables seniors to continue to lead active lives by participating in existing programs and activities in their communities.
- Elder Abuse Awareness funding (up to $250,000 in funding annually over a maximum of three years): This funding helps non-profit organizations and coalitions raise awareness of the abuse of older adults on a na tional 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.
