OTTAWA, ONTARIO, March 15, 2010—Seniors will have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to their communities thanks to Government of Canada funding for 842 New Horizons for Seniors Program projects.
The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors), made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today in Ottawa.
“The Government of Canada supports seniors. That’s why we’re investing in local projects that encourage seniors to be engaged in their communities,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Seniors helped build our great country. We all benefit when older Canadians share their diverse skills, knowledge and experience with communities from coast to coast to coast.”
Projects funded under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program 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. Total funding announced for these 842 projects is more than $15.8 million.
“It is important that seniors remain active in their communities,” said Minister Finley. “That is why our government has undertaken numerous initiatives to help seniors make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of those around them.”
Minister of State Ablonczy made the announcement at L’Arche Ottawa, which received funding for its Community Participation and Leadership project. Through this project, seniors will be involved in planning a calendar of events and coordinating activities to reduce the social isolation of seniors in Southwest Ottawa.
On March 1, 2010, the latest call for proposals under the Community Participation and Leadership stream of the New Horizons for Seniors Program was launched.
The application deadline for all of Canada, except Quebec, is April 16, 2010. In Quebec, the Government of Canada intends to launch a call for proposals for both the Community Participation and Leadership and Capital Assistance funding streams in spring 2010. To find out more about this upcoming call, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.
With two additional components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program—Capital Assistance and Elder Abuse Awareness—the overall budget of the Program is $35 million per year.
Budget 2010 committed $10 million over two years in increased funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The enhanced funding will support projects that focus on volunteering among seniors and raising awareness of financial abuse of seniors.
Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 6,000projects across Canada, helping seniors to use their leadership, energy and skills to benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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 total budget for the Program is $35 million per year.
The Program 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 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.
- Capital Assistance funding (up to $25,000 in funding): 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 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.
Funding Breakdown by Province and Territory
