Government of Canada celebrates seniors projects in northern Canada

News Release

Ottawa, Ontario, May 31, 2012—Seniors across northern Canada will soon have new opportunities to volunteer, mentor younger generations, expand awareness of elder abuse and organize renovation projects, thanks to funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).

“Our government recognizes the diversity of skills, knowledge and experience seniors contribute to our society and the economy,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Through initiatives such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are taking action to ensure that seniors maintain a high quality of life and continue as active, participating members of their communities.”

Organizations in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon will receive a total of over $700,000 for 32 projects that will encourage seniors to lead and fully participate in their communities. The Government of Canada is investing $35.6 million in almost 2 000 community-based projects across Canada as a result of the 2011–2012 call for proposals.

The NHSP continues to support seniors through a new call for proposals for community-based projects that launched on May 8 and will close on June 29, 2012, for all of Canada, except Quebec. For more information, 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):

Marian Ngo
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office

Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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Backgrounder

New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experience to the benefit of others.

The 2011–2012 community-based projects call for proposals ran from June 20, 2011, to September 16, 2011. Projects received up to $25,000 in funding and had to address one or more of the program’s five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance.

The following 11 projects received NHSP funding in the Northwest Territories:

Organization Name	Project Summary	Funding Amount
Aklavik Indian Band	The organization will help reduce social isolation of seniors by coordinating activities such as Elders’ tea, craft nights, traditional meals, storytelling and home visits.	$17,500
Community government of Gameti	The organization will purchase furniture, small appliances and supplies for existing programs and activities for seniors.	$25,000
Deninu K’ue Seniors Society	The organization will engage the community through a mentorship program where seniors/Elders can share the traditional ways of the Chipewyan people.	$24,990
Fédération franco-ténoise	The organization will teach new computer skills to seniors in three Francophone communities in the Northwest Territories.	$24,155
Gwich’in Tribal Council	The organization will host workshops where Elders from various communities will come together to brainstorm local issues and to develop solutions that can be implemented across each community.	$25,000
Hamlet of Enterprise	The organization will encourage seniors in the community to participate in gathering historical artifacts and research about the area that will be displayed in the local museum and resource information centre.	$24,880
Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk	The organization will renovate its wellness centre to provide new intergenerational programs and activities such as cooking classes and computer classes.	$25,000
K’asho Got’ine Charter Community Council	The organization will renovate their facility to provide seniors/Elders with a more suitable space to participate and lead intergenerational activities.	$25,000
K'atl'odeeche First Nation	The organization will renovate a facility where seniors/Elders participate in cultural programs, such as craft making and traditional cooking.	$25,000
Rae-Edzo Friendship Centre	The organization will hold monthly information sessions for seniors on the issue of elder abuse and to develop a committee that can respond to elder abuse.	$25,000
Town of Hay River	The organization will provide new recreational activities and fitness programs for seniors such as strength and balance classes and Tai Chi classes.	$8,591
Total		$250,116

The following eight projects received NHSP funding in Nunavut:

Organization Name	Project Summary	Funding Amount
Elders Qiqirtaq Centre	The organization will engage seniors in the community through mentoring of youth by organizing and implementing activities focused on sharing their knowledge of survival and living on the land.	$25,000
Hamlet of Arviat	The organization will support social participation and inclusion of seniors by developing a forum for seniors to meet regularly for social interaction and discussion on seniors' issues.	$25,000
Hamlet of Gjoa Haven	Seniors involved with the organization will be engaged in the community by mentoring youth in traditional ways of living, including making tents, clothing, tools and utility items.	$25,000
Hamlet of Kugluktuk	The organization will renovate their facility to provide seniors with a social gathering place to support social participation and inclusion.	$25,000
Kitikmeot Heritage Society	The organization will engage seniors in the community through the mentoring of others by teaching young women traditional language, knowledge and sewing skills.	$25,000
Municipality of Cambridge Bay Community Wellness Centre	The organization will renovate their facility to support social participation and inclusion of Elders by continuing to offer seniors' programming.	$25,000
Nunavut Literacy Council	Elders involved with the council will become more engaged in the community by mentoring young women and other Elders in a culturally based literacy program.	$25,000
Qarjuk Elders Committee	The organization will move a house to a hunting outpost to engage seniors through mentoring of others by camping there and teaching young people the Inuit ways of hunting.	$21,285
Total		$196,285

The following 13 projects received NHSP funding in Yukon:

Organization Name	Project Summary	Funding Amount
Association franco-yukonnaise	The organization will support the social participation and inclusion of seniors by developing a guide for isolated seniors, publishing a book of Yukon Francophone history, and holding weekly activities.	$24,500
Carcross Tagish First Nation	The organization will engage seniors by allowing seniors to mentor youth in the traditional clan system while producing a film of the teachings.	$8,000
Food Bank Society of Yukon	The society will remove barriers and promote volunteerism among seniors by enabling them to participate at the Food Bank through the purchase of ergonomic equipment.	$7,840
Lorne Mountain Community Association (LMCA)	The association will promote volunteerism among seniors by documenting seniors’ knowledge through new media and a newsletter.	$14,035
Mayo Seniors/Elders Advisory Association	Seniors involved with the organization will support social participation and inclusion of seniors in their community by providing a new drop-in centre and continuing to support monthly suppers, meetings and social activities.	$25,000
Recreation and Parks Association of Yukon (RPAY)	The organization will support social participation and inclusion of seniors by providing training for local leaders so they can offer fitness classes to seniors in Whitehorse and rural Yukon.	$25,000
Signpost Seniors Society	The society will replace a ramp to the facility to continue to support social inclusion through a drop-in centre, weekly lunches and educational talks.	$10,000
The Yukon Transportation Museum	The organization will renovate the facility to support social participation and inclusion of seniors by hosting monthly social events to encourage seniors to contribute to the interpretation of Yukon history.	$25,000
Town of Faro	The organization will install an outdoor Green Gym to support social participation and inclusion of seniors through recreational activities, such as exercise classes and walking groups for seniors.	$21,650
Village of Teslin	The organization will construct an accessible washroom and purchase new equipment to support social participation and inclusion of seniors by continuing to offer recreational and fitness activities for seniors.	$24,995
Watson Lake Historical Society	The society will promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations by gathering historic information from seniors and developing a visual display.	$16,000
Yukon Amateur Radio Association (YARA)	The organization will purchase new equipment to support the social participation and inclusion of seniors by continuing to engage them as radio operators at community events.	$23,873
Yukon Artists at Work Co-operative Ltd.	The organization will engage seniors in the community through mentoring of others by facilitating workshops where seniors will mentor other seniors in the visual arts.	$25,000
Total		$250,893

Since its beginning, the Program has funded more than 10 400 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.

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Government of Canada celebrates seniors projects in northern Canada

News Release

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