May 16, 2015 – Galiano Island, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada
Seniors on Galiano Island will benefit from financial support for a local organization that helps reduce social isolation. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).
Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Galiano Club will receive over $23,000. This funding will allow the Galiano Club to purchase kitchen equipment that will enable it to host intergenerational community dinners. The Club will also organize volunteer drivers to help isolated seniors attend these events. In addition, the Club will produce a guide to help other remote communities create similar programs.
Under the New Horizons for Seniors Program, up to $25,000 in grant funding can be provided to eligible organizations for community-based projects that are led or inspired by seniors. Since 2006, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded more than 13,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. To help hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
“Our Government is proud to support seniors in communities across Canada through lowering taxes and investing in meaningful initiatives such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program. By partnering with local organizations, we can help seniors stay active, engaged and informed.”
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)
“Our Government recognizes the valuable contribution seniors have made to our society and the economy. By supporting projects like the one with Galiano Club, we are ensuring that seniors, including those on Galiano Island, maintain a good quality of life and can continue to be active members of their communities.”
– The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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The New Horizons for Seniors Program 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 program, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others. New Horizons for Seniors Program funding is targeted to community-based projects, pan-Canadian projects and pilot projects that focus on issues such as social isolation and intergenerational learning.
Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year per organization in grant funding.
Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program 2014–2015 Call for Proposals, over 1,850 community-based projects were approved.
Pan-Canadian projects provide support to help seniors protect themselves from elder abuse, including financial abuse and fraud abuse. These projects enable community members to better recognize elder abuse in all its forms and improve the quality of life, safety and security of seniors. Projects focus on developing tools, resources and promising practices that can be adapted and shared across communities, regions or Canada. These projects are eligible to receive up to $750,000 in funding for up to three years.
Pilot project funding provides support to help address seniors’ isolation by establishing better social support networks and resources, and initiating community interventions. It also supports intergenerational learning projects that help seniors develop new interests and share their knowledge and experience with others. These pilot projects are receiving up to $100,000 in federal funding, 50 percent of which is being matched with funding from other sources, over a maximum of 24 months.
For more information on the New Horizons for Seniors Program, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.
