Seniors have made and continue to make significant and valuable contributions to their families, communities, and workplaces. The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting local organizations that empower seniors, promote engagement within their communities, and contribute to their health and well-being.
Today, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, announced an investment of over $80,000 for four community-based projects in the city. These projects will help seniors stay active, informed and socially connected in their community. This funding was awarded through the most recent call for proposals for community-based projects through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
In Budget 2022, the Government proposed an additional $20 million over two years, with $10M in 2022-23 and $10M in 2023-24, for an expanded NHSP to support more projects that improve the quality of life of seniors and help them to continue to participate fully in their communities.
As part of the 2022-23 NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects, organizations were invited to apply for funding that created opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities and reflect the national priorities:
Through a simplified application process, organizations submitted project proposals to help seniors move beyond the pandemic and continue to play important roles in their communities.
This announcement builds on the Government’s commitment to improving the quality of life of seniors. In Budget 2023, the Government of Canada announced the creation of a new Canadian Dental Care Plan. This initiative aims to provide vital dental care coverage for uninsured Canadians who need it the most. By the end of 2023, seniors, people with disabilities, and children under 18 will be covered under that plan. Budget 2023 also introduced a one-time Grocery Rebate to help offset the cost of groceries, which will go into the pockets of seniors on July 5th.
Quotes
“Promoting healthy ageing and empowering seniors is essential in building an inclusive, age-friendly Sault Ste. Marie. Every year, the New Horizons for Seniors program plays a crucial role in enhancing seniors' quality of life by providing funding for local projects. Those initiatives offer hands-on activities that enable seniors to remain active, expand their social network, engage in learning experiences, and age in their own homes and communities. By participating in these projects, seniors in our city can lead fulfilling lives and remain engaged members of our communities.”
– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament Sault Ste. Marie
"Since 2016, we have been fortunate to receive four of these grants, and they have brought about a transformation that has touched the lives of all 440 residents at OFRA. This grant will go toward installing swings across our grounds, which have enhanced social engagement between residents and family members, the blissful effect of being outdoors on mood and relaxation, which is ideal for meditation and positively impacts mental health and emotional well-being."
– Paul Belair, CEO, The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association
“We are grateful for the support of MP Sheehan and the Federal Government to empower seniors and promote healthy aging. Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), our team at Extendicare Van Daele administers the Java Program – a peer support intervention program tailored to the cognitive needs and engagement levels of residents. The program has already improved the social participation and emotional engagement among our resident community. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Government of Canada as we continue on our mission to improve care, every day, for the seniors we serve.”
– Keith Clement, Extendicare Regional Director, Northern Ontario
"This project will add an exciting, healthy addition to our condo community and significantly enhance the quality of life for a number of our senior residents. The Project will result in the landscaping of a 1200 square foot area on the south side of our building, the installation of a cement pad, a gazebo with wheelchair access, new patio furniture, a barbecue station, raised garden boxes and the installation of a security fence and gate. The new addition will encourage outdoor social activities, bringing seniors and non-seniors together to socialize, meditate, read, prepare and eat meals and create additional opportunities for residents to visit with their children and grandchildren in a healthy outdoor environment.”
– Roger St. Jules, Secretary, Edgewater Condo Social Committee
“We are grateful to Terry Sheehan and the Federal Government for supporting our development of a partnership tourism product between the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy, and the Métis Nation of Ontario. Métis Tours is a new tourism experience to tell the Historic Sault Ste Marie Métis Community story through guided Walking and Walking/Paddling Tours that connects the new Sault Ste Marie Metis Center on John St. to the St Marys River. The Métis Tours initiative has engaged Métis Seniors throughout all areas of the program development from training to tour execution.
"Metis Seniors knowledge and life experiences about the historic and contemporary Metis community are an essential source of content for the interpretive guides. As well, Metis Seniors receive the benefit of being in social participation with a multi-generation project that highlights their Metis Community for all community members and visitors. For the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy, this partnership connects our mission of caring for the health of these Great Lakes waters. The Metis Riverlots, the family life, the fishery, the river transportation by canoe intrinsically ties the health of human life to the health of water.”
– Joanie McGuffin, Executive Director Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy
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