Government of Canada invests close to $142,000 for seniors-focused projects in Nanaimo-Cowichan Français
LADYSMITH, BC, June 26, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today announced funding of close to $142,000 for six seniors-focused community-based projects in the Nanaimo–Cowichan area of British Columbia.
Minister Wong made this announcement at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 171, in Ladysmith, which is receiving $25,000 in NHSP funding for its Handicap Access Facilities project. This project aims to upgrade facility washrooms to be wheelchair and walker accessible. These facility upgrades will enhance the Legion's capacity to provide a safer and more accommodating environment where seniors can participate in activities such as cribbage, darts, choral presentations and painting, as well as gatherings such as luncheons and dinners.
This project and five others in the area were approved through the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) 2014–2015 Call for Proposals. The Government of Canada's investment in these projects will enhance the capacity of each organization to conduct educational, recreational and outreach activities that promote seniors' leadership and participation, as well as to help provide guidance and support to community members from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Quick Facts
- 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 NHSP has funded nearly 15,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, representing a total Government of Canada investment of $350 million.
- A call for proposals for community-based projects funded through the NHSP was launched May 29, 2015, and will be open until July 10, 2015. A call for proposals for pan-Canadian projects under the NHSP was also launched at the same time and will be open until July 10, 2015. Funded pan-Canadian projects will focus on addressing social isolation among seniors.
- Since 2006, $2.8 billion in annual tax relief has been provided to seniors and pensioners.
- For a wide range of information for seniors, including details on the NHSP and the Government of Canada – Action for Seniors report, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.
- Today's announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to improve the lives of Canadians. To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit.
- The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17.
Quote
"Our Government is proud to work with the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 171, whose project, together with the others being announced, will go a long way to promoting seniors' participation in their community activities. Activities like these succeed in bringing people together in a friendly atmosphere where they can share good cheer, enjoy good company and connect through meaningful activities in their community."
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)
Associated Links
- Canada.ca/Seniors
- Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program
- Economic Action Plan 2015
- Canada.ca/taxsavings
- Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper
Backgrounder
The following organizations in Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, and Shawnigan, British Columbia are receiving funding as a result of the New Horizons for Seniors Program 2014–2015 Call for Proposals community-based projects.
| ORGANIZATION NAME |
PROJECT SUMMARY |
FUNDING AMOUNT |
| BC Forest Discovery Centre Duncan, B.C. |
The Doman Building Restoration Project aims to conduct exterior and interior restorations of a historical building to allow seniors to continue the Friends of the Forest Museum Club activities and special events and to support social participation and inclusion of seniors. |
$24,500 |
| Cowichan Lake District Seniors Association Lake Cowichan, B.C. |
The Promoting Volunteerism with Kitchen Reno project aims to involve seniors in replacing kitchen counters and cabinets and recruit new youth and senior volunteers in order to continue their affordable meals program for seniors. |
$25,000 |
| Jonanco Artisans Workshop Nanaimo, B.C. |
The Renovations and equipment upgrades to Jonanco Arts Workshops project aims to replace their facility's furnace and upgrade the electrical system. They will also purchase a downdraft table and diamond band saw to continue to offer seniors mentoring in creating various arts forms and to engage seniors in mentoring others in their community. |
$24,378 |
| Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 171 Ladysmith, B.C. |
The Handicap Access Facilities project aims to make washrooms more accessible to allow seniors to continue activities such as cribbage, darts, choral presentations and painting, as well as gatherings such as luncheons and dinners, and in order to support social participation and inclusion of seniors. |
$25,000 |
| Royal Canadian Legion – Malahat District, Branch 134 Shawnigan, B.C. |
The Repair Sub Floor and Installation project aims to repair and recover all flooring and put up a storage shed to allow seniors to continue activities such as socials, games, dances, meals, events and jam sessions and to support social participation and inclusion of seniors. |
$22,316 |
| Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre Nanaimo, B.C. |
The Passing on Knowledge project aims to support social participation and inclusion of seniors by involving seniors and Elders in the community to share their knowledge and skills through social, recreational and cultural teachings to community youth. |
$20,667 |
| TOTAL |
$141,861 |
|
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 experiences to the benefit of others.
The objectives of the NHSP:
- promoting volunteerism among seniors;
- engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
- expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
- supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
- providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.
NHSP funding supports community-based and pan-Canadian projects.
The annual NHSP Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects is open until July 10, 2015 and is currently inviting organizations to apply for funding of up to $25,000 for projects that help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues. More information on how to apply is available at Canada.ca/Seniors.
The 2015–2016 NHSP Call for Proposals for Pan-Canadian Projects is open until July 10, 2015 and is currently inviting organizations to apply for funding for projects that will help to reduce social isolation among seniors by using collaborative approaches that place an emphasis on measurable results. Through this call, organizations are eligible to receive between $150,000 and $750,000 for projects up to three years in duration. The Government of Canada is partnering with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and its Innoweave initiative to support the development, implementation and scaling of these collaborative approaches to reduce social isolation among seniors. Applicants can contact Innoweave through its Seniors SI program to obtain support and to learn more about how organizations can work together to address social isolation. More information on how to apply for funding is also available at Canada.ca/Seniors.
For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.
SOURCE Canada's Economic Action Plan
Justin Wood, Office of the Minister of State (Seniors), 613-852-3761; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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