Minister Hajdu highlights continued commitment to helping seniors

LADYSMITH, BC, Aug. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - Seniors have a wealth of knowledge, skills and experiences that make a difference in the lives of others. The Government of Canada encourages seniors to participate in and contribute to the prosperity of the country.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, today announced, funding in the amount of $22,644 under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) to make improvements to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 171 building allowing seniors to attend activities such as line dancing, cribbage and art groups. The estimated number of seniors and non-seniors who will benefit from this project is close to 500.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 171 has been funded four times since 2015 and received $64,640 for their projects funded through the NHSP from the Government of Canada to support their ongoing work to help seniors in British Columbia.

The NHSP promotes positive aging by supporting seniors' volunteerism and encouraging seniors to play an active role in their communities. This popular program enhances senior's social well-being and enables seniors to maintain social ties and share their knowledge, skills and experience with others.

Quote

"The Government of Canada supports Canadian seniors, including those who are veterans, through initiatives like the New Horizons for Seniors Program which promotes social inclusion, positive aging and seniors' well-being. The Royal Canadian Legion 171 plays an important role in supporting seniors, their families and the community."

? The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and promoting seniors' health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.
• The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) supports the Government of Canada's overarching social goals to enhance the quality of life and promote the full participation of all individuals, including seniors, in all aspects of Canadian society, by supporting initiatives that engage seniors and address seniors' issues.
• The NHSP supports projects led or inspired by seniors that make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. 
• The NHSP provides funding to organizations that help ensure seniors can benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life in their communities through active living and participation in social activities. 
• The NHSP fosters social inclusion and the engagement of seniors by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed through projects led or inspired by seniors that make a difference in the lives of others and their communities.
• Since 2004, the NHSP has approved close to 21,600 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, with a total Government of Canada investment of approximately $452.5 million.

Associated Links

Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program ? Community-based Projects 
Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program ? Pan-Canadian Projects 
New Horizons for Seniors Program

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Backgrounder

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 are:
• 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 projects and pan-Canadian projects.

Community-based projects

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 in grant funding and, as of this year, up to $5,000 in new small grants funding for organizations that have not received funding within the last five years. Approximately $35 million is provided each year for community-based projects.

The NHSP 2018-2019 call for proposals for community-based projects closed on June 22, 2018. Organizations were invited to apply for funding of up to $25,000 or up to $5,000 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.

Approximately 1,905 projects across Canada were approved through the NHSP 2017-2018 call for proposals for Community-based Projects and 1,885 of these are now in progress.

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program ? community-based projects, where the Program's priorities can also be found in the applicant guide.

Pan-Canadian projects

Pan-Canadian projects test and share best practices across the country and replicate interventions that have worked well in addressing seniors' issues.

Projects that have received funding through the NHSP 2015?2016 call for proposals for pan-Canadian projects are using a collective impact approach where project partners work together to achieve measurable results in addressing social isolation among seniors.

Funded projects are up to three years in duration and are receiving financial support of up to $750,000.

More than $21 million is being made available for pan-Canadian projects funded through the NHSP 2018?2019 call for proposals.

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program ? pan-Canadian projects.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada