Seniors have made and continue to make significant and valuable contributions to their families, communities, and workplaces. However, the pandemic had a detrimental effect on the well-being of seniors, limiting their ability to socialize. 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, Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera, announced an investment of $118,676 for 7 community-based projects in Nickel Belt / Greater Sudbury. 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).

Recipients this year include:

• Rheal Belisle Culture Centre - $24,692
• Goshenite Senior’s Service - $25,000
• Municipality of Killarney - $14,819
• Courtepointières de la Rivière des Français - $25,000
• Valley East Long-Term Care Centre Inc (Jarlette Health Services) - $9,831
• National Pensioners Federation - $19,334

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:

• supporting healthy ageing through engaging social, physical, and artistic activities
• preventing senior abuse such as through financial literacy training, fraud prevention training, and digital literacy sessions
• celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion by promoting intergenerational mentoring, serving vulnerable groups and holding peer support sessions;; and
• helping the majority of seniors who want to age in their own homes to do so by providing practical supports.

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. Since 2016, Nickel Belt / Greater Sudbury organization’s and communities have received over $300,000 in New Horizons for Seniors funding.

Quotes

“Promoting healthy ageing and empowering seniors is essential in building inclusive, age-friendly communities. Every year, the New Horizons for Seniors program plays a crucial role in enhancing seniors' quality of life by providing funding for thousands of projects across Canada. 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 across the country can lead fulfilling lives and remain engaged members of our communities.” – Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera

“When seniors have the support and care they need, our communities thrive. The New Horizons for Seniors program continues to play a positive role in improving the quality of life of for seniors and making Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury more age friendly. Thank you to all organizations for submitting your project and being an ally to seniors!” -   Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Official Languages

“The New Horizons for Senior’s funding has been used to purchase Java Memory Care, for those living with dementia, and Java mentorship, a recreational therapeutic activity program that is intended to reach residents who typically are difficult to engage and who don’t attend programs offered in residential settings. The objective of this project is to implement a peer support and peer mentoring program among residents over the period of a year to impact social isolation and loneliness and thereby improve quality of life. Using a variety of components in the program (themes, photography, music, readings and the talking stick), makes for a highly participatory group connecting with one another.” Deb Lines, Regional Programs Manager, Jarlette Health Services

Quick Facts

• Seniors are one of Canada’s fastest-growing population groups. They will represent almost 25% of the population by 2051 and could reach close to 11 million people within 15 years.
• The New Horizons for Seniors Program is a federal grants and contributions program whose goal is to support projects that help seniors stay active and engaged in the community. Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding.
• Since its inception, NHSP has funded more than 36,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, with the Government of Canada having invested a total of more than $780 million.
• Program funding supports projects that engage seniors in their communities and address one or more of the program’s five objectives: social participation, volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse and providing capital assistance.
• Every year, organizations are invited to apply for NHSP community-based funding through a call for proposals. The projects announced today were approved as part of a call for proposals that was launched on September 21, 2022 and closed on November 1, 2022.
• Budget 2022 proposed an additional $20 million over two years, with $10M in 2022-2023 and $10M in 2023-2024, to support more projects that improve the quality of life of seniors and help them continue to participate fully in their communities.

Related Documents

Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program