NICKEL BELT- GREATER SUDBURY –  Yesterday at a community event in Killarney, MP Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages announced Federal funding for two initiatives. He made these announcements on behalf of the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, and the honourable Steve MacKinnon, Minister of Labour and Seniors.

The Killarney Needlework and Quilting Club received $13,134 through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The Club is a group of 8-10 seniors who hold a weekly sewing and needleworking circle. They create projects to donate to residents suffering from critical illnesses, make items for those in need, and pursue their own personal projects. During quilting workshops, instructors train current members so they can mentor participants who are interested in learning sewing, crocheting, and quilting. The funding will provide them with supplies to sustain these activities for this year and the next. This includes procuring supplies for quilting, new sewing machines and funding two quilt workshops in October and November.

The municipality has also been granted $28,605 through the Enabling Accessibility Fund for various projects including four new accessible doors. Two will be installed at the Veterans Memorial Hall washroom, which is highly anticipated, as the hall is frequently used by seniors for various activities such as bi-weekly lunches, needling and sewing workshops, and exercise programs. The other two doors will be installed in the sports hut, located next to the curling rink, which serves as a changing room for players and others using the facility. Additionally, they will be renovating the women’s washroom. The projects are expected to be completed by the end of October.

Both the New Horizons for Seniors Program and the Enabling Accessibility Fund continue to make a positive impact and enhance the quality of life for residents across Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury and the country.

Quotes

“Through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, our government is proud to support those community champions who, project by project, are creating a Canada for everyone, where barrier-free access and disability inclusion are the norm.”– Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera

"The New Horizons for Seniors Program and the Enabling Accessibility Fund are transformative initiatives that empower our rural communities. They not only enhance the quality of life for our seniors but also ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can fully participate and thrive in our society. I look forward to continued work with Mayor Reider, council, and residents to advance top priorities in Killarney" – Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages

 “These projects reflect our commitment to fostering an inclusive and vibrant Killarney, where every resident can thrive and connect. Mr. Serré and the federal government have consistently supported Killarney, offering invaluable assistance through various funding initiatives. This particular investment will greatly enhance accessibility within our community and help our seniors preserve Indigenous traditions through the quilting workshops.” – Michael Reider, Mayor of Killarney

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 community-based stream is a federal grants program whose goal is to invest in projects that help seniors stay active and engaged in the community. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding.
• Program funding supports projects that address one or more of the Program’s five objectives: promoting volunteering among seniors and other generations, engaging seniors through the mentoring of others, expanding awareness of elder abuse, supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors and providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors.
• Project proposals are targeted to vulnerable senior populations, including Indigenous seniors, seniors with disabilities, members of racialized and newcomer groups, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, low-income seniors, veterans, members of official language minority communities and people who primarily speak languages other than English or French.
• Since its inception in 2004, the Program has funded around 40,000 local projects and broader-reaching initiatives in hundreds of communities across Canada, with the Government of Canada having invested a total of more than $850 million.
• 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 August 1, 2023, and closed on September 28, 2023.
• The 2022 Canada Survey on Disability found that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and over—or about 8 million persons—report as having at least one disability.
• The Enabling Accessibility Fund is a federal grants and contributions program that supports infrastructure projects across Canada that improve the accessibility, safety and inclusion of persons with disabilities in communities and the labour market. The small projects component of the EAF provides funding for small scale construction projects that help persons with disabilities to gain access to programs, services and employment opportunities. Over 7,600 projects have been funded under the EAF since its launch in 2007.

Related document

Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program

Backgrounder: Enabling Accessibility Fund

Media Contact:

Kaylie Dudgeon - Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré  MP Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Energy and Natural Resources an Parliamentary Secretary of Official Languages
705-507-2416
[email protected]