Seniors in Weymouth will benefit from much-needed renovations in support of projects and events in their community

WEYMOUTH, NS, Sept. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Seniors in Weymouth have received financial support to conduct facility renovations in support of their projects and events, today announced Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Investing in Canada's communities is not only about creating good jobs and encouraging clean economic growth. It is also about building stronger communities. Partnerships with local governments, institutions and organizations are vital to deliver change and improve the lives of seniors.

The Weymouth New Horizons Club has recieved $6,300 in funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). By investing in renovations to the roof, windows, floor, ceiling and doors, this funding will allow new and existing senior activities on elder abuse to continue.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is providing approximately $35 million in New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) funding for close to 1,850 community-based projects approved through the NHSP 2015–2016 Call for Proposals.
• Eligible organizations can receive up to $25,000 in NHSP funding for community-based projects that are led or inspired by seniors.
• Since 2004, the NHSP has funded close to 17,800 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, with a total Government of Canada investment of more than $360 million.

Quotes
"Through the many community-based projects we support each year, our government helps provide seniors with unique opportunities to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others in their community. Initiatives such as this highlight our commitment to the wellbeing of seniors and strengthen the fabric of our society through partnerships."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Canada

"Our government is committed to ensuring that Canadian seniors can get involved in community activities that meet their needs and interests, tap their collective resources and experiences, and promote their participation. I commend the Weymouth New Horizons Club for their hard work in supporting activities that educate and inspire seniors to work within their community and raise awareness of elder abuse."
– Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova

Associated Links
Canada.ca/Seniors
Funding: New Horizons for Seniors

Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook

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 per year per organization in grant funding.

Close to 1,850 projects across Canada were approved through the NHSP 2015–2016 Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects and are now in progress.

The NHSP 2015–2016 Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects closed on July 10, 2015. It invited 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.

It is anticipated that the NHSP 2016–2017 Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects will be launched in spring 2016. For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

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 submitted an impact plan describing the roles they and their project partners would play in addressing the important issue of social isolation among seniors by using collaborative approaches that place an emphasis on measurable results.

Successful projects are up to three years in duration and are receiving funding between $150,000 and $750,000. More than $24.3 million (more than $8.1 million per year over the next three years) will be made available for pan-Canadian projects funded through the 2015–2016 NHSP Call for Proposals.

For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559 , [email protected]; Jason Deveau, Office of the Member of Parliament, West Nova, 902-742-6831, [email protected]