Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

Government of Canada Launches Call for Proposals for Seniors’ Projects

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 20, 2011) – The Government of Canada is seeking projects that will enable seniors to participate in social activities, pursue active lives and contribute to their communities.

Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), launched a call for proposals under the enhanced New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).

“Seniors are valuable members of society who have a diversity of skills, knowledge and experiences,” said Minister Finley. “The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan announces enhancements to the New Horizons for Seniors Program that will improve quality of life and expand opportunities for older Canadians.”

“As baby boomers retire, they are looking for new and meaningful ways to stay active in their communities,” added Minister of State Wong. “By tapping into their own life experiences, seniors are helping to educate others and improve the quality of life in their neighbourhoods.”

The program has been enhanced to allow a broader range of organizations to develop a greater variety of projects that meet the changing needs of communities. Through this call for proposals, the program will support community-based projects that address one or more of the program’s five objectives: promoting volunteerism, mentoring, elder abuse awareness and social participation, and providing capital assistance for new or existing projects and programs for seniors.

Organizations can apply for grants of up to $25,000. The application deadline is September 16, 2011.

The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, Budget 2011, provides an additional $10 million over two years to the NHSP, bringing the program’s 2011–2012 budget to $45 million.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For more information on the program enhancements, please visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.

Backgrounder

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 are making a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Since its beginning, the Program has funded more than 8,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.

In the past, the program has funded projects through three separate funding streams: Capital Assistance, Community Participation and Leadership and Elder Abuse Awareness. Rather than fund projects through these three distinct streams, the program will now support those that meet one or more of the program’s five objectives. The five objectives are:

1) promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;

2) engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;

3) expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;

4) supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and

5) providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

As in previous years, community-based projects will be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding per year for projects that meet one or more of the program objectives.

Organizations can also apply for pan-Canadian project funding when there is an open call for proposals. This funding is for larger projects that can provide support for networking, developing and delivering education and awareness activities, and creating tools and resources to help seniors protect themselves from elder abuse, including fraud and financial abuse. Eligible projects may receive up to $250,000 per year in grant or contribution funding for up to a maximum of three years.

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