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Government of Canada invests in projects helping to keep East Vancouver seniors active, engaged and informed
April 8, 2015 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced today that seniors in East Vancouver will soon have new opportunities to keep active, engaged and informed. The Government of Canada has approved 13 New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) community-based projects in East Vancouver, for a total of more than $226,000 in funding. These projects, approved through the NHSP’s 2014–2015 Call for Proposals, will make it possible for seniors to play a major role in a wide range of local programs and activities.
Minister Wong made this announcement today at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, which is receiving $25,000 in NHSP funding for its Food Culture Share Project. The project aims to offer workshops and classes that will engage and educate senior participants from different cultural backgrounds about nutrition and sustainable food practices.
Other East Vancouver projects being funded focus on educational, recreational and outreach activities that promote seniors leadership and participation, as well as help provide guidance and support to community members from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Quick Facts
- Under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), up to $25,000 in grant funding can be provided to eligible organizations for community-based projects that are led or inspired by seniors.
- Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 13,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
- Economic Action Plan 2014 increased funding for the NHSP by $5 million per year, for a total of $50 million provided to this program annually.
- Since 2006, $2.8 billion in annual tax relief has been provided to seniors and pensioners.
- The Government of Canada launched the Government of Canada Action for Seniors report in September 2014. The report is a new information resource highlighting federal programs and services that can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers. It was created in collaboration with more than 22 federal departments and agencies. The report can be found on Canada.ca/Seniors.
Quotes
“I am proud of our Government’s work to support seniors, and I am proud to work with organizations in East Vancouver that strive to enrich the lives of seniors through the meaningful projects they undertake with passion and resolve.”
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)
“Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and the seniors we serve are especially grateful and honoured for the funding that we have been awarded through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program grant. The community-based, multicultural programming offered at Kiwassa brings together elders from all over the world to learn, interact and participate in leadership, life skills, health promotion and education programs and activities. Seniors involved in New Horizons projects are providing significant knowledge, experience and leadership, and their contributions deeply enhance the fabric of our local communities.”
– Nancy McRitchie, Executive Director, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House