Canadians deserve to age with dignity. That comes down to choice, affordability, inclusion, and community. The New Horizons for Seniors Program creates those opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities.
Today, Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for the Yukon, on behalf of Canada’s Minister for Seniors, Joanne Thompson, announced an investment of $315,467 for 14 community-based projects in the Yukon. These projects will help seniors stay active, informed and socially connected in their community. This funding was awarded through the 2023-2024 call for proposals for community-based projects through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
This program supports a large variety of enriching projects across the territory, allowing seniors the opportunity to engage in creative endeavours such as music composition, book making, and French theatre workshops. Additionally, they can participate in a wide range of social activities, including game nights, cultivating a community garden, and intergenerational events with youth – all aimed at fostering social inclusion and community bonding.
As part of the 2023–24 NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects, organizations were encouraged to apply for funding to deliver projects that support the national priorities for this cycle:
- supporting healthy aging;
- preventing senior abuse;
- celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion; and
- supporting financial security.
These projects further support the Government’s work to help Canadian seniors age with dignity and choice. This work also includes the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which has already helped more than 1.5 million Canadians received care including seniors, because no one should have to choose between taking care of their teeth and putting food on the table.
Quotes
“Everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to activities and community supports that fit their lifestyle. Seniors,want to be active members in their communities. New Horizons is one o
f those great federal programs that is able to reach seniors where they live. That is why our government supports projects that give seniors the opportunity to be active members of their community.”
– Minister of Seniors, Joanne Thompson
“Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are dedicated to empowering Yukon seniors to lead vibrant lives where they can share knowledge, skills and their experience to the benefit of others.”
– MP Brendan Hanley, Whitehorse, Yukon
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 and would have started by March 2024.
Organization Common Name
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Nom usuel de l'organismeProject Title
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Titre du projetProject Summary
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Sommaire du projetAmount of Funding Agreed
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Montant du financement accordéYukon Women in Music Association Music Unites: Seniors to Seniors Seniors involved with the organization will produce music jamming platforms to bring together seniors from diverse groups to promote healthy ageing, while celebrating diversity. $21,774 Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre Intergenerational Digital Storytelling with Kwanlin Dün Seniors involved with the organization will participate in a Digital Storytelling Workshop to promote knowledge sharing, intergenerational mentoring, reflection, creativity, and social inclusion. $25,000 Town of Faro Seniors Lives Enhanced Seniors involved with the organization will participate in a variety of activities provided by the municipality to promote social participation. $25,000 Association franco-yukonnaise Bien se préparer aux urgences Les aînés qui soutiennent l’organisme vont participer à la création d’une pièce de théâtre radiophonique sur la préparation des mesures d’urgence pour supporter la participation et inclusion sociale. $25,000 Boys and Girls Club of Yukon Intergenerational Mentorship & Volunteerism Seniors involved with the organization will engage in activities, mentorship and volunteerism to support socialization and sharing of traditional practice, knowledge and language with community youth. $20,000 Golden Age Society Appliance Replacement, Storage Shed, Purchase of Games Seniors involved with the organization will purchase a fridge, range, dishwasher, and shed for seniors to continue to use the facility for playing games, volunteering, and providing meals for rentals. $19,374 Yukon Order of Pioneers Whitehorse Lodge No. 2 Yukon Pioneer Oral History Seniors involved with the organization will interview, record, and present oral histories about senior pioneer contributions to promote social participation and inclusion and healthy ageing. $19,193 Bethany Church Seniors Gardening Group Seniors involved with the organization will participate in a gardening program with youth to plant, grow and distribute food grown to promote healthy ageing and intergenerational mentoring. $25,000 Liard Aboriginal Women's Society Preserve Cultural Identity - Recording our Traditional Language Seniors involved with the project will engage by recording Kaska language through mentorship with youth to preserve Kaska traditions, traditional stories, songs, and practices. $17,500 Northern Cultural Expressions Society Elders as Cultural Mentors Seniors involved with the organization will build and strengthen relationships with youth, teaching and sharing knowledge and wisdom to reduce isolation and have positive influence in the community. $25,000 Village of Carmacks Youth & Elder Volunteer Community Collaboration Seniors involved with the organization will participate in intergenerational workshops to promote inclusion and raise awareness of elder abuse, along with a community painting project and dinner. $17,626 Marsh Lake Community Society Rural Community Recreation for Seniors Seniors involved with the organization will participate in activities to engage seniors socially and physically to combat social isolation. $25,000 Tagish Community Centre Seniors Programming Seniors involved with the organization will take part in game nights, workshops, breakfasts, monthly dinners to increase social participation and inclusion. $25,000 Yukon Literacy Coalition Books from Scratch Seniors involved with the organization will take part in a book making program 'Books from Scratch' to promote new skill and an outlet for expression. $25,000