Minister Tassi meets with seniors in Edmonton to promote healthy aging and active participation in their communities

EDMONTON, Feb. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Seniors make significant and valuable contributions to their families, communities and work places. They helped build Canada and continue to contribute to its success. This is why the Government of Canada is committed to providing Canadian seniors with greater security and a better quality of life. 

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, visited Edmonton, Alberta where she met with seniors and other partners to hear about issues important to older Canadians. During her discussions, the Minister encouraged seniors to stay active, engaged and informed, and highlighted a number of measures the Government of Canada has taken to improve their social and economic well-being.

While in Edmonton, Minister Tassi visited the Senior Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE) and The Greater Edmonton Foundation Seniors Housing, whose projects form part of the Pan-Edmonton Group Addressing Social Isolation of Seniors (PEGASIS) collective impact plan, funded by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Pan-Canadian stream. The projects of seven organizations in total make up PEGASIS.

These organizations are working together to measurably reduce the social isolation of seniors in the Edmonton region by providing a variety of social supports, including friendly door-to-door visitor programs and telephone reassurance, information and connections to drop-in events and other community programs and services. Their projects directly support the Government of Canada's overarching goals to enhance the quality of life and promote the full participation of individuals, including seniors, in all aspects of Canadian society.

Minister Tassi concluded her day meeting with seniors at Rosedale Developments Assisted Living, Millwoods Seniors Multicultural Centre and the South Edmonton Seniors Association, the latter of which is supported by the NHSP community-based project stream. The Association offers a variety of activities and services to the community including opportunities for seniors to become or remain physically active in a safe, supportive and clean environment.

Quote

"The Government of Canada deeply values the contributions seniors make to our country. We know that when seniors can fully participate in society, everybody benefits. That is why the New Horizons for Seniors Program plays an important role in communities across Canada. By supporting projects through this program, we are taking action to ensure that seniors have a strong and active presence, are encouraged to remain involved in their communities and receive the recognition, respect and support that they deserve."
? The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors

Quick Facts

• Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada. By 2030, the number of seniors will reach 9.6 million people, representing close to one quarter of Canada's population.
• The NHSP fosters social inclusion and the engagement of seniors by encouraging seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others through projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. The NHSP has two funding streams: community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects.
• Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding and, as of this year, up to $5,000 in new small grants funding for organizations that have not received funding within the last five years.
• 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.
• Pan-Canadian project funding supports multi-year projects using collaborative and innovative approaches to increase the social inclusion of seniors.

Related products

Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program
Backgrounder: Providing seniors in Canada with greater security and a better quality of life

Associated Links

New Horizons for Seniors Program ? Engaging Seniors, Strengthening Communities
Programs and Services for Seniors
Healthy Living - Seniors

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada