Ontario Keeping Seniors Healthy, Active and Connected
Ontario Keeping Seniors Healthy, Active and Connected
January 19, 2023
Seniors Community Grants Supports Senior’s Programs in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill
Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill — The Ontario government is investing in seniors of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill by funding $91,590 into projects that will help seniors stay safe, fit, and socially connected with the Seniors Community Grants.
Recipients in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill include:
- Canadian Senior Cooperation Association: $24,680 for the delivery of weekly sessions over an 8-month period to seniors. The Health and Happiness in Senior Years speaker series will include virtual technology education, virtual exercise classes, virtual elder abuse lectures to keep seniors informed and engaged.
- Formerly Cpx 139 Inc/ Playforever: $17,500 for the delivery of virtual and in-person workshops to isolated older adults in the York and Toronto region. Topics will focus on physical mental health and wellness education. Participants will enhance their networking skills through a combination of methods to stay connected.
- Toronto Asian Art Museum: $24,800 for bi-weekly online programs that will offer 7 mental health lectures, 2 arts appreciation exhibitions, and 6 painting workshops that will run from August 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023.
- York Region Food Network: $24,610 for a project that will deliver 15 interactive workshops to 250 participants aged 55 and over in the Aurora area. The “Garden to table” project will offer gardening, cooking and art workshops that will enhance skill building and reduce social isolation for seniors.
“Seniors Community Grants are keeping our seniors fit, active, healthy and socially connected close to home, in their communities,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “Our government is proud to invest in these projects with local organizations to meet the needs of seniors, provide the supports seniors need and deserve that also help to battle social isolation.”
“I’m so pleased to be here to celebrate this major investment from our government. Social isolation is a significant issue in senior communities across our province, and the seniors in my riding of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill are not exempt,” said Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora – Oak Ridges – Richmond Hill. “The seniors in our communities are our moms, dads, grandmothers, grandfathers, the people who shaped us into who we are, and they deserve the best services when it is our turn to take care of them.”
“I am happy to join Minister Raymond Cho and MPP Michael Parsa to announce these investments from our government. With an ever-increasing number of seniors in our community, it is crucial that we find ways to engage people as they age. These investments make a big difference in the lives of Ontario’s older residents here in Aurora – Oak Ridges -Richmond Hill,” said Daisy Wai, MPP for Richmond Hill. “Seniors Community Grants provide opportunities for our older adults to stay connected and keep active in the community.”
“We are extremely grateful for SCG’s generous grant that is supporting TAAM to grow and connect with our community, especially with seniors,” said Jun Bao, Director of Toronto Asian Art Museum. “All the activities at TAAM are designed to inspire passions about Asian culture and history, providing more lovely in person experience for all social groups.”
These projects are part of the 305 Seniors Community Grants investing into communities across Ontario this year. Since 2018, Ontario has funded 1249 community-based projects and invested almost $22 million dollars in Seniors Community Grants that have kept seniors fit, active, healthy and connected while helping to end social isolation and combat ageism.
QUICK FACTS
- The Seniors Community Grants Program provides funding ranging from $1,000 up to $25,000 for local projects.
- Ontario’s Seniors are the province’s fastest growing demographic, and by 2023, there will be 3 million Ontarians over the age of 65