Kamloops - Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced federal support for five prominent Seniors Organizations under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

“Seniors are valuable members of society who contribute a diversity of skills, knowledge and experience to their communities,” said McLeod. “Through the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is supporting these five local projects with $97,912. This will enable seniors to contribute to their communities through social participation and active living.”

The five projects that received funding are as follows:

The Aboriginal Agricultural Education Society of British Columbia received funding for their Field to Plate Garden Project, in which Elders will volunteer and lead cultural workshops on wild harvesting to share their knowledge on indigenous plants that are used for natural remedies, herbs and as a source of food. “Elders hold the knowledge of gardening in our communities and will share this knowledge with the next two generations. We need to return to the more natural foods from the gardens and leave the convenient processed foods, this will be better for us health wise,” said Harold Aljam of the Aboriginal Agricultural Education Society of BC.
 
“With the support of the New Horizon’s Program, this new Community Garden will reach out to the senior community to enhance their food security, physical activity, healthy eating and inclusion. Seniors will provide leadership in designing the new gardens and sharing their knowledge and skills with others within our community,” said Karen Rosenke, Community Development Manager of Interior Community Services.

“The Secwepemc Cultural Education Society (SCES) is both excited and appreciative for the opportunity to enhance the lives of Elders in remote areas of the Secwepemc territory through funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program.  This funding will be used to organize video conferencing in three of our remote bands so that the Elders will be able to connect with each other and youth.  This will also help alleviate feelings of isolation for the Elders who will have the means to share their stories and experiences with youth learning about the language, history and/or culture of the Secwepemc people.   With the help of volunteers, the Elders will learn how to use computer technology, increasing their chances to connect with others.  We at SCES understand the importance of providing our Elders with opportunities to share their traditional knowledge through innovative techniques and the funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program will allow us to do so,” said George Kaliszewski, Executive Director, Secwepemc Cultural Education Society.


“With the help and support of the New Horizon’s Program Desert Gardens Community Centre is able to offer new programs that enable seniors to interact and impart their knowledge, bridging the gap between youth and seniors in the community. This program will allow us to promote physical wellbeing of seniors in our community,” said Lorraine Keetch of the Seniors Community Centre Society.

“The Centre for Seniors Information ‘ABCs of Fraud Program’ offers seniors and their families valuable awareness and prevention information regarding many kinds of frauds and scams that specifically target our senior population. This New Horizons for Seniors Funding will provide valuable resources for the ABCs of Fraud Program and training for volunteer speakers. By reaching out to the community through public presentations and printed materials, ABCs will help seniors protect themselves against financial abuses from those who prey on seniors by phone, mail, internet and at their front door,” stated Brenda Prevost, Executive Director, Centre for Seniors Information.

The investment highlighted today falls under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which encourages seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

With two additional components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program—Capital Assistance and Elder Abuse Awareness—the overall budget of the Program is now $35 million per year. Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 5,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.