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Four local groups will be splitting more than $80,000 through the Ontario Seniors Community Grant, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli announced on Monday.
This year’s Seniors Community Grant project will provide funding to help seniors experience education workshops.
“These investments make a big difference in the lives of Ontario’s older adults here in Nipissing," said MPP Vic Fedeli in a release.
“Staying connected close to home and safely taking part in local life lets our seniors keep active with friends, family, and the community.”
The City of North Bay, will receive $25,000 to implement five educational workshops to promote social inclusion, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, healthy eating, home security, fall prevention and accessibility among older adults and seniors.
Peter Chirico, North Bay's new mayor, believes this is an important investment that will have a meaningful impact for seniors and the community itself.
“This funding will be used to support a series of workshops that will provide our seniors with opportunities to learn new skills, socialize and stay connected to the community,” said Mayor Chirico.
The Gateway Theatre Guild will receive $22,879, to assist with a project that will engage seniors in low-key, inclusive, non-intimidating, facilitated readings of plays by the seniors themselves in both English and French. The aim of the Gateway Theatre Guild's Play Readings with and For Seniors project is to promote social engagement and interaction between both established seniors, and senior new arrivals and increase the well-being of local seniors.
"Gateway Theatre Guild is absolutely thrilled to receive this funding in support of its project, 'Play Readings For and With Seniors.' We believe in this project and trust that the regular gatherings of seniors to simply read a play together and chat about it afterwards with refreshments will help reduce the sense of isolation felt by many seniors, especially during and after the pandemic," said Dr. Paul Monaghan, President of Gateway Theatre Guild in a release.
The Nipissing District Housing Corporation will receive $20,200 to assist with a project that will allow them to improve the safety and well-being of vulnerable seniors living in assisted housing in Nipissing District by offering training, education and networking activities and strategies that reduce the threat of elder abuse and promote wellness and social inclusion
“We are grateful to receive this contribution from the province to support our goal of safe communities and supporting seniors with their connections to alleviate social isolation,” said Catherine Matheson, CEO of the Nipissing District Housing Corporation.
The North Bay Area Museum Society will get $12,820 for a project that will allow the North Bay Area Museum Society to create new monthly programs to connect seniors to the North Bay community. Programs include tours, workshops and historical talks
“The funding received from the Seniors Community Grant will allow the museum to partner with local artists, businesses, and historians to provide workshops and events that encourage seniors to be active and socially engaged within the North Bay community. Using equipment purchased with this funding, we will also be able to offer our existing 'Coffee and Conversations' meetings in person and online simultaneously to allow for increased participation for seniors who would otherwise be unable to attend," said Naomi Hehn, Director/Curator of the North Bay Area Museum Society.
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.
