By Jasminee Sahoye
In many ethnic communities, seniors who are often at home fending for themselves or taking care of the home, their children and grandchildren, have little exposure with others outside the home.
The province is trying to encourage more seniors to get involved in community events by offering more support for seniors through a new seniors community grant program.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne recently announced that the government is introducing the seniors community grant program to give seniors more opportunities to participate in their communities.
“Seniors have so much to offer our province, and I want to make sure that they have the resources they need to participate fully in their communities. To grow as One Ontario, we need to make sure that everyone is able to contribute,” says Premier Wynne.
The program will provide funding to not-for-profit community groups for projects that encourage greater social inclusion, volunteerism and community engagement for seniors across the province.
“Social isolation is a problem many seniors face. Our government is introducing the first-ever grant program solely dedicated to helping seniors connect to their communities.”
Giving seniors more opportunities to engage with their communities is part of Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors.
The grants may range from $500 to $10,000 to help support initiatives that will allow seniors to continue to contribute to all aspects of community life.
By 2017, for the first time, Ontario will be home to more people over 65 than children under 15. The number of seniors in Ontario will more than double by 2036.