M.P. David Tilson presents New Horizon’s funding to The Orangeville & District Senior Citizen’s Centre

February 19, 2021

ORANGEVILLE, ON — David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors), today congratulated The Orangeville & District Senior Citizens Centre, on being selected to receive funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). This will ensure that seniors in Dufferin will have the opportunity to participate and take an active leadership role within their community.

Total funding of $8, 750 is being provided for the project entitled The Senior Connection.

“The Orangeville & District Senior Citizen’s Centre has the proud reputation of enhancing the quality of life for seniors in this community,” said Mr. Tilson. “I am pleased that this federal New Horizons funding will go toward their project of bringing together youth and seniors in a Memoir Writing Project, as well as getting seniors connected to community resources through a series of Information Sessions.”

In Budget 2007, the Government of Canada announced an additional investment of $10 million per year for two new components of the NHSP, in order to raise awareness of elder abuse, and to provide capital assistance for upgrades to facilities and equipment used for existing seniors’ programs. Projects funded under these new components will be announced in the spring of 2008.

“The purpose of this centre is to provide opportunities for social interaction among seniors,” says Pat Elmore, Executive Director of The Orangeville & District Senior Citizen Centre. “This funding will help introduce and promote varied programs and recreation. It will be exciting to foster the development of skills and knowledge of seniors in the Town of Orangeville and the surrounding district.”

The federal government is also acting to address the needs of Canada’s seniors through the introduction of a series of important measures that include:
establishing the National Seniors Council to advise the Government on issues of importance to older Canadians;
enabling 1.6 million low-income seniors to benefit from increased monthly benefits available under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and to make a one-time application for the GIS. As long as these seniors file income tax returns every year, they will never have to reapply;
providing more than $1 billion in tax relief to Canadian seniors and pensioners in Budget 2007;
enabling seniors to build their retirement savings in Registered Pension Plans and Registered Retirement Savings Plans for an extra two years until age 71; and
raising the amount that seniors can claim under the age credit on their tax returns for 2007. With less income taxed, seniors save more.

Since its launch, the NHSP has funded over 2,600 projects across Canada, inspiring seniors to bring their leadership, energy and skills to projects that benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/community_
partnerships/seniors/index.shtml.