Seniors across the nation will soon have new opportunities to volunteer, mentor younger generations and help raise awareness of elder abuse thanks to funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).“Our government recognizes the diversity of skills, knowledge and experience that seniors contribute to our society and the economy,” said Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan in announcing the funding. “Through initiatives such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are helping to ensure that seniors maintain a high quality of life and continue as active, participating members of their communities.” Thirteen organizations in the riding will receive $221,169 for their projects. Nine projects are in the Comox Valley:• L'Arche Comox Valley's Seniors Circle will receive $15,655 to support social participation and inclusion of seniors by facilitating weekly gatherings and monthly outings for seniors with and without developmental disabilities. • Comox Valley Senior Peer Counselling Seniors Outing Program will receive $25,000 to purchase a van equipped with a wheelchair lift to increase social participation and volunteerism of seniors to provide safe transportation for community outings. • LUSH Valley Food Action Society's Season Upon Season will receive $14,000 to install washroom linoleum and plumbing, purchase a dishwasher and fixtures for the kitchen and paint walls to engage seniors in the community through mentoring of others in areas of gardening, cooking and food preservation. • SOS (Support our Seniors) Comox Valley's Oars for the Lifeboat will receive $8,750 to help educate seniors, their families and caregivers about senior's rights and the services available with the aim of recognizing and preventing abuse. • Adult Learning Centre's Comox Valley Senior Players: The Magical World of Radio will receive $13,000 to engage seniors in mentoring others in their community by doing a live radio drama. • Hornby & Denman Community Health Care Society - Making Connections: Seniors Helping Seniors will receive $25,000. Seniors involved with the organization will support social participation and inclusion by establishing a volunteer program and coordinating activities for seniors who are vulnerable and isolated. • Comox Valley Cycling Coalition's Cycling Skills for Life Program will receive $24,000 to increase the social participation and inclusion of seniors by offering safe cycling workshops to seniors and school-age children. • Hornby Island New Horizon's Society - Renovations and Repairs to the Betty Smith Centre. The society will receive $23,000 to replace the roof, repair plumbing, paint the exterior and interior and also to support the social participation and inclusion of seniors by offering loom and spinning wheel for seniors. • Wachiay Friendship Centre Society's Wachiay Elder Support will receive $3,500 to replace kitchen equipment to support the social participation and inclusion of seniors by continuing to offer social lunches, cultural mentoring activities and recreation. — Government of Canada
