WOODSTOCK, ONTARIO—Dave MacKenzie Member of Parliament for Oxford and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, today announced federal support for the Alzheimer Society of Oxford, the Oxford Elder Abuse Network (OCEAN), the Women’s Employment Resource Centre and The Corporation of the Township of Norwich under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

MacKenzie made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister of State (Seniors).

The Alzheimer Society of Oxford will receive $25,000 for its project ‘A Changing Melody’ to conduct various social and volunteer activities, to benefit those with early stage Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

The Oxford County Elder Abuse Network will receive $24,400 for its project ‘Safety Education for Seniors’ to train senior volunteers to provide leadership and elder abuse information and presentations, to benefit the community.

The Women’s Employment Resource Centre will receive $25,000 for its project ‘Creating Opportunities and Connections with Seniors’ to aid seniors in teaching handicrafts and entrepreneurial skills to their peers to reduce their risk of isolation.

The Corporation of the Township of Norwich will receive $20,000 for its project ‘Intergenerational Lunch & Learn-Seniors Do It Too!’ to provide exercise, information, and leadership opportunities, enhance intergenerational understanding, and reduce social isolation among seniors.

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

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.