Province funds Community Groups, Municipalities to Support Cape Breton Seniors

NOTE: A list of projects receiving grants in Cape Breton follows this release.

Boularderie seniors will soon be enjoying dancing and rug-hooking as parts of a socialization and fitness project.

The Friends of the Big Bras d'or Fire hall Association of Victoria County project, is one of 59 across the province -- and 12 in Cape Breton -- to receive a portion of nearly $440,000 in funding to support seniors' participation in their communities. The grants were announced today, Feb. 2, by Len Goucher, Minister of Seniors.

"These grants represent more than just funding for community-minded organizations," said Mr. Goucher. "These initiatives have been selected because they'll offer new opportunities for seniors, often by seniors, that are sustainable and which bring together different generations."

Forty-two non-profit organization projects will be supported through the Positive Aging Fund and 17 projects will be co-funded by municipalities through the Age-Friendly Communities Program.

The Positive Aging Fund helps non-profit community organizations create projects that advance Nova Scotia's Strategy for Positive Aging. The strategy is a long-term guide for planning for the province's aging population, with a focus on the health, well-being and community participation of seniors. Successful applicants can receive up to $10,000 for projects through the fund.

The Age-Friendly Communities Program helps municipalities create or adapt structures or services to be accessible, and inclusive of seniors, so they are able to lead healthy, active lives. Participating municipalities jointly fund the grants, which can also be up to $10,000 per project.

"At a time when there are more seniors than ever before, these municipalities are recognizing the value of making sure seniors have full enjoyment of all the community has to offer," said Mr. Goucher. "It's equally important that communities have the benefit of all that seniors have to offer them."

The Department of Seniors received more than 120 applications for funding under the grant programs. Applicants will have another opportunity to apply in the fall.

More information on the program and full lists of grant recipients are available at: www.gov.ns.ca/scs/agefriendlyComm.asp and www.gov.ns.ca/scs/positiveagingfund.asp .

Following is a list of projects in Cape Breton that will receive grants from the Department of Seniors:

Positive Aging

• Bras d'Or Lakers Seniors Association - $9,980. Analysis and development of a seniors service support system
• Friends of the Big Bras d'or Fire Hall Association - $10,000. Health and Fitness program, inter-generational activities, Senior Music and Dance Therapy program and traditional rug hooking
• Glace Bay Universal Negro Improvement Association/Cultural Museum - $7,500. A diabetic workshop and a foot clinic workshop
• Main-à-Dieu Community Development Association - $8,489. Tai Chi exercise fitness program for seniors' health promotion
• Meat Cove Development and CAP - $10,000. Oral history/story telling and video recording project
• Northside/Victoria Economic Development Assistance Corporation - $9,817. Pre-retirement seminars on seniors' issues
• The Rocky Bay Seniors Society - $10,000. Sens you Flying inter-generational leadership training workshops, seniors expo and Meals to Go
• Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians, Cape Breton Island - $9,981. One-day workshop on hearing loss and related topics
• VON Cape Breton Metro - $10,000. Inter-generational senior telephone visiting program

Age-Friendly Communities

• Cape Breton Regional Municipality - $5,000. Age-friendly walking trail in the village of Donkin
• County of Victoria - $5,000. Age-friendly community walking trail
• Municipality of the County of Inverness - $5,000. Construction of an age-friendly gazebo in Port Hood Community Garden