50-plus Expo To Be Celebrated June 8-9

The province will celebrate positive aging at the 50-plus Expo at Exhibition Park in Halifax on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9.

"The 50-plus expo is a wonderful, two-day event for seniors and their families to learn about how to make aging a positive experience," said Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Seniors.

The 50-plus Expo offers more than 90 information and trade exhibits on services tailored to older Nova Scotians, and a full schedule of workshops and presentations. The opening ceremony will take place noon Friday.

A dance with Sugartime and Musical Friends will be held Friday 8 p.m. to midnight and will cost $10.

At noon Saturday, the Remarkable Seniors Awards will be presented to seven seniors who make their communities better through leadership, volunteer and community service work.

This year's feature entertainment is Rawlins Cross, one of Canada's most accomplished Celtic bands. Returning favourites include Neville MacKay of My Mother's Bloomers and Pete Luckett of Pete's Frootique, and Linda Carvery, Bill Stevenson and spoken word Artist Shauntay Grant, a broadcast journalist, will entertain Friday and Saturday.

Ms. Carvery is a founding member and president of the award-winning Nova Scotia Mass Choir. Mr. Stevenson has worked for 47 years as a musician, teacher, vocalist, composer, arranger and performer.

"The government is pleased to sponsor this event and hope that visitors to our exhibit will take time to learn about government services for seniors in the province," said Ms.Peterson-Rafuse.

Along with supporting the 55-plus Expo, the province continues to make life better for seniors with initiatives such as:

• reducing fees for ambulance trips for Nova Scotians living in licensed long-term care facilities or with reduced mobility and people with low incomes
• increasing funding for in-home nursing care and home improvements
• more than 500 nursing-home beds giving seniors a friendly, caring place to live
• lowering the cost of generic drugs, and investing more than $3 million so more than 100,000 seniors do not have to pay more for their Pharmacare premiums and co-payments
• returning the provincial income tax for 17,000 low-income seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• increasing the land tax rebate
• the provincial portion of the HST off home heating
• a poverty reduction credit
• the affordable living tax credit
• seniors housing repair grants
• seniors' affordable housing throughout the province

The 50-plus expo's daily program runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Exhibition Park, 200 Prospect Rd., Halifax. Admission is $5 per day.

For more information, call toll-free 1-800-670-0065 or visit www.50plusexpo.ns.ca .