Grant Funding Awarded to Encourage Age-Friendly Communities

The Town of Harbour Breton and the Smallwood Crescent Community Centre in Marystown are the latest recipients of funding through the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Grants Program, through which the Provincial Government is investing a total of $160,000.

“It is our government’s vision to have a supportive, age-friendly province where seniors contribute to their communities,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors. “We encourage older people to maintain active, healthy and productive lives. Healthy aging is a priority for our government and we will continue to support programs and initiatives that benefit seniors throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The Town of Harbour Breton is being provided with $10,000 to conduct an age-friendly community assessment. A committee will examine its available resources and assets, and determine potential challenges and opportunities to make it a more age-friendly community. The committee will develop an action plan to assist in addressing the community’s needs as identified through the assessment.

“It is so important that our seniors stay engaged and remain active and are given the opportunity to directly influence programs that will benefit them,” said Tracey Perry, MHA for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune. “I am very pleased the Harbour Breton seniors will undergo this age-friendly community assessment to ensure that they remain key contributors not only to their own well-being but to the vitality of the entire community.”

The Smallwood Crescent Community Centre in Marystown will receive $9,000 to provide services and programs for senior tenants of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing in the area. The centre will offer computer literacy classes, community kitchen cooking sessions, and physical activity programming.

“I am pleased to announce government’s continued support for seniors’ programming such as those offered by the Smallwood Crescent Community Centre,” said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education and MHA for Burin - Placentia West. “Seniors of this area will greatly benefit from the programs offered to ensure they continue to lead healthy, productive lives.”

The Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Grants Program is an initiative of the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework. This year, seven communities are each receiving $10,000, and 11 seniors’ organizations are receiving grants ranging from $4,000 to $10,000.

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2012 06 28                     1:20 p.m.