Residents of two communities in Labrador will benefit
as result of two Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador grants recently
announced by the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and
Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors. The
Charlottetown Anti Violence Committee/Peer Advocates and the Town of
North West River are the latest beneficiaries of the grants program.
"The Williams Government is committed to investing in
programs that ensure seniors remain active members of society," said
Minister Kennedy. "The grants we are announcing today will make a
meaningful difference to seniors in our province."
The Town of North West River will receive $10,000 to
help create an age-friendly community through the establishment of an
age-friendly committee or team. That group will then create an action
plan that will highlight some of the challenges and opportunities that
exist within the town with regards to creating an age-friendly
community.
The Charlottetown Anti Violence Committee/Peer
Advocates will receive $9,000 to create Health Matters, a 26-week
program aimed at engaging seniors and youth in programs including
wellness, health promotion, physical activity, socialization and
recreation.
"These two grants will provide a great opportunity for
the communities of North West River and Charlottetown to identify and
establish new ways of promoting their towns as age-friendly and
age-supportive," said the Honourable John Hickey, MHA for Lake
Melville. "Having more senior-focused programs will encourage health,
wellness and appreciation for those important people who have been the
backbone in the creation and growth of our communities."
Overall, the Williams Government will invest $200,000
in the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador
Grant program. The grants will serve, in part, to
fulfill commitments made under the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy
Framework, through which the Provincial Government invested an
additional $3.5 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year toward
improving the wellness of residents.
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