Town receives $25,000 from New Horizons for seniors’ program

August 29, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Nick Fernandes
Caledon’s senior citizens received a boost recently, when Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson arrived at Town Hall to announce a contribution to the New Horizons for Seniors Program in Caledon.
“I’m sure you will agree with me that we owe a great deal of gratitude to our seniors, who have made Canada the great country it is,” he said.
He announced a $25,000 federal grant to the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which “supports community projects led inspired by seniors,” according to Tilson, and is being funded by a yearly $33 million federal contribution.
Mayor Marolyn Morrison also stepped up to the podium to announce the Town of Caledon’s own $50,000 contribution to New Horizons, bringing the new funding up to $75,000 in total.
One of the flagship projects of Caledon’s News Horizons program is the development of a visual guide to home builders and care personnel that outline the needs and wants and seniors based on surveys and consensus run by the Seniors Advisory Council, which was also represented for the announcement of the funding.
According to Morrison, this new initiative will help open a dialogue between seniors and companies designing both private homes and retirement communities, allowing for older citizens needs to be more easily accommodated.
“As we prepare for the inevitable demographic shift in our population, the contributions of the New Horizons for Seniors Program will enable us to strengthen our community,” she said.
“The Seniors’ Advisory Committee has been advocating for an Older Adults Strategic Plan for Caledon and we look forward to participating in this project,” said Seniors Advisory Committee Chair Bob Crease.

Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson was joined by Carol Kidd and Harvey Rutter of the Caledon Seniors’ Advisory Committee for the recent funding announcement, along with Mayor Marolyn Morrison and Councillors Rob Mezzapelli, Richard Paterak, Richard Whitehead and Patti Foley.
Photo by Nick Fernades