MAPLETON – A new program aimed at combating ageism will be developed through the local Seniors Centre for Excellence with the assistance of provincial funding.
Helen Edwards, program coordinator for the local Seniors’ Centre for Excellence, reported on the township’s successful application to the Seniors Community Grant Program through the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility at the Nov. 23 Mapleton council meeting.
She noted a $22,000 grant will be used to implement a program bringing seniors and youth together for mutually beneficial programs.
The program will focus on issues across the age spectrum, she said.
“We know that youth and seniors equally suffer from ageism,” said Edwards. “We are going to use the knowledge of our seniors and our youth in are communities.
“Probably we will find out that we have more things in common than we have not in common. Many times in the media we only focus on the negative aspects of aging and we don’t focus enough on what our seniors bring to our communities.”
A part-time coordinator will be employed to build a data base of local seniors who are interested in participating and what their skills are. These will be coordinated with local schools and youth clubs to come up with projects and activities that seniors and youth can work together on, providing mutual benefits.
Councillor Marlene Ottens asked how the centre would define “senior” for the purposes of the program.
“We will involve any seniors that want to participate. We are not going to be determining the age,” Edwards replied.
“I am inspired by your organization’s values, dedication and support of seniors’ activities in Ontario,” states a letter from seniors minister Raymond Cho advising the seniors centre of the successful application.
Council received the report as information.
