Newmarket Seniors' Meeting Place gets $54,000 to support seniors during pandemic

Province investing $14.3 million in 300 seniors’ active living centre programs across Ontario

Yorkregion.com
June 25, 2021
Sara Alves Fernandes

Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place has received a $54,000 boost to support the health and well-being of seniors during the pandemic, thanks to funding from the province.

With seniors being Ontario’s fastest-growing demographic, the province is investing $14.3 million in 300 seniors’ active living centre programs across the province.

This year’s funds will support safety measures against the spread of COVID-19 to keep seniors healthy. They will also help seniors remain virtually socially connected, according to Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott.

“Our government is committed to protecting the health and well-being of seniors in Newmarket and across our province,” she said.

“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for many seniors, who miss regular in-person interactions. This funding will support Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place in its efforts to deliver programming that enables Newmarket seniors to safely stay connected in the community.”

Mayor John Taylor welcomed Newmarket’s funding.

“Despite the seniors’ centre being closed due to the pandemic, town staff and centre members leveraged this provincial support to continue offering the social connections that are at the core of our Seniors’ Meeting Place,” he said.

“Staff and members launched a series of ‘Let’s Stay Connected’ initiatives, including shifting some of the centre’s fitness and wellness programs online via Zoom, social calls, weekly email bulletins, as well as distributing activity kits -- a sort of seniors’ centre in a box -- all in an effort to extend the community they have built at the centre beyond its walls.”

Seniors’ active living centres are community-based and promote wellness and social interaction in seniors.

“Given the social isolation that COVID-19 has brought to many seniors, it is important that we look to programs that will keep them safe and connected,” Seniors and Accessibility Minister Raymond Cho said.
“Our government’s investment in seniors’ active living centres will help older adults stay virtually engaged with their friends, family and communities while combating social isolation during the pandemic.”

Government investments will focus on teleconferences, online videos and one-on-one phone calls to help seniors stay connected from home, activity kits delivered to seniors’ homes, online interactive events such as St. Patrick’s Day, Newmarket Trivia and Canada Day and supporting an annual drive-thru turkey luncheon.