3 Thornhill programs receive $69,695 from province’s Seniors Community Grants

Recipients include Mintz Family ElderHome (Reena), Navillera Korean Dance Company and Hesperus Fellowship Community of Ontario

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 5, 2023
Irene Wong

A Thornhill elder home specialized in servicing older adults with developmental disabilities received funding via the province's Seniors Community Grant.

On Dec. 13, Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill, joined by Raymond Cho, minister for seniors and accessibility and parliamentary assistant Daisy Wai, visited the Mintz Family ElderHome on Crestwood to make an announcement of $69,695 funding for three projects that help seniors stay safe, fit, active, healthy and socially connected across the community.

Recipients in Thornhill include:

Mintz Family ElderHome (Reena)
Navillera Korean Dance Company
Hesperus Fellowship Community of Ontario

The Reena elder home in Thornhill is home to 16 seniors with developmental disabilities. The funding will provide the seniors with access to a recreational therapist for individualized health, as well as wellness visits to address isolation and depression.

"Reena is delighted to be receiving the Seniors Community Grant,” said David Cohen, executive member of Reena's board of directors. “Reena was the first developmental services agency to open an elder home in 2000. The Al and Faye Mintz Reena ElderHome provides aging individuals with disabilities the support they deserve. The grant will allow seniors access to recreational therapists at the leisure of their home."

The Mintz Family ElderHome, as well as the other two projects, are part of the 305 Seniors Community Grants investing into communities across Ontario this year. Since 2018, Ontario has funded 1,249 community-based projects and invested almost $22 million dollars in Seniors Community Grants. The program provides funding ranging from $1,000 up to $25,000 for local projects.

Ontario’s Seniors are the province’s fastest growing demographic. By 2023, there will be three million Ontarians over 65. The Ontario government has been doubling its Seniors Community Grant program funding and investing $6 million in 2022-23 for seniors-based projects that help Ontario’s seniors.

Community organizations, municipalities and Indigenous organizations can apply for funding for various programs and services across the province that empower seniors to continue participating in their community. Visit Ontario.ca/getfunding for more information.