Hello,
Summer has arrived across Canada, bringing warmer temperatures and time outside with friends and family. From National Indigenous History Month to Pride festivals, it’s a time of year where we have much to celebrate.
June was also Seniors Month in Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut. Seniors contribute so much to our communities. This was our month to celebrate them, and to make sure every senior in this country can age with dignity and choice, in their community and on their terms.
Wishing everyone a happy summer!
If you think your friends or colleagues would find it helpful, please forward them this email so they can sign up to receive my updates.
Thanks for reading.
Seamus O’Regan Jr.
Minister for Seniors
Useful podcasts: Fraud prevention and tax tips and tricks
Fraud schemes can be hard to identify. But we all have a role to play in stopping it. It helps to learn from the experts.
Grab your headphones and listen to one of the useful podcasts below. You can find these podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Simplecast.
- Podcast featuring a discussion with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre about what older Canadians need to know about fraud
- Podcast featuring a discussion with the Canada Revenue Agency on tips and tricks for older Canadians this tax season
National Indigenous History Month
Last month was National Indigenous History Month. It is a time to celebrate the rich histories, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across Canada.
Learn more about the languages, cultures and experiences of all Indigenous people in Canada by visiting the National Indigenous History Month webpage.
New Horizons for Seniors Program: Recent news!
Canadians deserve to age with dignity. That comes down to choice, affordability, inclusion and community. The New Horizons for Seniors Program creates those opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities.
On Thursday, May 16, Minister O’Regan announced $71.27 million in funding for 3,451 community-based projects supporting seniors across the country.
The New Horizons for Seniors Program supports community-based projects impacting the lives of over half a million Canadian seniors. Projects doing things like fighting social isolation, combatting seniors’ fraud, and supporting healthy aging.
You can learn more about the program by visiting this news release.
2024 is also a special year for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Watch the NHSP animation video to learn why.
Online consultation to help 2SLGBTQI+ seniors age in place
Every senior deserves to age in health, in safety, and in dignity. Everyone should have the choice to age in place, in their communities, on their terms. That includes 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians. However, many 2SLGBTQI+ seniors do not have all of the supports necessary to meet their unique needs.
The Government of Canada recently launched online consultations to better understand the needs of seniors who identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex, and those who identify as members of sexually and gender diverse communities. So, every senior can age in their communities and on their terms.
You have until July 17, 2024, to participate in the online consultation. Share the link with your community and with family, friends and colleagues.
You can learn more by visiting the online consultation webpage.