Six local organizations in the Peterborough-Kawartha region have received substantial funding from the provincial government to enhance senior programing.
MPP Dave Smith announced last week a combined total of $116,196 through the Ontario government’s Seniors Community Grants program will be handed out to local organizations. This funding will help local seniors stay active, safe, and socially connected within their communities.
The Seniors Community Grant funding recipients in Peterborough-Kawartha are:
The City of Peterborough: $24,998
• Project: Be Prepared (Third Revision)
• Overview: Updates materials for the Be Prepared program to equip seniors with clear, practical guidance to recognize and respond to frauds, scams, severe weather events, and intimate partner or family violence, while strengthening emergency preparedness.
Alzheimer Society of Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Northumberland and Haliburton: $24,251
• Project: The Social and Night Out Program
• Overview: Provides an inclusive environment where individuals living with dementia, caregivers, and families can socialize, share meals, dance, and build lasting connections in a safe, welcoming atmosphere.
Mapleridge Recreation Centre (Senior Citizens Association of Peterborough): $24,541
• Project: Connected Communities: Senior’s Digital Literacy Program
• Overview: Offers hands-on workshops using computers, tablets, and smart boards to build seniors’ confidence in using technology safely, covering scam prevention, safe use of AI tools, and accessing online services.
Community Care Peterborough: $24,500
• Project: Senior Connectors – Phase 2: Peer Navigation & Follow-Up
• Overview: Supports trained senior volunteers hosting community kiosks to help older adults across the City and County of Peterborough access vital local services, reducing isolation and promoting independence.
Douro-Dummer Township Public Library Board: $17,906
• Project: The Douro-Dummer Public Library Learning Commons Phase II
• Overview: Enhances the community hub’s programming, user experience, and partnership opportunities, providing a gathering space for rural seniors and community members of all ages.
St. Joseph’s at Fleming: $2,100
• Project: Community Connections for Seniors
• Overview: Provides monthly, supervised community outings with accessible transportation for long-term care residents to enjoy cultural and recreational experiences, helping them remain engaged in the broader community.
“Seniors have built the vibrant, close-knit communities we enjoy today, and ensuring they have access to programs that keep them active, safe, and connected is a top priority,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Whether it’s preventing online scams, supporting those living with dementia, or helping long-term care residents get out into the community, these six local projects will make a real, tangible difference in the everyday lives of older adults right across our region.”
The Ontario government is investing up to $7 million for more than 320 Seniors Community Grants across the province this year, helping seniors stay fit, active, healthy, and socially connected close to home.
Grants of up to $25,000 per project support local services, activities, and events designed to reduce social isolation, fight ageism, and foster positive community connections. Since 2018, Ontario has invested more than $40 million in over 2,100 Seniors Community Grants across the province.
Maggie Pearson, CEO Librarian, Douro-Dummer Public Library said, “Rural public libraries like Douro-Dummer Library are distinctly poised to foster social connection and combat isolation. We are thrilled because funding through the Seniors Community Grant means we’ll be able to continue to improve our space, programs, and services dedicated to intergenerational gathering and life-long learning.”
Chris LeBlanc, Director, Donor and Public Relations for Community Care Peterborough said that the funding they received through this grant will be used to extend the availability of Senior Connectors in the City and County of Peterborough.
He said, “Senior Connector was first developed as a successful pilot program, and this funding allows us to build on that success by recruiting, training, and supporting senior volunteers who can meet older adults in familiar community settings, such as libraries, community centres, retirement homes, local events, and Community Care offices.”
LeBlanc explained that this is a peer-based program that helps older adults navigate available services and supports. Many seniors know that help may exist, but it can still be difficult to know where to start, who to call, or how to follow through - especially when systems are complex, services are unfamiliar, or transportation and digital barriers get in the way. Senior Connectors provide a welcoming, local, person-to-person way for seniors to get information and guidance.
To learn more about this grant, visit www.ontario.ca/page/seniors-community-grant-program.
