Secretary of State McLean announces funding for Alberta seniors

The Government of Canada is taking action to make life more affordable for seniors and to help them stay active and connected to their communities.

To this end, it is providing an investment of $147,854 to seven organizations in southern Alberta for community-based projects through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) that will help seniors stay active, informed and socially connected.

Funding includes:

• $25,000 to the Heartbeat Society for their project titled Sing, Smile, Connect: Music and Fun for Seniors. Seniors involved in the project will participate in activities that help improve peer mentorship and reduce social isolation for seniors.
• $19,138 to the Brooks and District Museum and Historical Society for their project titled Cultivating Heritage: Bridging Generations and Communities. Seniors involved in the project will participate in memory-stimulating activities, youth mentorship, collaborative crafts and recipe exchanges among women from different cultures to support the social participation and inclusion of seniors, promote intergenerational mentoring, and engage and collaborate with diverse communities.
• $23,500 to the Neighbourhood Associations of Medicine Hat for their project titled Oasis Medicine Hat - Meadowlark & Encore. Seniors involved in the project will participate in monthly programming focused on nutrition, physical activity, healthy aging, volunteering, outreach, and wellness checks to promote social inclusion and community engagement.
• $25,000 to the Metis Nation of Alberta Association Local Council #8 for their project titled Walking With Our Ancestors. Seniors involved in the project will plan and participate in activities such as learning the Michif language, storytelling, beading, finger weaving, bannock-making, medicine teachings, fiddle music or jigging, to create meaningful connections and foster social inclusion.
• $24,808 to Goodstoney Nation for their project titled Honouring Big Horn Elders. Seniors involved in the project will participate in workshops on elder-abuse digital literacy, and mentoring youth to promote intergenerational engagement all while supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors.
• $5,405 to the Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation for their project titled In Hospital Senior Therapy - Java Circle Program. Seniors involved in the project will help to facilitate weekly gatherings to conduct artistic activities involving music to support social inclusion.
• $25,000 to the Community Futures Treaty Seven for their project titled Treaty 7 Elders Initiative. Seniors involved in the project will participate in cultural story telling sessions focused on cultural protocols and transfer of knowledge between youth and seniors of the treaty 7 territory, to enhance social participation and inclusion.

The funding announced was awarded through the 2025–2026 Call for Proposals for Community-based projects under the NHSP. This program funds a variety of projects that support seniors as they build stronger, more connected communities for all Canadians.