Kelowna, BC — Mr. Ron Cannan Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country today announced federal support to the Friends of the Kelowna Fire Museum Society under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.  The Program encourages seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

Mr. Cannan made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors).

This project is funded under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program. It is one of 797 projects that were approved through the 2010–2011 Community Participation and Leadership call for proposals, providing over $15.9 million in funding.

The Friends of the Kelowna Fire Museum Society will receive $22,500 for its project.

“The Government of Canada is committed to improving the lives of seniors, and is proud to support local organizations with the same goal,” said Mr. Cannan. “This project will help Kelowna seniors set-up and lead a Kitchen Coffee Shop inside the Kelowna Fire Hall Museum and Education Centre.  The Society’s efforts ensure that the proud history of fire-fighting in the Okanagan is accessible to our community, particularly our young people.  I thank our senior volunteers for their dedication.”

“The Fire Museum is very excited to have received this grant; it is a huge step forward on our planned path to self-sufficiency. Perhaps more important though, it shows how easily partnerships can be built with other non-profits to assist in reaching one another’s visions and goals,” said Brian Moore, Executive Director, Kelowna Fire Museum & Education Centre.

 The New Horizons for Seniors Program helps to ensure that seniors are able to benefit from and contribute to the quality of life in their communities through their social participation and active living. Since its beginning, the Program has funded over 7 000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada. Last year alone, more than 100 000 seniors in over 500 communities throughout the country were involved in projects funded by the Program.

Through Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth, the Government invested an additional $5 million per year in the Program, bringing this year’s funding to $40 million. This additional funding will support projects that encourage seniors to volunteer and mentor other generations, as well as initiatives that aim to increase awareness of financial abuse.

“Today’s seniors know the importance of being active and staying involved in their communities,” said Minister Finley. “The New Horizons for Seniors Program is just one example of how we are helping seniors make a positive difference in their own lives and in those of the people around them.”

For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.