The Government of Canada supports seniors in Goderich

January 12, 2010

(L to R) Ben Lobb, M.P. Huron-Bruce, John Smallwood, President of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative & Myles Murdoch, Chairman of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative Program Committee


GODERICH, ONT—Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce, today announced federal support for the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative  under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

MP Lobb made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister of State (Seniors).

The Lake Huron Learning Collaborative will receive $9,740 for its project Enhancing Aging Learning Opportunities to allow seniors to participate in educational sessions and document each seminar through photos and/or video for use as a technology tool and as a showcase for other seniors/learning groups.

“Seniors are valuable members of society who contribute a diversity of skills, knowledge and experience to their communities,” said MP Lobb.  “Through the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is supporting local projects that enable seniors to contribute to their communities through social participation and active living.”

 “We are pleased to be offering a series of information sessions, directed to the 50 plus age group. Course selection will address issues that concern and interest this generation. Many of the facilitators will be peers of the students and will have the opportunity to offer their own expertise. We aim to create small, interactive sessions within a relaxed atmosphere,” said John Smallwood, President of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative.

The investment highlighted today falls under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which 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.

With two additional components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program—Capital Assistance and Elder Abuse Awareness—the overall budget of the Program is now $35 million per year.

Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 5,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.