New funding making Pickering-Uxbridge more inclusive

SAFA KHAN, Office of Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP, Pickering – Uxbridge

UXBRIDGE: Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge, with Minister Raymond Cho, recently announced the Ontario government is providing over $138,000 in provincial grants to Pickering-Uxbridge Senior-focused initiatives. The Inclusive Community Grants Program provides funding, to municipalities, Indigenous groups, and community organizations, for programs and infrastructure projects which promote inclusivity for older adults and persons with disabilities.

“I want to congratulate Pickering-Uxbridge organizations, all of whom received funding from our government’s Seniors Community Grant Funding. We all recognize, seniors across Pickering-Uxbridge and Durham Region have contributed so much over the course of their lives, to make our province the place we know and love today. The provincial government is also proposing, to double the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) payment, for all recipients for 12 months, starting January 2023. This would increase the maximum payment to $166 per month for single seniors and to $332 per month for couples, a maximum increase of almost $1,000 per person in 2023.” stated Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge.

The Ontario government is committed to investing in Seniors and their communities, to help them stay fit, active, and healthy within their communities. Locally, the Township of Uxbridge was successful in receiving $18,486.40 in funds through the Seniors Community Grants program.

“The Township of Uxbridge will be hosting a Senior’s Information Fair, thanks to the funding available from the Seniors Community Fund. Our seniors will be able to network and reconnect with clubs, organizations, recreation programs and each other and join break-out sessions on topics of interest. Thank-you Minister Cho, and Minister Bethlenfalvy for supporting the well-being of our seniors, so they can stay active and socially engaged,” explained Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton.

The Ontario government is investing more than $740,000 in seventeen Inclusive Community Grants Program Projects across the province, in 2022-23. They promote innovation and expand digital literacy to older adults and persons with disabilities, support infrastructure upgrades to improve accessibility, respond to the unique needs of Indigenous communities, and much more.

The funding ranges from $1,000 up to $25,000 for local projects. Each year, Seniors Community Grants support hundreds of diverse, accessible and innovative activities. They provide something for everyone, from lawn bowling and other physical activities, to arts and music appreciation, virtual speakers’ series, day trips, and so much more.