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Jan. 25, 2008
Money for generations
Two Jewish groups get some federal funding.
RON FRIEDMAN
Member of Parliament James Moore was at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver last week to announce the funding of 97 community projects under the New Horizons for Seniors initiative of the federal government.
The announcement, made on behalf of Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg, Secretary of State (Seniors) Marjory LeBrenton and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, pledged the provision of $1,598,466 of funding province wide.
"The government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Moore. "These projects will encourage seniors to continue sharing their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit others."
The Vancouver JCC was chosen as the site for the announcement as it will host one of the budgeted programs. The centre will offer an intergenerational program that uses music to bring together seniors in the community with youth, in an effort to bring the generations closer together.
"The government of Canada is proud to have contributed $23,000 for a project called Music for All Ages Bridges the Gap. The funding allows seniors to plan and co-ordinate nine workshops, for youth and seniors alike, to establish intergenerational connections to explore the richness and variety of Jewish culture.... We should feel proud to live in a country where everyone is encouraged and given a chance to participate and to contribute and to tell their story," said Moore. "This project is a very important one and I know that people here at the Jewish Community Centre are very proud of going forward with this project and I think that it will be a fantastic project for the community here." Moore went on to congratulate the program organizers and praise them for their hard work and determination.
"Music for All Ages is a program developed by the Jewish Community Centre's senior executive board, a dedicated volunteer group of 10 highly experienced men and women who are committed to the centre and to the community," said Leah Deslauriers, program director for senior adult services. "This project has been designed and created to use music as a universal tool to reach out to seniors who may be socially isolated and to try to bridge the generation gap by mutual participation in making and/or listening to music."
The first program in the series is called Klezmer Swing and will be held on Jan. 30, at noon, in the Wosk Auditorium. The program will combine seniors with 35 music students from King David High School. The program will be led by music director Edward Lewis.
"Dr. Lewis has performed in just about every city in North America and has played in Carnegie Hall," said Deslauriers.
"We do preach that we build community here, and this is a true intergenerational program to share in the joy of klezmer music with kids and people that could even be their parents or grandparents," said JCC executive director Rick Nelson. Nelson, himself a talented trombone player, will take part in the klezmer band performing at the meeting.
The New Horizons for Seniors initiative is a grassroots, community-based program that encourages seniors to continue to play an important role in their respective communities. New Horizons funds a wide range of nonprofit activities that are led by seniors, for seniors. To receive funding, organizations must carry out activities that are based locally and endorsed by the community through local review committees established within the applicant's province or territory. Organizations may receive grants of up to $25,000 for eligible projects.
"This is an important public expenditure," said Moore. "Rather than forcing community centres to have to use scarce resources or do fund-raising events asking people to dip into their shrinking pocket of disposable income, we think it's important to fund projects such as this."
As part of the new funding, $8,000 also will go to the Kehila Society of Richmond for their program called Mazal Tov: A Showcase of Jewish Seniors.
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