A $20,000 age-friendly grant has been provided to the Regional District of North Okanagan to support the Cherryville seniors’ social and dinner hall.

“We want to encourage and provide facilities that allow seniors to have an active social life,” said MLA Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee. “The funding from this grant will help provide seniors in the North Okanagan with a community meeting space where they can socialize, receive important aid, and learn.”

The funding will support a seniors’ social program, which will provide education and activities on a wide variety of topics including hearing loss and hearing aids, safety and avoiding scams, and flu shots. The program also provides social opportunities for seniors and local elementary school students will perform and assist with events.

As well, the project will help replace appliances in the dinner hall to accommodate the increasing participation at seniors’ events.

“Programs like the Cherryville Seniors’ Social and Dinners are instrumental in helping to keep our seniors active and engaged,” said Bob Fleming, chair of the Regional District of North Okanagan board of directors. “We really appreciate the support from the Province and UBCM.”

The age-friendly communities grant program is a partnership between the Province and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Local governments were invited to apply for grants up to $20,000. For the 2017 grants, communities were encouraged to consider projects that focus on accessibility, aging well, physical activity and non-medical home supports. the Regional District of North Okanagan is one of 18 municipalities to receive a 2017 age-friendly grant.

Applications were reviewed by a committee from UBCM and the Ministry of Health. Since 2007, age-friendly communities grants have funded 286 projects throughout British Columbia, totalling $3.75 million.

Learn More:

More information about Age-friendly BC can be found by visiting: www.gov.bc.ca/agefriendly