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The province has proclaimed October as Seniors and Elders Month in Manitoba and today, on the International Day of Older Persons, Health Minister Theresa Oswald celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of seniors at the MTS Centre during a Seniors’ and Elders’ Day Community Committee of Winnipeg event with the theme Older Manitobans:  Pioneers of our Times.

 

“Seniors’ and Elders’ Month is an opportunity for all of us to recognize and celebrate the past, present and ongoing contributions of older Manitobans throughout the province,” said Oswald.  “Manitoba is committed to assisting older Manitobans in improving their quality of life and remaining a part of the communities they have built.”

 

In 2003, the province implemented the Advancing Age: Promoting Older Manitobans strategy which focuses on three strategic areas for older people in Manitoba:  health care, community living, and safety and security.

 

Oswald announced the province will provide $72,000 to six community organizations for their work and support of the province’s Advancing Age strategy. They are:

·        the Aboriginal Seniors Resource Centre,

·        Age and Opportunity,

·        Creative Retirement Manitoba,

·        la Fédération des aînés franco-manitobains,

·        the Manitoba Association of Multipurpose Senior Centres, and

·        the Manitoba Society of Seniors.

 

“Older Manitobans enrich the lives of our families, neighbourhoods and communities by acting as critical links between the past and the future,” said Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin–Ross, minister responsible for seniors, while speaking at the launch of the World Health Organization’s Global Age-friendly Cities Guide in London, England.

 

Seniors are one of the fastest-growing age groups in Canada with approximately 13 per cent of the population over 65. Manitoba has one of the highest per-capita populations of seniors in the country.

 

In 2000, people 55 and over constituted 22.3 per cent (approximately 256,000) of Manitoba’s total population. This figure is expected to increase to 32.7 per cent (388,000) by 2021. 

 

Many communities in Manitoba are participating in Seniors’ and Elders’ Month by hosting an event to celebrate seniors.  Events highlight intergenerational relationships, recognition of volunteers and promotion of active living. The online calendar of events can be viewed at www.seniors.cimnet.ca/cim/19.dhtm.

 

More information about Seniors’ and Elders’ Month is available at the Seniors’ Information Line at 1‑800-665-6565 or in Winnipeg at 945-6565.

 

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