The following article was originally published in the March 2017 edition of the Parkview News.
I’d like to thank the nearly three hundred seniors from across the Bedford constituency who joined me on February 4th for our Seniors Community Connect at Sunnyside Mall – it was an informative day.
Representatives from various government agencies were on hand to explain government programs, including the Seniors Property Tax Rebate Program, the Heating Assistance Rebate Program, as well as various housing, education, and health-related programs.
In addition, representatives from the Seniors Safety Program run by the Halifax Regional Police and the Bedford Sackville Community Health Team joined us to explain their program offerings.
Many community groups that offer programs that assist seniors participated as well. Sackville-Bedford Meals on Wheels, SCANS (Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia), VON, Bedford Furniture Restoration and Repair, Northwood Reboom, Bedford Leisure Club (and its orchestra), the Bedford Horticultural Society, the Bedford Lawn Bowls Club, and the Bedford Volunteer Fire Department all came out.
We heard from attendees that they came away with a new appreciation of the many programs available to seniors. For example – did you know our Community Health Team runs many free health and mental health related programs? Or that the Department of Labour and Advanced Education offers free on-line skills courses via SkillsOnline – some of which are geared specifically to seniors? There’s a program that assists low- and moderate income seniors to adapt their homes for wheelchair use. And these are just a few of the many programs available.
Everyone who joined us took home the new 2017 Positive Aging Directory of Programs and Services. This book is a useful tool for any senior or about-to-be-senior. If you missed the event and would like a copy of the Directory, please contact my office. Let us know your name and address and we’d be
pleased to get a copy of the directory to you.
Coming soon – Hammonds Plains Lucasville MLA Ben Jessome and I will be holding a small business Community Connect. Government representatives will be on hand to share news about various programs that can help you grow your business. Registration is limited, so if you’re involved with a small business (below 100 employees) and you’re located in either constituency, please contact us to sign up.