Silver Pioneers get funding for seniors club renovations

The Silver Pioneers Senior Citizens Club in Murray Corner has received funding to assist with much-needed renovations to its club room at the East Botsford Recreation Centre.
Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore, along with Tantramar MLA Mike Olscamp, made the announcement to a large number of members and local residents on Tuesday morning at the club facility.
Moore presented a cheque for $18,129 to Silver Pioneers president Betty Stright, noting that the funding was received through the capital assistance component of the federal government's New Horizons for Seniors Program.
"The government of Canada is proud to support seniors in building and strengthening communities across our country. This project will enable the continuation of programs and activities right here in Murray Corner that allows seniors to stay involved in their community," Moore said.
Stright explained that the funds would be used to make the room more accessible from the outside, including complete wheelchair access. Currently the club's facilities are accessible only through the East Botsford Recreation Centre bowling alley.
In addition, the funding will allow for extra insulation, upgrading of electrical and security alarm systems, installation of a new door, as well as various renovations within the building as well as enlarging of the group's parking area.
"This is the fourth time we've applied for funding to help us with these necessary repairs. So when I got the phone call telling us that we would be getting it this time, the only thing I could think of to say was, 'Hallelujah," she admitted.
Stright said contractors have been hired and the work renovations are set to start immediately, adding that the group hopes to see the renovations finished before summer.
She noted that the group was very appreciative for the assistance of Tantramar MLA Mike Olscamp who was instrumental in the group submitting an application for funding last fall.
Olscamp complimented the group on its work and initiative within the community.
"This community is a bit isolated but its citizens work hard and diligently to get things done and to maintain what they have. The Silver Pioneers are certainly an active group and these renovations will help them to remain that way," he said.
In a subsequent interview, Olscamp noted that another local group the Baie Verte Seniors Club had received funding earlier this year in the amount of $23,500, also through the New Horizons for Seniors Program and which allowed the organization to complete extensive renovations to their facility, located in the basement of the Baie Verte Community Hall.
The federal New Horizons for Senior's Program offers three types of funding including community participation and leadership (up to $25,000) which supports community based projects; capital assistance funding (up to $25,000) to non-profit groups that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors' program and activities; and elder abuse awareness funding (up to $25,000 in funding annually over a maximum of three years) to assist non-profit organizations coalitions to raise the awareness of the abuse of older adults on a national or regional level.