Newcomers

This 4-agency partnership project, launched in the Fall of 2013, has provided over 220 Bengali and Tamil seniors in Scarborough with inclusive social and wellness programming weekly, at 4 agency sites. Generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the project supported many seniors from these underserved groups to expand their physical activity, build vital community connections, reduce social isolation, and empower their civic voices, thereby improving their settlement outcomes.

Participants recieve many benefits, including:

• An informal drop-in space
• Healthy living workshops
• Board and active games
• Creative arts expression – music, drama, dance
• Bengali-Tamil and Canadian cultural celebrations
• Civic education and activities
• Community outings

In 2016, its third and final year of Ontario Trillium Foundation funding, the program created Senior’s advisory committees at partner sites as the Scarborough programs transitioned to a more peer-led model with seniors taking on greater governance duties with agency supports. We are happy to say that the program continues at all partner sites with partial funding while longer term funding is pursued to sustain this high impact program at the south Scarborough area.