Seniors Active Living Fairs

Thank you to all centres that hosted Seniors Active Living Fairs! We acknowledge and thank the Government of Ontario for the funding provided to the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario for the implementation of the 2023 – 2024 Seniors Active Living Fair project.

We provided funding for the following:
• 77 individual in-person fairs
• 20 multi-site in-person fairs
• 1 virtual fair
• 3 northern fairs

As in the past, a funding proposal has been submitted to the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility earlier this year with a request for continued and expanded funding to support the OACAO to administer the Seniors Active Living Fairs project for 2024-2025. Watch the OACAO website and list serve for announcements.

Questions can be directed to the OACAO at info@oacao.org or call 905-584-8125 or toll free 1-866-835-7693.

Funding provided by:

Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility – Supports for seniors

 

A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors 

English PDF Version (Fall 2022) (click on image)

The online Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors version (Fall 2022): https://www.ontario.ca/document/guide-programs-and-services-seniors

Version PDF française (Automne 2022) (cliquez sur l’image)

La version en ligne du Guide des programmes et services pour les aînés (Automne 2022): https://www.ontario.ca/fr/document/guide-des-programmes-et-services-pour-les-aines

There are no currently scheduled events.

Project Overview and Background

The Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario (OACAO) has been gratefully partnering with the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility (MSAA) on a contractual basis, for over fifteen years, to coordinate the development and operation of Seniors Active Living Fairs (hereafter referred to as “Fairs”) throughout Ontario. We are launching the 2023-2024 Seniors Active Living Fairs Funding Program and acknowledge funding from the Government of Ontario.

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth year, adaptability in programming approaches has become commonplace. Many centres have mastered the virtual program delivery model with strong uptake from seniors in their communities; while others have movied towards the return to safe in-person program delivery, or a hybrid delivery mode, with some public health measures still in place as needed. With this diversity of program delivery in mind, and with funding support from MSAA, we are offering the Seniors Active Living Fairs Funding Program in three formats for 2023 – 2024:

  • In-Person Fairs Funding
  • In-Person Multi-Site Funding
  • Virtual Fairs Funding

There is limited funding available to fund a set number of projects in each funding formats.

In-Person and Virtual Fairs supported by MSAA and OACAO, will provide a great public education forum to reintroduce and reconnect older adults to their Senior Active Living Centre and bring them back up to the vibrant community hubs that they were pre-pandemic. The events will showcase programs and service delivery models that the centres have planned to strengthen their communities. It is an opportunity to reconnect older adults to SALCs and get them excited about the next chapter in this post-pandemic puzzle. In-person Fairs will include a Trade Show as an educational component highlighting local community services to support seniors as well as the government programs that they are entitled to.

Ontario’s seniors have made life-long contributions to Ontario. We know that most seniors want to live healthy, independent lives in their own homes and communities. Seniors also want to remain active and be safe and secure, no matter where they call home. In light of this, Fairs will provide opportunities to support the Government of Ontario’s cross-governmental priorities noted below that will improve the lives of seniors and provide the supports and resources to help them:

  1. Age at home and in communities
  2. Remain healthy, active and socially engaged
  3. Be safe and secure
  4. Participate in the labour market and in the economy as they wish

 

What are Seniors Active Living Fairs?

A Seniors Active Living Fair (Fair) is a public education initiative, developed in partnership between the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario (OACAO) Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility (MSAA). Fairs are accessible and increase awareness about available programs and services for seniors in their communities. They are a forum to build community partnerships, share knowledge about healthy aging and encourage participation in active lifestyles. Fairs reduce seniors’ social isolation, improve their overall health and wellbeing and help maintain their independence. The funding provided by MSAA will help inform Ontario’s diverse seniors, their families and care partners, about the benefits of healthy living and the importance of exercise, nutrition, safety, and security.