Seniors Active Living Fairs

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 nineteen years, to coordinate the development and operation of Seniors Active Living Fairs (hereafter referred to as “Fairs”) throughout Ontario. We are launching the 2025 – 2026 Seniors Active Living Fairs Funding Program and acknowledge funding from the Government of Ontario.

As we focus on reengaging seniors in their community, adaptability in programming approaches has become essential. Many centres have mastered the virtual program delivery model with strong participation from seniors in their communities; others have shifted towards safe in-person program delivery, or a hybrid model, incorporating necessary health measures as required. With this variety 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 2025 – 2026:
• In-Person Single-Site 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 seniors to their Senior Active Living Centre, restoring them as vibrant community hubs. The fairs will showcase programs and service delivery models that the centres have planned to strengthen their communities. It is an opportunity to reconnect seniors to SALCs and get them excited about the next chapter in this journey. 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 available to them.

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. Continue to live at home and in communities
• Supporting seniors with services and care to enable them to continue to live at home and in their communities.
2. Remain healthy, active and socially engaged
• Remaining active and socially engaged is one of the most important things seniors can do to maintain their independence and quality of life as they age.
3. Be safe and secure
• Promoting the rights of seniors and helping them protect themselves from abuse, including scams (for example, telemarketing, Internet scams) and financial exploitation (for example, misuse of a Power of Attorney, fraud).
4. Participate in the labour market and in the economy as they wish
• Seniors have extensive knowledge, experience and skills, and seniors who are active in the labour force, or as a leader or who volunteers in their communities, make important contributions to the economy and society.

The government also recently reiterated their commitment to seniors through the introduction of the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024, including a three-year, $114-million suite of initiatives to enhance the quality of life and care for the province’s seniors. Fairs can play a key role in helping seniors across Ontario learn more about financial security and local health and social services and provide opportunities to stay engaged in their community.

What are Seniors Active Living Fairs?

A Seniors Active Living Fair is a public education initiative, developed in partnership between the OACAO and MSAA. Its objective is to increase awareness about available programs and services for seniors and share knowledge about healthy aging and active lifestyles. This reduces seniors’ social isolation, improves their overall health and wellbeing and helps them 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.