October is a special time in Manitoba as its Seniors' Month, highlighting the importance of improving the lives of our older residents.   

The Age-Friendly Manitoba initiative is all about making our communities great places to live, no matter your age. Although there has been progress since its launch in 2008, there's still work to do. The current initiative is a call to action, urging municipalities to recommit to becoming age-friendly.   

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) is teaming up with the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities to make a positive change. Denys Volkov, the Executive Director of the AMM, speaks about the funding available for municipalities.   

"We are very excited that there is funding available for municipalities," Volkov notes. "Because the age-friendly initiative is something that's been happening for a long time and there is not always funding available, we're very happy to see this partnership with the Association of Senior Communities here in Manitoba." 

The heart of this initiative is the Community Collaboration grants, with a total value of $100,000. They will be awarded to projects jointly proposed by municipalities and at least three local organizations. These projects can include a variety of improvements like better accessibility, stronger community connections, and more inclusive transportation. The application deadline is December 3, 2023.  

To be eligible for these grants, municipalities must already be on the Age-Friendly pathway and propose projects that improve at least two of eight domains, such as outdoor spaces, transportation, and community support.

 

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