A Burnaby charitable society hopes to receive federal funding for current and future projects that will help seniors facing transportation issues.
Stephen D’Souza, executive director at Burnaby Community Services, said the organization has sent an application to receive funding for the next five years that will allow them to work alongside TransLink and ICBC to find better solutions for seniors.
D’Souza made the comments after an appearance Thursday by federal Seniors Minister Filomena Tassi at a meeting in Burnaby for stakeholders and organizations that support and care for seniors.
Tassi said the government is increasing the New Horizons for Seniors Program by $100 million over five years and $20 million per year ongoing.
“I think the seniors input is the success of the program,” Tassi said.
D’Souza said Burnaby Community Services has been leading the Seniors on the Move project for nearly three years, adding the program has helped make Metro Vancouver more accessible for seniors who need to get around the city.
“To have the minister hear from the seniors in our community, I think meant a lot,” said D’Souza, adding that the project would benefit greatly from the funding.
D’Souza said the funding would also help Burnaby Community Services as it currently takes the next steps towards training seniors to take on leadership positions and to be peer navigators to help them understand their options for transit in the community.
