MEDIA RELEASE April 25, 2017

SCARBOROUGH ORGANIZATIONS SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING 

TO SUPPORT LOCAL PROJECTS, EVENTS

SCARBOROUGH – Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre, recently announced funding for several community organizations that will support local projects and events ranging from helping seniors improve their language skills to celebrating multiculturalism in Scarborough. Several grants were awarded by the Department of Canadian Heritage:

• Heritage Skills Development Centre is receiving $18,800 to support the Scarborough Afro-Carib Fest from the Building Communities Through Arts & Heritage Program.
• TESOC Multicultural Settlement Services is receiving $750 to support its ''Canada Vazhha'' Tamil event from the Celebrate Canada Program.
• Canada’s Music Incubator is receiving $50,000 to help provide training in the arts from the Canada Arts Training Fund.

“As we celebrate Canada’s 150^th Birthday in 2017, I’m pleased that the Government of Canada is able to support made in Scarborough projects that celebrate the arts and the rich multiculturalism of our community,” said Zahid. Several grants were also awarded by Families, Children and Social Development Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program:

• Scarborough Elderly Mahjong Club is receiving $25,000 to train seniors on basic photographing skills and also showcase the photos through an art exhibit.
• Vasantham – A Tamil Seniors Wellness Centre is receiving $24,126 to organize cultural cooking, computer literacy and storytelling sessions with seniors and their grandchildren.
• TESOC Multicultural Settlement Services is receiving $24,490 to offer basic English and French language workshops for seniors using tablets, mentor other seniors and organize a trip to Ottawa.

“The Government of Canada is dedicated to ensuring that Canadian seniors can get involved in community activities that meet their needs and interests, tap their collective resources and experiences, and promote their participation,” said MP Zahid. “We support New Horizons for Seniors Program projects like these so that seniors across Canada can lead and participate in local activities beneficial to many.”