December 14, 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR SENIORS
Falls Prevention Seminar And Resource Kit Helps Seniors Stay Safe And Active

TORONTO – The McGuinty Government is helping seniors live safe, active and independent lives by launching the Falls Prevention Seminar and Resource Kit, Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors, announced today. Read the full news release.

Backgrounder: Facts About Falls
Backgrounder: Take Our Quiz Are You at Risk of Falling?
Backgrounder: Acknowledgements

November 17, 2006

OUTSTANDING ONTARIO SENIORS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE PROVINCE

TORONTO – Twenty-one outstanding older Ontarians will be presented with Ontario Senior Achievement Awards next week for contributions made to their communities, Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors announced today. Read the full news release.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

TORONTO – On November 11, 2006, please join us in honouring our veterans by remembering their selfless courage and commitment at the first Ceremony of Remembrance to be held at the Veterans' Memorial at Queen’s Park.  For more information, visit www.ontario.ca/veterans.

October 19, 2006

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT MARKS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY
Making It Easier For Victims To Get Help

TORONTO – The Ontario government is marking Elder Abuse Awareness Day by helping people to identify the signs of elder abuse and urging them to report it, Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors, announced today. Read the full news release.

Backgrounder

August 18, 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT MAKING IT EASIER FOR SENIORS TO ACCESS SERVICES
New Website Offers One-Stop Access to Seniors’ Services In 22 Ontario Communities

SAUGEEN SHORES – The McGuinty government, with its federal and municipal partners, has launched SeniorsInfo.ca making it easier for older adults to access information, programs and services from all levels of government Ontario Minister Responsible for Seniors, Jim Bradley announced today. Read the full news release.

Backgrounder

Local news releases: Arran-Elderslie, Asphodel-Norwood, Blind River, Brockton, Brockville, Bruce, Galway-Cavendish-Harvey, Georgian Bluffs, Greenstone, Hanover, Huron East, Huron-Kinloss, Kincardine, North Grenville, North Kawartha, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield, South Bruce, South Bruce Peninsula

August 17, 2006

PROVINCE ANNOUNCES VETERANS’ MEMORIAL UNVEILING DATE
Canadian Military Veterans Permanently Honoured On Queen’s Park Grounds

QUEEN’S PARK — The historic memorial commemorating the sacrifices of Canada’s veterans who served in war and peace will be unveiled on September 17, 2006, by the province, veterans, and the military, announced Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips today. Read the full news release.

June 15, 2006

TIME TO OPEN OUR EYES TO ELDER ABUSE
Public Service Announcements Unveiled on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

TORONTO – The McGuinty Government is supporting a public awareness campaign that will shed light on the problem of elder abuse, Jim Bradley, Ontario’s Minister Responsible for Seniors, announced today. Read the full news release.

May 29, 2006

MINISTER’S MESSAGE TO SENIORS: STAY FIT, LIVE WELL LONGER
Ontario Government Helping Communities Promote Active, Healthy Living

TORONTO – The McGuinty government is providing support to hundreds of communities across the province as they get set to celebrate Seniors’ Month in June, and plan for the challenges of Ontario’s aging population. Read the full news release.

May 3, 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT PROTECTING ONTARIO’S SENIORS
New Funding Enhances Community Services, Helps Combat Elder Abuse

TORONTO – The Ontario government is providing $459,000 in new funding to combat elder abuse, Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley announced today. Read the full news release.

Backgrounder

March 7, 2006

ONTARIO SENIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2005
22 Recipients Honoured For Making Important Contributions To Their Communities

TORONTO – An 84-year-old marathon runner is among the twenty-two recipients of the Ontario Senior Achievement Awards for 2005 announced today by Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors. Read the full news release.

February 27, 2006

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT WORKING TO COMBAT ELDER ABUSE
Experts Share Innovative Approaches For Protecting Seniors

TORONTO – Experts from across Ontario and other jurisdictions came together today at Ontario’s annual conference on elder abuse to share innovative ways to stop the abuse and neglect of senior citizens. The delegates were addressed by Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors. Read the full news release.

Backgrounder

January 2, 2006

JANUARY IS ALZHEIMER AWARENESS MONTH

TORONTO – The Ontario government’s strategy to build greater public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is working and is helping to improve the quality of life for Ontario seniors, Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley said today. Read the full news release.

November 23, 2005

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT PROTECTING PATIENTS FROM HARMFUL DRUG REACTIONS
New Health Care Technology Will Help Save Lives

TORONTO – The McGuinty government is helping prevent harmful drug reactions with the launch of a project that gives hospital emergency departments electronic access to some patients' prescription drug histories, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.
Read the full news release.

November 11, 2005

ONTARIANS URGED TO HONOUR FALLEN HEROES ON REMEMBRANCE DAY

TORONTO – The McGuinty government is encouraging people to honour and remember soldiers who fought and died for Canada by observing two minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors, said today. Read the full news release.

November 5, 2005

ONTARIANS TO REMEMBER WAR DEAD AND SALUTE VETERANS

QUEEN’S PARK – All Ontarians are encouraged to mark Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week this year by hearing the stories of veterans and reflecting on the sacrifices of those who paid a high price for the peace and freedom we now enjoy, Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors, said today. Read the full news release.

October 20, 2005

ONTARIO CONSUMERS TO RECEIVE A CREDIT ON ENERGY BILLS

QUEEN'S PARK – Ontario consumers will be receiving a one-time credit on their upcoming electricity bill. Read the full news release.

October 19, 2005

ONTARIO MARKS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON A HIDDEN CRIME

TORONTO – The Ontario government is marking Elder Abuse Awareness Day today to help raise awareness about this hidden crime said Jim Bradley, Minister Responsible for Seniors. Read the full news release.

Backgrounder

October 1, 2005

ONTARIO HONOURS SENIORS ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS

TORONTO – Today is International Day of Older Persons, an opportunity for Ontarians to recognize the important contribution seniors have made to building our province, said Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley. Read the full news release.

September 21, 2005

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES PLANNING GUIDE FOR ONTARIO’S CHINESE SENIORS
A Guide To Advance Care Planning helps seniors make decisions about their care

TORONTO – The McGuinty government is providing Chinese-speaking seniors and their families with Chinese-language information needed to make decisions about their future care, Minister Responsible for Seniors, Jim Bradley, announced today.
Read the full news release.
Chinese version.

Backgrounder
Chinese version.

Chinese translation of "A Guide to Advance Care Planning"

Victory in the Far East

August 15, 2005, is the 60th anniversary of the formal end of hostilities during the Second World War. This is Victory over Japan Day or V-J Day. This day is also known as Victory in the Far East, as the war was fought in many theatres: Hong Kong, Malaya, (now Malaysia), Singapore, Java (now Indonesia), Burma, (now Myanmar) and India. For more information, visit the Ontario Remembers website.

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT SELECTS TEAM TO DESIGN VETERANS’MEMORIAL
Artistic Monument To Be Erected On Front Lawn of Queen's Park

The Ontario government has selected a well-known Canadian war artist and landscape architectural firm to design and construct a memorial in honour of Canada’s military veterans.

The team of Allan Harding MacKay and Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg has been awarded the contract for the Veterans’ Memorial following a nationwide competition. The winning design will be unveiled in a groundbreaking ceremony on the grounds of the legislative assembly later this summer.  Read the full news release.

June 6, 2005

ONTARIO HONOURS VETERANS ON THE 61 ST ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY
Minister Thanks All Veterans For The Security and Freedoms We Enjoy Toda

TORONTO – The Ontario government is urging citizens to honour those who fought with their fellow Canadians and Allies on D-Day 61 years ago, John Gerretsen, Minister Responsible for Seniors, said today. Read the full news release.

GAINS Benefit Rate Table

The GAINS Rate Tables provides a reference of OAS/GIS/GAINS payments at specified levels of private income, depending on a senior's status e.g. single or couple. For more information visit or call the Ministry of Finance's Information Centre toll-free at 1-800-263-7965 or TTY at 1-800-263-7776

For more information please contact us at:

Ontario Seniors' Secretariat
777 Bay Street, 6th floor
Toronto ON   M7A 2J4

Seniors' InfoLine
Toll-free: 1-888-910-1999
TTY: 1-800-387-5559

We welcome your comments and suggestions for further improvements. Use the online form or e-mail us at info@mci.gov.on.ca.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Ontario will join a number of jurisdictions in Canada and around the world to mark the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Thursday, June 15, 2006.

Seniors' Corner
October 19 is Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Ontario

Do you have a friend who seems withdrawn lately, has unexplained physical injuries, seems depressed or fearful around certain people? These symptoms may be signs of a health condition – or they could be signs of elder abuse.

Elder Abuse has no place in our Ontario

October 19, 2005 is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This is the second consecutive year this day will be marked.

It is important to raise awareness about elder abuse because it can come in several forms: neglect, and/or physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse. There are several signs that point to elder abuse: unexplained physical injury, withdrawal from social contact, poor hygiene and nutrition, and unusual banking withdrawals. Elder abuse is often not reported by the victim, for fear of consequences or reprisal, or a feeling of shame, which is why we need to shed light on this hidden crime.