Happy Seniors' Month from the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat

Posted Le 16 juin 2016

To celebrate Seniors’ Month, recognized each year in June in Ontario, two members of our Fall Prevention Community of Practice (CoP) participated in a Seniors’ Tea in Barrie hosted by Ann Hoggarth, the local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Barrie on Wed. June 15, 2016. 

Both Paul Foster and Monica Menecola spoke with about 45 local Barrie seniors about healthy aging and active living.  Paul Foster is a Public Education Advisor with the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat (OSS) and Monica Menecola is the Regional Integration Lead for the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy for Simcoe County and Muskoka with Osteoporosis Canada.  Paul spoke about Seniors’ Month and the role of the OSS and Monica about fall prevention and osteoporosis. 

In June each year, Ontario celebrates and recognizes the contributions seniors make to our communities. In 1974, United Senior Citizens of Ontario approached the province to establish a Seniors’ Week each June. Ontario accepted the recommendation and for 10 years promoted Seniors’ Week, which developed into Seniors’ Month in 1984. This year 2016, is the 32nd annual Seniors’ Month held in Ontario. OSS supports and promotes community-based activities by: participating in community events; distributing a themed poster and promotion materials, and listing of community events on the OSS website calendar.

The Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs selects a distinct theme each year. This year’s theme is, “Seniors Making a Difference”.  The theme recognizes the important role seniors play in our communities and in the life of the province. Seniors’ Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honour the knowledge, experience and the contributions that seniors make every day in communities across Ontario.  Many communities host events throughout the month honouring seniors. Celebrating Seniors’ Month is part of Ontario’s commitment to help seniors stay active, safe and engaged in their communities.

For Seniors’ Month 2016, we are encouraging Ontarians who know of a senior “making a difference” to take a photo of them in action. Tweet the photo on Twitter to @OntSeniors, and use the hashtag #VibrantSeniors. The OSS will share them across the province during Seniors’ Month.

Happy Seniors’ Month!