Who Can Apply?

Twice per year, we award Community Spirit Grants of up to $2,500 per initiative to individuals or organizations who are doing great work to support seniors in our community in the areas of Seniors’ Wellness, Seniors’ Active Living, and Seniors’ Social Connections. You must meet one of the following criteria to apply:

  • Be an employee of Shannex, Parkland or Faubourg du Mascaret
  • A community-based non-profit organization, registered charity, or registered association
  • Applications must be from regions where Shannex operates in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Ontario

If you’re interest in applying, please complete the following Expression of Interest form.

Examples of projects could include:

  • Establishing or strengthening a network or association that serves older adults within their communities in support of our focus areas.
  • Developing and improving seniors’ wellness, active living or social connections.
  • Creating opportunities for learning, relationship-building, enhanced social connections between generations (intergenerational).
  • Providing community services that support the independence of older adults.
  • Organizing and promoting conferences or learning forums, especially those that engage residents.
  • Developing research, knowledge, tools and resource materials.
  • Expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse.
  • Training older adult volunteers to become supportive mentors to assist their peers in dealing with issues such as loneliness, grief, and age-related changes.

Our Recent Community Spirit Grant Recipients

Meals on Wheels Fredericton offers nutrition, learning sessions and socialization opportunities for seniors. Our grant will help more seniors, people with disabilities and members of the Sitansisk First Nation community participate in their weekly community meal program. 

The Sackville Seniors Advisory Council helps seniors with isolation and depression, and also provides them with a sense of worth through programming and activities including knitting, crocheting, grief support, mental health, friends gathering groups and weight loss sessions. Our grant will help them replace old furniture to provide comfortable seating to clients when they attend their programs.

The Alzheimer Society of Durham Region provides support to people living with dementia and their family and care partners. Our grant will help support their Comfort Companions Program which provides robotic pets and dolls that are designed to bring comfort and companionship for those living with dementia. 

The Portapique Market offers a weekly market greens program for seniors. Our grant will help sponsor seniors living with diet related illnesses and provide them with an opportunity to socialize, create a meal together and participate in movement activities that are adapted to the physical needs of each participant. 

The Stepping Stone Senior Centre in Fredericton offers daily seniors programming and organizes day trips for interested seniors, particularly those experiencing social isolation, troubled times, and who are not able to visit places for whatever reasons. Our grant will offer more seniors from the area the opportunity to participate in healthy aging programming and socialize during a variety of outings. 

Moncton Lions Community Centre delivers fitness, creativity, social, and health and wellness programs for seniors at their center and in nursing homes in the Greater Moncton area. Our grant will enable them to purchase the required equipment in order to deliver their programs. 

The YMCA of Greater Saint John will convert a room at the Irving Oil Field House into a senior’s hub which will include an office area, a meeting place, a cardio corner, a reading nook, and a social circle. Our grant will support the room conversion and enable more seniors to have access to activities that support their physical and mental health. 

The Lucasville Community Association offers programs for seniors which include fitness, social and cultural events. Our grant will help them extend their Coffee House program where many seniors regularly gather to socialize. 

Operation Kindness in Truro started off as a great idea and helped 50 seniors in the community benefit from having a full meal on Christmas Day last year. Our grant will help the group of volunteers grow this initiative and deliver up to 300 meals to seniors this year. 

March Community Spirit Grant Recipients