Two seniors’ activity centres in Northumberland County are receiving a combined $113,476 in annual provincial funding to help older adults stay active, healthy and connected to their communities.
The Ontario government announced the funding through the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, with the money supporting programs at the Cobourg Seniors Activity Centre and Ruth Clarke Activity Centre in Port Hope during the 2026-27 funding year.
The Cobourg Seniors Activity Centre will receive $55,880.
The centre serves approximately 1,000 older adults annually from Cobourg and the surrounding Northumberland community, offering everything from social activities and exercise classes to creative programs and pickleball.
Meanwhile, the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre, located at the Town Park Recreation Centre in Port Hope, will receive $57,596.
The centre serves nearly 700 older adults and offers recreational programming, fitness classes, arts and cultural activities, educational workshops, dining opportunities and transportation services.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini says the funding will help older residents maintain their independence while remaining involved in their communities.
“Programs like these play an important role in helping seniors stay active, build friendships and remain connected to their communities,” said Piccini.
“Our seniors deserve opportunities to stay engaged, maintain their independence and enjoy a high quality of life close to home.”
The local funding is part of a provincewide investment of nearly $23 million supporting 416 Seniors Active Living Centre programs across Ontario, including 97 new programs.
Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho says the investment is intended to help more older adults access recreational and social opportunities, regardless of where they live.
The announcement also coincides with the 60th anniversary of Ontario’s first six Elderly Persons’ Centres, established in 1966.
Those centres eventually evolved into today’s Seniors Active Living Centre programs, which provide opportunities for older adults to participate in physical activities, educational programs and community events.
The province says the continued investment is designed to reduce social isolation, encourage healthy aging and help seniors remain independent in their home communities.
Together, the Cobourg and Port Hope centres serve approximately 1,700 older adults each year.
