By Tessa Swanton (Townson),
Bruce Peninsula Press
Ontario’s Minister of Seniors and Accessibility, The Honourable Raymond Cho, alongside Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Paul Vickers, met with Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (MNBP) staff and Lion’s Head Friendship Club representatives, Maxine and Larry Catteau, on Thursday, October 9.
The intimate meeting showed Minister Cho and MPP Vickers’ overwhelming support for the Municipality’s Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) program. This community-based initiative offers social, cultural, and recreational programs to keep seniors engaged and active. Ontario has invested approximately $15 million dollars into the program with an additional $17 million dollars devoted in 2025 to fund 416 SALCs across the province. This intergovernmental collaboration is an opportunity to improve the health and well-being of seniors in a small rural community through a multi-year program.
A MNBP media release from Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Peggy Van Mierlo-West, states, “This vital funding allows the Municipality to deliver engaging, inclusive, and health-focused activities that strengthen social connections and enhance quality of life for older adults across the Peninsula.”
Ontario supplied a 2024-2025 startup fund to the Municipality of $12,500 where municipal staff organized facility upgrades, volunteer training, and accessible programming which have allowed seniors to stay “active, creative, and socially connected,” said Van Mierlo-West. A greater provincial government contribution of $55,000 for 2025-2026 initiatives will allow CAO Van Mierlo-West; Mark Coleman, Parks and Facilities Manager; and Madie Barker, Museum and Recreation Programmer, to expand the program to offer “digital literacy training, intergenerational partnerships, and pop-up mobile programming.”
The Hon. Cho said, “We have all kinds of programs, among them, SALC is number one. At every SALC, seniors are so happy, so active.” In conversation, Minister Cho affirmed that “social isolation is public enemy number one for seniors.”
According to the 2021 Census, the average age in MNBP is 55.4 years old with 41% of people over 65, the highest age demographic of all municipalities in Grey and Bruce Counties. Mayor Milt McIver said, “Our seniors are the foundation of our community. The continued support from Minister Cho and the Province ensures we can provide meaningful programs that promote connection, creativity, and well-being across the Peninsula.”
Since April 2025, some highlights of the SALC program include the highly popular Chair Yoga with Shawn Radcliffe offered weekly to increase physical activity and mobility for seniors; virtual social games with Carolyn Shannon to promote laughter and wellness; movie nights; no-cost dinners; Seniors Olympics; and bus trips and excursions to St. Jacob’s Farmers Market, Stratford Performing Arts Festival, and Hamilton’s Royal Botanical Gardens. Through partnerships at rotating community facilities, local artisans and makers have offered workshops like creating herb gardens, seasonal planters, wreaths, painting, pottery, needle felting, wool work, glass art, and pendent making.
Madie Barker voiced to Minister Cho and MPP Vickers, “We’re very grateful for the money that we got because it’s such a widespread community. We have Pike Bay, Stokes Bay, Tobermory, Lion’s Head, they all have their own little senior communities and with the money that we’ve received, we’re able to spread the programming and that love all around.” Questions about the SALC program can be directed to Madie Barker at mbarker@northernbruce.ca or 1-833-793-3537 x 404.
MPP Vickers expressed, “The government wants to look after people from birth right to seniors.”
Minister Cho concluded his discussion by recounting his immigration experience from Korea in 1967 and career history. “Today I am the Minister. Canada is the best country, land of opportunity,” he declared.
