Canada Manitoba's annual "Be a Santa to a Senior" initiative is underway in Winnipeg. The purpose of this initiative is to deliver Christmas gifts to seniors during the festive season.
One of the initiators, Home Instead Senior Care, states that seniors are often the demographic that feels the most lonely during Christmas, as they may not receive visitors during the holidays, compounded by a decreasing opportunity to engage socially, making this a particularly isolating time for them.
According to the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, approximately one in ten seniors aged 65 and older in Manitoba belong to low-income groups, and during the Christmas season, this group feels even more isolated. In response, Winnipeg has initiated the "Be a Santa to a Senior" program to deliver Christmas gifts to local low-income seniors. It is reported that last year, the initiative distributed 1,600 gifts.
Link: Canada's Comprehensive Social Welfare System
Old Age Security (OAS): Canadians, regardless of their assets or income, are eligible for the Old Age Security pension. OAS does not require contributions. If you are a Canadian citizen or immigrant aged 65 or older and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after the age of 18, you can receive OAS pension, which is calculated based on the number of years you have lived in Canada.
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