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Expo first step in Newmarket-Aurora MPP's plan to support seniors

Community Connections Expo brought together local organizations supporting seniors; next year, Dawn Gallagher Murphy wants it to be even bigger

Organizations supporting seniors in Newmarket and Aurora came together today for the first Community Connections Expo, hosted by MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy. 

“The purpose of this event is to connect all the groups who serve seniors in this community,” she said. 

Seventeen organizations, including the Newmarket Public Library, Newmarket Seniors' Meeting Place, The Meadows, CHATS and more, came to meet with Gallagher Murphy and learn from each other in a round table discussion. 

The goal was to share information about services and see how they could help each other support seniors. 

Raymond Cho, minister of seniors and accessibility, also attended with his parliamentary assistant and Richmond Hill MPP Daisy Wai. 

“Dawn is a very strong advocate for seniors wherever she goes. She is always talking about the seniors in Newmarket-Aurora whenever she can,” he said. “She really cares.” 

He said his favourite part of the job is coming out to ridings like Newmarket-Aurora to meet with people and added that Gallagher Murphy is his favourite MPP. 

Cho spoke about the importance of our seniors, who built the province of Ontario. He also spoke of the challenges facing seniors stemming from the pandemic.  

"The past couple years were tough, especially for our seniors. We need to get back meeting people. Not meeting people is a killer,” he said. 

He went on to say that social isolation is public enemy No. 1, referencing a 2022 report from the National Institute on Aging that said the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 

To help combat that, he announced that this year the provincial government is investing $14 million into senior active living centres across Ontario, which includes the Aurora Seniors Centre and Newmarket Seniors' Meeting Place. 

"Our seniors deserve all the respect in the world. That is why I’m so proud that both centres are receiving $51,000," Cho said. 

Gallagher Murphy is also taking her own steps to support seniors. She introduced a private members bill to officially proclaim June as Seniors Month in Ontario. The bill recently passed second reading. 

She said she expects the bill to receive royal ascent by the fall and next year at this time she hopes to be holding this expo in an even larger venue and open it up to all seniors in the community to connect with one another and see what services are available. 

"This is just one step in the process of where I want to go with this. I’m sure we can make this expo beyond comparison in celebration of all our seniors,” she said. 


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Elizabeth Keith

About the Author: Elizabeth Keith

Elizabeth Keith is a general assignment reporter. She graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2017. Elizabeth is passionate about telling local stories and creating community.
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