When the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary lock-down measures disrupted community services, Canadian seniors who depend on those services for support became increasingly vulnerable and isolated. On March 29, to provide immediate essential services to seniors during the pandemic, the Government of Canada announced a grant of $9 million under the New Horizons for Seniors Program to be distributed through the United Way Centraide Canada network.
In the NWT, the United Way utilized $50,000 to provide grants to 15 organizations across 16 different communities, supporting seniors and their caregivers in dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this program are now available online, including a fantastic map showing all the investments across Canada.
New Horizons for Seniors Program recipients
| Recipient | Community (ies) |
| Hamlet of Aklavik | Aklavik |
| Alzheimer Society of Alberta andNorthwest Territories | Yellowknife |
| Avens – A Community for Seniors | Yellowknife |
| Community Garden Society of Inuvik | Inuvik |
| Délįne Got’ı̨ne Government | Délįne |
| Hamlet of Enterprise | Enterprise |
| Charter Community of K’asho Got’ı̨ne | Fort Good Hope |
| Hamlet of Fort Providence | Fort Providence |
| Deninu Kų́ę́ First Nation | Fort Resolution |
| Gwich’in Tribal Council | Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik andFort McPherson |
| Town of Hay River | Hay River |
| Inuvialuit Charitable Foundation | Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, UlukhaktokAklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk |
| Jean Marie River First Nation | Jean Marie River |
| K’atl’odeeche / Hay River Reserve | Hay River |
| Hamlet of Paulatuk | Paulatuk |
