Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation announces 2025 recipients of Senior Care Micro Grant program.

To make a donation to support our Senior Care Fund, please click here 

(December 11th 2025) The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) is happy to announce its 2025 Senior Care Micro Grant recipients.  Two grants, each worth up to $5000, were made available to support senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough area.  After much thoughtful consideration, Curve Lake First Nation’s Home and Community Care and Mental Health Project, and One City Peterborough’s Nutritional Support for At-Risk Seniors Project, were selected as this years recipients.

“It was a difficult process to narrow down the applications.  Our recipients this year address both mental and physical health concerns, as well as nutritional concerns with some of the most vulnerable in our community.” said Vince Bierworth, Executive Director for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.  “Our committee, which was made up of healthcare professionals and community members, were very impressed with the quality and variety of projects submitted.  After much deliberation, they settled upon two projects that will have both an immediate and lasting impact for seniors and elders in our community.”

In their application, Curve Lake First Nation states that the Home and Community Care and Mental Health Project “is addressing a critical gap in Elder care by providing culturally relevant mental health and wellness supports that are not currently available in our community.  There are limited opportunities for Elders to engage in programming that integrates mental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural well being.  Elders often face isolation, challenges with life transitions, and limited access to traditional knowledge and healing practices.  By offering biweekly gatherings that combine cultural teachings, land-based activities, art therapy, addictions awareness and connections to community partners, this project fills an unmet need and ensures our elders are supported in a holistic and culturally safe way.”

“Curve Lake Home and Community Care in partnership with Mental Health Services is sincerely grateful and deeply appreciative to the GPHSF for awarding us the Seniors Care Micro Grant.” Said Nicole Capalbo, Home & Community Care Manager at Curve Lake Health Centre.  “Our Elders are a vital part of our community, and this funding will be put to great use in enhancing culturally grounded mental health and wellness supports. This investment strengthens our ability to care for our Elders in meaningful ways that honor their dignity, identity, and overall well-being.”

In their application, One City Peterborough states that the Nutritional Support for At-Risk Seniors Project supports “Seniors who make up 35% of the individuals accessing drop-in services on a regular basis, many of whom also have complex nutritional needs due to chronic illness, diabetes, exposure related injuries, chronic malnutrition, and severe dental decay, among other factors.  This project will identify marginalized seniors with high nutritional needs that are not being met and provide interventions to offset their risk of associated health burdens.”

“One City Peterborough is very grateful that we will be able to use this grant to do just a little bit more to help those folks who face elevated health risks when they are unable to meet their nutritional needs.” Said Danita Gilbert, Nurse Care Coordinator with One City Peterborough.  “In addition to direct nutritional interventions, this pilot project will allow us to gather valuable data about the impact of nutrition on health for the most marginalized seniors in our community. We hope that this data can provide a foundation for development of a longer-term, targeted nutrition program.”

Congratulations to both organizations and thank you to all who submitted applications.  The GPHSF Senior Care Micro Grant program will be a yearly program with the next request for applications opening in August 2026.  To find out more about the program and the Greater Peterborough Health Service Foundation history with Senior Care funding, please see the backgrounder below.

If you would like to make a donation to support the GPHSF’s Senior Care Fund, or find out more about the program, please see below.

(Left to Right) Vince Bierworth, Executive Director Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF), Bailley Taylor NNADAP worker, Nicole Capalbo Home & Community Care Manager Curve Lake First Nation

(Left to Right) Michael Vanderherberg, Director of Property Development One City Peterborough, Cheyenne Buck Trinity Drop-in Coordinator, Brian McCarthy Finance Coordinator One City Peterborough, Vince Bierworth Executive Director Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF)

Senior Care Micro Grants – Background

When the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation was first established (originally called St. Joseph’s Care Foundation) in 1999, its primary focus was to fund senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough Community.  Over the years the Foundation has grown, taken on new partnerships, and expanded its focus (also taking on the name GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation), however senior care has remained a primary and important focus for funding.

Our new Senior Care Micro Grant program is meant to be a low barrier applicant process.  The grants can be used as seed money to address a new need or as financial support to an existing program in Peterborough City, County, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation.  There are two grants available, with up to $5000 in funding available with each grant.

These grants have been made possible due to funding provided by the June Towle Trust. June Towle passed away in 2023.  As part of her legacy, she established the June Towle Trust that would see money from her estate be donated to the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation upon her passing.  We greatly appreciate these legacy funds that June left to the Foundation and hope to honour June’s memory through our micro grant program.  To find out more on how you can create a legacy trust of your own to making meaningful healthcare impact in our community, please contact the Foundation at info@GPHSF.ca or call 705 740 8074.

Senior Care Micro Grants – Criteria

Applications are open to community and not-for-profit organizations, including medical organizations, that run programming and services, or are proposing to run programming and services, within the boundaries of Peterborough City and/or Peterborough Country, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation.

Proposed projects must be general in scope (inclusive of and impactful on as many people as possible).  Project completion must occur within one (1) year of approval unless extension is granted by Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.  Grant funding can be applied to existing projects or used as seed money for new projects.

Maximum of $5000 available for each grant.  A maximum of $10,000 is available across all grants (two total).

Project timeline and budget must be provided.

Senior Care micro grant projects may include.

• Research
• Equipment
• Nutrition
• Physical Activity
• Mental Health

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Have a lasting impact on our community.
• Support emerging needs in our community.
• Improve the quality of life for seniors in the community.

Please note that all grant applications must be from a not-for-profit charitable organization, with charitable registration number, and located in and/or serving the City or County of Peterborough.

Contact the GPHSF: