Honouring seniors and uniting generations
Mon Sheong Golden Seniors Celebration was held September 19 at Casa Deluz Banquet Hall to honour the selfless contributions of seniors to their families and community, and to foster the younger generation’s virtue of caring for the elderly.
Over 340 guests attended the event, including 120 seniors aged over 75 who were treated to a complimentary dinner. Among them, two were 99 years old, and 18 were aged 90 or above. The combined age of all attendees exceeded 10,000 years. The heartwarming evening highlighted the spirit of respect for the elderly within the community.
Garth Low, President of Mon Sheong Foundation, expressed his gratitude to event co-chairs Ron Tse and Connie Fong and the Event Task Force for their contributions. He also shared with the community the joy of Mon Sheong reaching a new milestone, “With the upcoming opening of Mon Sheong Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre, our total number of operating care beds will rise to 1,001, making us the largest non-profit long-term care operator in Ontario. The achievement of this new milestone would not have been possible without the strong support from the community. While significant progress has been made, Mon Sheong continues to expand its capacity, as the need for long-term care remains high. The 320-bed Markham Long-Term Care Centre is targeted for completion next spring. Another new facility with 288 care beds in Richmond Hill is also ready to begin construction as soon as government approvals are granted. The development of the new facilities relies on the collective support of the entire community, in order to benefit more people in need.”
Event co-chairs Ron Tse and Connie Fong expressed sincere thanks to the kind individuals and organizations who generously sponsored tickets to this celebration, allowing 120 seniors to be treated to a complimentary dinner. They also extended their gratitude to event sponsor MediSystem Pharmacy for their continued support to Mon Sheong’s community events over the years, as well as donors and sponsors who contributed a variety of gifts for charity sales and loot bags, helping to spread warmth and love in the community.
The event showcased a series of vibrant performances. Highlights included energetic dances by talented young performers from the Georgia’s Dance & Arts Cultural Centre, heartfelt renditions of classic hits by the the event organizers First Vice-Chair Doris Chan and renowned vocal coach Mark Yim, as well as the beautiful water sleeve dance performed by students of Mon Sheong Foundation Chinese School, sparking continuous applause.
In addition, the evening featured lively activities such as Bingo games, a charity sale, a raffle draw, and the sale of loot bags, contributing to a heartwarming atmosphere. All seniors aged 75 or above received a gift of a hand-knitted item crafted with love by the many kind-hearted volunteers, symbolizing warmth and care from the community. Sincere gratitude was extended to radio host Ty Li and 10-year-old student Scarlett See from Mon Sheong Foundation Chinese School, who served as the event’s emcees and helped energize the room with their enthusiasm.
Through hosting the Golden Seniors Celebration, Mon Sheong Foundation upholds the mission of caring for the elderly and nurturing the young, by fostering connections between the younger generation and seniors. The aim is to strengthen the cohesion of the Chinese community, promote the spirit of respecting and caring for the elderly, and achieve the goal of intergenerational continuity.
To learn more about Mon Sheong Foundation’s other projects, visit www.monsheong.org.