Healthy Arts for Seniors
Scarborough Arts’ Healthy Arts for Seniors (HAFS) Program has been in existence at SA since 2013.
Healthy Arts for Seniors offers inclusive and accessible creative workshops for seniors in Scarborough with a goal to reduce social isolation, engage and support seniors on their journey of capturing and documenting their life stories, and showcasing and publication opportunities to share their stories with the public.
Healthy Arts for Seniors: Mandarin and English Speaking Seniors Program, 2019 at Chester Le Community Corner.
Header photo: Image Description: A brightly lit group photograph of Scarborough Arts staff and board member, Cooking Up Feminism participants and facilitator Mariam Magis, and family and friends who attended the cooking up feminism cookbook launch on Saturday, March 25th, at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre. In the background of the photograph are brightly lit lights illuminating colorful paintings by artist Che Ree Kwon.
First Row (Left to Right): Emily Peltier (Program Manager at Scarborough Arts, Mariam Magsi (Program Facilitator), Faith Rajasingham (Program Coordinator at Scarborough Arts).
Second Row (Left to Right): Suman Roy (Board Chair at Scarborough Arts), event guest, Ann Marie Leon (Program Participant), event guest, Lady Pearline Morris “Lady P” (Program Participant), Ebru Winegard (Program Participant), Zeni Shariff (Program Participant), event guest.
Third Row (Left to Right): Event guest, event guest, event guest, event guest, event guest, event guest, event guest, Derek Spooner (Scarborough Arts Executive Director).
I have looked forward to “Cooking Up Feminism” every single week.
It has really felt like every week we are preparing for a party with our family and friends. There has been so much to look forward to. This has really felt like home. ~ Ebru, Cooking Up Feminism! Past Participant
RECENT PROGRAMS
Golden Lens:
Capturing Wisdom through the Ages!
September 18th - December 18th, 2024
Free seniors (55+) program!
In an era defined by digital connectivity and rapid technological advancements, seniors often find themselves at risk of social isolation and digital exclusion. Recognizing the value of their lived experiences, we have developed a comprehensive program tailored to seniors that integrates digital literacy, photography, storytelling, intergenerational wisdom and celebrates the unique migration experiences of individuals from BIPOC backgrounds in Scarborough, Ontario. This program aims to bridge generational gaps, promote healthy aging through wellness, empower seniors with digital+creative skills, and provide a platform for them to share their rich cultural heritage through multimedia storytelling.
Facilitated by MARIAM MAGSI
Cooking Up Community!
September 6th - November 22nd, 2023
Free seniors (55+) program!
Cooking Up Community! is a free hybrid social program for BIPOC seniors to learn various creative skills through guided workshops in a safe learn+share environment. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in photographic art practice, while exploring themes around food, migration, family and identity. The stories, experiences and recipes will be recorded and published on the program’s blog (link below) and the workshops will also culminate in a creative cultural book.
Facilitated by MARIAM MAGSI
Past Publications
Through our Healthy Arts for Seniors program, we have published various community cookbooks & cultural books - documenting the stories, histories, recipes, and more shared throughout the duration of our programs.
All publications are available for viewing through ISSUU
Cooking Up Community! took place from October 2023-March 2024 and was led by artist Mariam Magsi to foster a multicultural ‘learn + share’ social environment for BIPOC seniors (55+), through culinary exploration and storytelling, while honouring migrant lived experiences through creative modes, such as self portraiture and photography of food. A digital (blog) and physical archive (book) was created to document the workshops process, as well as serve as a platform to archive recipes, along with an amalgam of photographs and stories
Cooking Up Community! Book Cover by: Chrysalis.
Interior Book Design and Layout by: Chrysalis.
Cooking Up Feminism! took place from October 2022-March 2023 and was led by artist Mariam Magsi to foster a multicultural ‘learn + share’ social environment for BIPOC seniors (55+), through culinary exploration and storytelling, while honouring migrant lived experiences through creative modes, such as self portraiture and photography of food. A digital (blog) and physical archive (book) was created to document the workshops process, as well as serve as a platform to archive recipes, along with an amalgam of photographs and stories
Cooking Up Feminism! Book Cover by: Sarah Alinia Ziazi
Interior Book Design and Layout by: Fallon Simard
Healthy Arts for Seniors: Mandarin and English Speaking Seniors Cultural Cookbook was published as part of the 2020-2021 HAFS program.
This photo cookbook features traditional Chinese food, with the aim of telling authentic stories for adults aged 55 and older. Along with each dish is a brief description of each participant's connection to the food that they've prepared in China, as well as being prepared for their families here in Canada. Recipes here are a diverse selection of Chinese cookery, ranging from a traditional stir fry to a delicious dessert.
Healthy Arts for Seniors: Newcomer and Refugee Seniors Cultural Cookbook in collaboration with CASSA.
In food we find a space of togetherness. Recipes share the living history of culture, lineage, and family. It’s why Scarborough Arts is so excited to be sharing the launch of the Cultural Cookbook Project from the participants of our Healthy Arts for Seniors programming with Tamil newcomer and refugee seniors that took place from November 2019 to early February 2020.