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
Golden Lens:
Capturing Wisdom through the Ages!
September 18th - December 18th, 2024
Online via Zoom &
in-person locations (TBD)
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: https://www.mariammagsi.com/
Healthy Arts for Seniors: Cooking Up Community!
w. Mariam Magsi
Cooking Up Community! led by artist Mariam Magsi, 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.
The senior participants will learn new digital photography and post-processing skills, while also gaining knowledge about the power of social media, blogging, running a creative sole-proprietorship and generating wealth through the arts. These thematic explorations and photography/digital skills building workshops will result in a professional exhibition of works by the seniors held at a local Scarborough gallery. Furthermore, the participants will also have unique opportunities to participate in creative workshops with local artisans, experts and instructors.
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Workshop dates:
September 6th, 2023 - November 22, 2023
Every Wednesday from 2-4 PM, with a 10 min break in between session
Healthy Arts for Seniors: Cooking Up Feminism! w. Mariam Magsi
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.
As a part of this program, program participants had the chance to meet each week for 12 weeks to discuss and share topics related to intergenerational wisdom, cooking, personal lived experiences, health, and wellness. This program culminated in thee development of a cookbook developed which featured submitted photographs taken during cooking prompts in the workshops while also providing written reflections on food and family in relation to the meals they were making and sharing together.
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This book and program was made possible by the generous support of the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, The Ontario Arts Council and The City of Toronto.
All photographs from the event courtesy of Cooking Up Feminism Program Facilitator: Mariam Magsi.
Cooking Up Feminism Book Cover by: Sarah Alinia Ziazi
Interior Book Design and Layout by: Fallon Simard
Scarborough Arts Issuu Account for publications: https://issuu.com/scarborougharts
Previous Healthy Arts For Seniors Publications
Healthy Arts for Seniors: Mandarin and English Speaking Seniors Cultural Cookbook
This is a photo cookbook featuring 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.