By Daisy Au, Coordinator, Seniors Club
On June 15, approximately 180 older adults, volunteers, community partners, and community members gathered at Collingwood Neighbourhood House for From Root to Rhythm – Strawberry Social, marking the 20th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
Co-hosted by the Chinese Community Response Network (CRN), MOSAIC, the Renfrew-Collingwood Community Response Network, and Collingwood Neighbourhood House, the event brought together people of all ages for an afternoon of reflection, creativity, music, and connection.
This year’s WEAAD theme, “With Compassion — We See. We Listen. We Remember. We Act.”, served as a powerful reminder that preventing elder abuse begins with building communities where older adults feel connected, valued, and supported.
Throughout the afternoon, participants explored the importance of social connection, belonging, and purposeful aging. The event reinforced a message echoed by community leaders and provincial advocates alike: connection is one of the strongest protective factors against elder abuse, neglect, and isolation.
Participants were invited to reflect on what compassion looks like in everyday life. Sometimes it is checking in on a neighbour. Sometimes it is making a phone call, sharing a conversation, offering practical support, or simply walking alongside someone during a difficult time.
A highlight of the event was the display of an intergenerational community mural created during a storytelling session hosted by MOSAIC one week earlier. During the session, older adults and youth came together to share stories, memories, hopes, and life experiences. Their reflections on family, friendship, homeland, music, dreams, creativity, volunteering, and belonging were transformed into a vibrant mural that became a centerpiece of the Strawberry Social.
One senior participant reflected after the storytelling session: “Today my husband was delighted. We had a wonderful conversation with a young man and a young woman about the unique connection between grandparents and grandchildren. The discussion stirred up our deep affection and love for our grandchildren. My husband turned to them and said, ‘If you ever need any help, Grandpa and Grandma are always here for you.'”
The mural beautifully reflected the first three parts of the WEAAD theme: We See. We Listen. We Remember.
The final part of the theme came to life through the Garden of Hope, where participants created and planted flowers as symbols of compassion and commitment. Each flower represented a simple but meaningful action that can help strengthen community connections and reduce isolation.
The spirit of purposeful aging was evident throughout the event. The MOSAIC Seniors Choir and Blue Lasso filled the room with music and joy. Community members shared stories, laughter, and strawberry shortcake. Volunteers, service providers, neighbours, and community leaders came together to celebrate the strengths, creativity, and contributions of older adults.
Older adults were not passive recipients of services. They were singers, storytellers, artists, volunteers, mentors, neighbours, and community builders. Their participation reflected MOSAIC’s commitment to creating opportunities for older adults to connect, contribute, and thrive.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we are reminded that creating safer communities requires more than awareness. It requires action rooted in compassion.
When we see, listen, remember, and act, we create communities where older adults are valued, connected, and supported to age with dignity, purpose, and belonging.
MOSAIC extends its sincere thanks to all participants, volunteers, performers, community partners, and supporters who helped make this meaningful event possible.
Watch highlights from the event here.
MOSAIC extends its sincere thanks to all participants, volunteers, performers, community partners, and supporters who helped make this meaningful event possible.
