COSTI HOSTS SYMPOSIUM FOR IMMIGRANT SENIOR WOMEN
Over 110 immigrant senior women for the Albanian, Bosnian Chinese, Hispanic, and Southeast Asian communities attended the Symposium for Immigrant Senior Women held on November 13th. The Symposium was hosted by COSTI, through funds received from the Seniors Community Grant Program, the province's first grant program dedicated solely to providing seniors with opportunities to connect, contribute, learn and lead active lives.
The Honourable Mario Sergio, Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs, attended the event and informed participants of the various services available for seniors, as well as his personal commitment to engaging seniors in our community.
To celebrate the important role that women and especially senior women play in the community, the Symposium was designed with suggestions made by an Advisory Group composed of seniors, to help participants meet and engage with other senior immigrant women from diverse communities and to also gain information that would help and encourage them to lead active, productive lives and remain independent and healthy for as long as possible.
Seniors participated in three mini workshops delivered by community organizations: the Alzheimer Society of Toronto delivered an education workshop on how seniors can keep their brains active and healthy; an exercise demonstration to maintain and improve flexiblity was lead by Circle of Care; and Black Creek Community Health Centre provided nutritional facts and recipe suggestions to improve diets.
Special thanks to the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat and the following businesses and organizations who generously supported the Symposium through their financial contributions and product donations.
From left to right: Minister Mario Sergio joined by Vittoria Adhami, Vice President of COSTI and Mario J. Calla, Executive Director of COSTI.
