A new initiative is making it easier for Chinese seniors in York Region to navigate Ontario’s health-care system.
Markham-based Ai Rong Association has launched the Healthy Golden Age project, backed by a $33,300 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
This six-month program addresses a key challenge faced by many immigrant seniors: language barriers.
It features 10 workshops led by health-care professionals to enhance health literacy and teach practical tools for better communication with providers. More than 1,000 Chinese seniors are expected to benefit, with participants receiving bilingual booklets featuring helpful phrases in English and Chinese.
On Jan. 4, MPP Billy Pang joined the Ai Rong Association to celebrate the project’s launch, emphasizing the importance of initiatives like this in fostering stronger, more inclusive communities.
“Through the OTF’s grant, this program will help strengthen community connections and ensure seniors can navigate Ontario’s health-care system with greater confidence and support,” Pang said. He also highlighted OTF’s broader impact, noting its investment of more than $110 million in 1,044 community projects last year.
Carmen Gao, president of the Ai Rong Association, expressed her appreciation for the funding. “As a grassroots non-profit organization, we are thrilled that our commitment to community service is being recognized by both the community and the Ontario government,” she said. “This funding will help us support the physical and mental well-being of Chinese seniors in the community.”
With nearly a decade of service, the association is dedicated to inspiring and empowering the Chinese community, particularly underrepresented groups such as new immigrants, youth, seniors, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The organization aims to foster connection, encourage healthy living, and create an inclusive community through quality services and meaningful programs.
For more information about the Healthy Golden Age project and upcoming events, visit www.airongassociation.com.
Scarlett Liu is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Markham Economist & Sun
