Youth-led organization hosts spring gala to honour seniors

By Jennifer McLaughlin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Singing, dancing, instrumental performances, poetry, and even a catwalk show were among the features at the “South Unionville Greet the Spring and Respect for the Elderly Gala” held March 18 at Infinity Strings in Markham.

The event was organized and hosted by the J.A. Children’s Public Foundation (JACPF), a Markham non-profit organization established in March 2022. The foundation encourages youth involvement in the community.

As primary organizers of the gala, the student organizers designed and distributed posters to encourage performers to sign up, financed the host venue and sought event sponsors who donated raffle prizes and gifts for participants. The young organizers used their creativity to encourage more youth to take part. They trained kids to perform poetry recitations and a catwalk show while preparing for their own singing and dancing performances.

Markham-Unionville MP Paul Chiang attended the gala. He presented the organizers with certificates to acknowledge their efforts within the community. He praised them for contributing to a bright future for Markham and its residents.

Markham Sunglow Senior members contributed to the event with dance and choir performances. The group’s president Li Zengchun thanked JACPF for holding the gala in honour of Markham’s senior community and presented the student organizers with certificates.

Since its inception, JACPF members have performed twice for Markham seniors. The Greet the Spring gala was the organization’s first event to draw together performers from throughout the community.

Photo: MP Paul Chiang presents JACPF president Alysha Xu with a certificate in recognition of her efforts within the community. (Photo supplied by JACPF)