During the festive season when Christmas and the New Year come together, the “Canadian Seniors Drama” Christmas & New Year Special Event, hosted by the Digital Media Development Association of Canada (DMDAC), was held warmly on December 22 at the Fotile Experience Centre in Markham, themed around celebrating Christmas and welcoming the New Year, and centered on participation, storytelling, and companionship, featuring situational drama filming, festive singing, shared meals, and lucky draws to create a year-end atmosphere full of warmth and celebration for seniors in the community.
During the event, seniors expressed their wishes for the coming year through interactive singing, connected emotionally while sharing food, and enjoyed continuous surprises and laughter through interspersed lucky draw activities, with singing, cuisine, and interaction blending seamlessly to maintain a lively yet warm festive atmosphere and set a relaxed, joyful tone for the activities that followed.
Centered on the concept that *life itself is a stage*, the original situational drama marked the opening of the event.
The evening's events officially kicked off with the on-site filming of the original sitcom, "Why Are We So Happy?". Set against the backdrop of a family celebrating Christmas and Chinese New Year together, the play unfolds through lighthearted and humorous daily conversations between a group of relatable family members—grandparents, grandchildren, and neighbors.
The storyline unfolded around family interactions during the holidays, lighthearted banter about food, health awareness, and inter-generational interaction—from everyday teasing about whether to indulge more during the New Year or watch one’s cholesterol, to playful wordplay in the dish-washing scene with homophones such as “shared washing brings prosperity” and “double washing brings good fortune,” and finally to seniors’ heartfelt reflections that happiness is, in fact, very simple, with the short drama naturally conveying a love for life and a deep appreciation for companionship amid laughter.
Unlike traditional stage performances, this production emphasized the use of non-professional performers and the authentic presentation of real-life moments, with active community seniors and children appearing together on screen without deliberate acting, showing life as it truly is, where a casual remark or a knowing smile often sparked bursts of laughter on set and allowed many participating seniors to gradually relax in front of the camera, revealing a rare sense of confidence and vitality.
The complete content and structure of the sitcom are based on the original script for the event.
Singing connects emotions, and musical interaction awakens a sense of ritual in festivals.
After the sitcom filming concluded, the event transitioned to a music interaction segment. Teacher Miao Miao took to the stage, leading the elderly attendees in singing the festive song "Leading the Way for a Happy New Year." To the upbeat rhythm, the elders sang along line by line, while the children joined in the chorus. The song echoed throughout the venue, conveying everyone's blessings and hopes for the new year.
The musical interaction not only kept the atmosphere lively but also encouraged many seniors who rarely perform to speak up, gaining a sense of participation and accomplishment in the group singing. This segment became an important link connecting different age groups, making the festival not just something to be "watched" but something to be truly "participated in."
Delicious food wafts through the air, accompanied by songs and surprises.
Following this, the event transitioned into a festive food sharing session. A variety of seasonal dishes, carefully prepared by teacher MiaoMiao, were served, each a feast for the eyes and the palate, conveying both the joy of the festival and the warmth of home. Elders and children sat together to enjoy the meal, sharing anecdotes from filming and singing, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
The festive lucky draws interspersed throughout the meal brought continuous surprises and anticipation, with laughter and applause filling the air. The delicious food, songs, and interactive activities blended together, keeping the event lively and warm in a festive atmosphere.
Making seniors the protagonists of their own stories is DMDAC’s long-term mission and founding vision.
As an influential overseas Chinese media and public cultural platform, DMDAC has long been committed to enhancing social participation among middle-aged and senior communities, with sustained attention to their physical and mental well-being as well as spiritual life, advancing its mission to improve quality of life and elevate happiness by integrating visual documentation, cultural creation, and community activities, and empowering seniors to move from being “those who are cared for” to active participants and expressive voices within the community.
The “Canadian Seniors Drama” series project is a concrete embodiment of this, with DMDAC aiming to authentically document the daily lives, emotions, and smiles of seniors so that happiness is no longer just a slogan, but something that is seen, remembered, and passed on.
The entire event was professionally documented by the Easy Media imaging team, capturing authentic moments from the situational drama filming and musical interactions to shared meals and exchanges, vividly showcasing the joyful moments of seniors and children in the community during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
As an extremely influential overseas Chinese media, DMDAC has been committed to enhancing the social participation of middle-aged and elderly people, paying attention to the physical and mental health of the middle-aged and elderly groups, and taking it as its mission to improve the quality of life and enhance the happiness of the middle-aged and elderly groups.
Registration requirements: Anyone can participate
Registration method: Please inform the organizer DMDAC of your name and phone number as well as that of your relatives and friends.
Please scan the QR code to enter the group
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