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MPP Raymond Cho (center) awards certificates to the main organizers of this event.

At 10:00 AM on July 6, 2022, the Canada “Sunny Cup” Seniors’ Series kicked off their opening ceremony at the Canada Sunny International Table Tennis Club, organized by the Canada Sunny International Table Tennis Association. Raymond Cho, MPP of Scarborough North and Minister for Seniors and Accessibility stopped by to give well-wishes and congratulations.

“I have come here not only representing the Provincial Parliament of Ontario but also the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility. Last month, Premier Doug Ford and I visited and we had the chance to play a few very enjoyable rounds of table tennis together.” states Mr. Cho. “ As the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility and a senior citizen myself, I know exactly how important it is to stay active, happy and healthy above all else! I hope everyone has a good time today.”

Raymond Cho (center), surrounded by a portion of the participants of the competition.

The representative of Canada Sunny International Table Tennis Association, Weiqi Zhou, welcomed the participants of today’s tournament: “First, I would like to thank every one of the almost hundred people who have signed up to participate in this tournament. The participants have been separated into 3 groups by age: 55-64, 65-79, and 80+. These groups are further divided into singles and doubles players. This tournament will remain ongoing for the entire month of July.”

Shaun Chen, MP for Scarborough North, sent a congratulatory letter wishing for the success of this event.

The “Sunny Cup” tournament series is funded by the federal government under the “New Horizons for Seniors” program. This project aims to provide a virtual platform and mentorship for seniors to connect, improve physical and mental health, and build an active lifestyle. The program offers weekly table tennis play sessions, virtual workshops, and professional one-on-one coaching sessions.

The aforementioned resources offered by this program can effectively exercise one’s body, eyesight, and the ability to think fast – these features make it an ideal choice of exercise for the elderly. The increased physical activity this offers can decrease the appearance of diseases such as hypertension, and varicose veins while slowing down the deterioration of skeletal muscle. Alongside the aforementioned physical benefits, symptoms of mental disorders such as Alzheimers can be alleviated as seniors make new friends and build confidence as they play.

A well-matched round of table tennis.

We would like to sincerely thank Canada Pasta for sponsoring this event.

The Seniors’ Series Friendship Tournament is still accepting applications. Interested parties can register in person at the Canada Sunny International Table Tennis Association (4500 Sheppard Ave E, Unit #3, Scarborough ON) or online at www.sunnyclub.ca for details.