Sitting down with Daisy Au for a chat amidst her busy schedule is no small feat, especially when there’s a surprise fire drill thrown into the mix! Having just gotten back from attending the United Way of British Columbia’s two-day Provincial Summit of Aging, Daisy vibrates with an energetic passion that is unmistakable when she talks about senior advocacy. Daisy is currently the Coordinator of the Chinese CRN as well as the Seniors Club Settlement and Family Services at MOSAIC, the CRN host agency located in Vancouver. She holds unique insight and access to address the needs of older and vulnerable adults in the Chinese community. Daisy is also a member of the National Council of Community-Based Senior Services (CBSS).
Daisy arrived in Canada as a newcomer in 1996. Through first-hand experience, she developed a heart for grassroots community organizations that support new immigrants and naturalized citizens. For the past 21 years, she has worked with MOSAIC, an organization that helps with settlement and employment services for newcomers. MOSAIC provided her with the opportunity to work with new Canadians and other marginalized people as a settlement worker, helping to bridge language gaps and directing them to resources and community groups to facilitate integration. When the opportunity came up to become the coordinator for the Seniors Club, she jumped at the chance.
Championing Seniors
Daisy first learned about BC CRN in 2013 when she was approached by the regional mentor and invited to apply for a small grant to co-host a summer barbeque learning event for the 10th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). At that event, Daisy heard from many different people that due to language barriers and cultural taboos, the concept of elder abuse was not an identified problem and certainly never talked about, especially within the Chinese communities. Seeing the perfect alignment between the MOSAIC and BC CRN mandates to educate and protect seniors, she quickly turned her energy to help form a coordinated CRN in the Grandview area. After a couple of moves and help to form two new CRNs around the Vancouver area, Daisy became the Coordinator for what is now the Chinese CRN.
The Chinese CRN is one of a very few “borderless” CRNs in the organization and works closely with approximately 30 community partners, including service providers and frontline workers. The CRN has played an important role in identifying two major issues: elder abuse and financial abuse in the Chinese community. Its members collaborate to create unique resource referral materials and educational events to raise awareness for Chinese seniors in the Metro Vancouver area.
Through her role at MOSAIC and the Chinese CRN, Daisy finds creative ways to address the needs of her community at every turn. During the pandemic, her team developed a virtual engagement program using music and movement for workers and volunteers supporting isolated seniors in long-term care. The training guide included strategies for promoting self-care, stress relief techniques, and education on abuse and neglect. Additionally, the Seniors DISCovery Project, (diversity, inclusion and social connection) trained senior leaders to facilitate virtual interest groups, which expanded to include over 150 seniors regularly participating in 16 different types of virtual activities, such as cooking, singing, cultural learning,” and more.
Besides having events with various speakers, one successful initiative was creating a culturally appropriate audio drama based on familiar Chinese proverbs as a tool to educate and engage seniors in dialogue about elder abuse and neglect. By turning the lens around from “abuse” to focus on “seniors’ dignity” and “financial literacy,” the audio drama was successful in building trust, providing specific vocabulary and creating safe spaces the seniors needed to break through cultural barriers of secrecy and reach out for help if needed.
Earlier this year, the Chinese CRN and MOSAIC joined forces to create a live theatrical production that turned into a very popular event and powerful engagement tool. The musical, “Seniors Take on Things We Never Talk About” was performed in English by immigrant seniors and gained so much acclaim that the cast was invited to perform an adaptation at the 2024 Provincial Summit on Aging.
Daisy was deeply impacted by the process. “During the musical theatre project, I realized I needed to step back and simply observe as the seniors supported each other,” she says. “As a service provider, it wasn’t easy—letting go meant giving up control—but witnessing their transformation was profoundly moving. It reshaped my approach, shifting my role from providing solutions to creating space for seniors to lead, build community and redefine their own narratives.”
What’s Next
Daisy’s heart aches at the limitations of services available to naturalized citizens, noting that once their status changes, newcomers no longer have access to services they once had and continue to need. Many of the available services are only accessible to new immigrants, so she continues to seek opportunities to raise awareness and secure more funding for services for naturalized citizens of all ages and statuses (families and seniors).
She plans to continue mentoring and training others to carry on the work of advocating and educating at a grassroots level. She believes there is still so much to be done to change concepts of ageism and create a narrative that views older adults with respect, dignity and value, which will ultimately reduce elder abuse, neglect and self-neglect. She hopes to continue using current resources and tools, such as getting funding to use the musical production as a catalyst for change and to engage in more collaboration at a municipal level.
Daisy ended our interview with this final thought:
“I’m also in the process of reframing my own narratives of aging. My goal is to continue creating spaces where seniors can reclaim their voice, dignity, agency and sense of community. Aging is not a period of decline; it’s an opportunity for growth, learning and the unlearning of old myths. Only when we are willing to pass them the mic can they define their stories and challenge ageist assumptions.
As many seniors have said, ‘Nothing about us without us.’ We aren’t merely offering solutions; they are integral to the solution. I’m excited about my ‘best third’ and what this new chapter holds.”
Read more about Daisy Au and the Chinese CRN:
- Powering up Financial Literacy in BC’s Chinese Speaking Senior Communities
- Seniors Knit Warm for Lunar New Year
- Chinese New Year Warmth & Caring Action Initiative
- Chinese CRN information and resources
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
