National Seniors Day is being celebrated in downtown Toronto today with a two-storey domino-inspired photo exhibit.

Pillars of Strength features compelling images of seniors from across the country.

The event takes place from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Richmond-Adelaide Centre, 130 Adelaide Street West, with our own Jane Brown as emcee. It’s sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur and CARP – A New Vision of Aging.

Not only does it celebrate seniors, but the event also raises awareness of the burden of flu, and the domino effect it has on their lives and the importance of protecting them with the flu shot and keeping older people active, health and independent.

The flu is often seen as just a bad cold, but Canada sees an average of 12,200 flu-related hospitalizations and 3500 deaths each year, with seniors accounting for up to 70 percent of these hospitalizations and up to 91 percent of deaths between 2013 and 2018.

Keynote speakers will be Hon. Christine Elliot, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, MPP Daisy Wai, Office of Seniors and Accessibility, Dr. John Muscedere, Scientific Director of Canadian Frailty Network, and Marissa Lennox, Chief Policy Officer at CARP.