Music fills the room as a circle begins to form at HF Care’s Cambodian New Year celebration.
In the center, HF Care Mental Health Worker Mony Mok leads Romvong, a simple and welcoming traditional Cambodian dance. One by one, people step in—some already knowing the movements, others following along and learning as they go.
Every April, over three days, the Cambodian community celebrates the Khmer New Year to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of a new year. It is a time of renewal, reflection, and connection.
As one staff member shared:
“Each day holds its own meaning. From welcoming the new year’s angel, to honouring elders and ancestors, to taking part in blessing rituals—it’s a time to come together and wish for health, happiness, and good fortune.”
Throughout the afternoon, these traditions came to life in different ways. Participants gathered around a Sangkran offering table, arranged with fruits, flowers, and a Buddha statue.
Others joined in games like Chol Chhoung, filling the space with movement and laughter.
People from across the communities HF Care serves joined in. One Cambodian participant shared:
“It was special to see people from different communities come together for this. Some of us were celebrating our own traditions, while others were experiencing them for the first time.”
Events like this show what community can look like at HF Care, where people come together and share in each other’s traditions.
Another participant summed it up simply:
“Nothing was missing. It made me very happy.”
If you’re part of the Cambodian community, consider joining our Cambodian Leisure Club, an in-person weekly gathering at the Jane and Finch Community Centre.
To learn more about our cross-community programs, explore our upcoming Recovery College programming calendar.
