Former world traveler and now retirement home resident says living with other seniors “is so much fun”

By Giulliana Micheletto

 Willowdale Manor is much more than just a retirement residence to dozens of seniors in North York. The place became home to Vicent Mak fifteen years ago, when he decided that he might benefit from a change of scenery. Mak is now the tenant representative at Willowdale, a job that practically fell into his lap as his interest in the new ,and already existing, tenants and staff made him ache for a more active role in his community. Now, he assists the tenants with their needs and concerns and  is  a helping hand when it comes to organizing weekly events such as pottery  and dance classes, bingo, theatre, and his personal favourite: mosaic classes.

 But Mak’s need to do more for his people did not come out of the blue. According to Vincent, his youth was marked by every place he visited, and every person he met. When asked what word could best describe his younger version, he threw his head back laughing and said "a traveler". Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mak decided to move to Thailand at only 19 to study computer engineering at a local university. After graduation he moved back home, then to South Indonesia, Macao, back to Hong Kong and a few years later to Venezuela, where he learned Spanish and officially became a polyglot. In the early 90s, he recalls deciding to put down roots in Toronto after hearing from a Venezuelan friend that Canada was a very beautiful and safe country to live in. 

More than thirty years after landing on Canadian ground, a new chapter of Vincent’s story began as he decided to rent an apartment at Willowdale Manor. According to Mak, living there can "only be described as getting the best of both worlds”, because he gets to live a very private and independent life, but also socialize with other tenants and members of the staff when he feels like it.

 The “curious and eager to learn” person that Mak says he was in his twenties is still noticeable to this day. His favourite pastime as a young man was to read science books,a habit he has kept decades later thanks to the numerous titles available at the library located on the second floor of his home. Now at 86 years old, Mak is living proof that it is never too late to start learning new things. Through talks with the very culturally diverse community members at Willowdale, Vincent has learned how to dance tango, make pottery and mosaic, watch and participate in plays and do physical therapy.

 Vincent Mak has lived many lives and learned many lessons and, he still has a lot of stories to tell, some of which haven't happened just yet…