Health and Happiness for Lunar New Year

Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue wished everyone health and happiness at a Lunar New Year celebration at headquarters on January 21.

“I know that next week, many will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a dinner of traditional foods that represent wishes for health and longevity, prosperity, togetherness, happiness, laughter and progress. These are wishes that I want to share with all of you today,” said Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue at the event organized by the East Asian Internal Support Network (EA-ISN) that included many traditions, including the awakening the lion as part of a blessing ceremony.

In the Lunar Calendar, each year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, the sixth animal on the 12-year cycle.

“This year is associated with transformation, renewal and growth which are positive processes we can see within our own police organization,” said Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll. “The snake signifies wisdom, change and calmness.”

The CWS Lion Dance team performed a unique dragon dance and lion dances to usher in 2025.

Mayor Olivia Chow also attended the event.

“The Lunar New Year is a time to come together to celebrate the year ahead and to look forward to its promise,” she said. “The Year of the Snake represents transformation and growth. But I don’t think Toronto waited for this year to grow. Toronto has been growing by 34 per cent in the last 10 years.”

Sergeant Alex Li was the Master of Ceremony.

Established in 2008, the EA-ISN comprises over 200 police officers and civilian professionals.

Members with similar backgrounds provide mentoring, guidance and support to each other and create networking, knowledge-sharing and skills development opportunities to help members develop personally and professionally.

For the last nine years, the EAISN has held a golf tournament.

In 2024, the tournament raised funds for the Mon Sheong Foundation, the Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association and 31 and 41 Divisions Student Leadership Bursary Awards program.

Sergeant Stephen Yung is the East Asian Internal Support Network (EAISN) Chair and the co-chairs are Staff Sergeant Danny Lee and Constable Ryan Yuen. Elaine Wong is the Executive Secretary and the Senior Advisors are Inspectors Ryan Forde and Rob Choe.