Seniors Leading Change

Through the help of the Employment and Social Development Canada's New Horizons for Seniors grant, KMC’s Seniors Leading Change Project is made possible as it aims to foster inclusion for racialized and newcomer seniors in Toronto. 

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Canada is witnessing a rapid rise in immigration, specifically among seniors who arrived in the country through family reunification programs. In 2022 alone, we welcomed 27,255 permanent residents through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), contributing to what is now 30% of Canada’s senior population. In GTA, nearly two-thirds of the seniors are immigrants, leading to a great diversity among them, which may introduce an elevated risk of social isolation due to challenges such as language barriers, generational gaps, and cultural differences. 

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This project aims to address these issues by providing seniors with opportunities to build connections and a sense of belongingness with Canadian society, help raise awareness of the challenges faced by newcomer seniors along with practical advice from established seniors, and the opportunity for our volunteer established seniors to play an active role in mentoring and guiding newcomers.

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What does KMC offer through this project? 

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1. Settlement Workshops for Newcomer Seniors 
   We offer a series of workshops for newcomer seniors that cover key settlement topics in Canada, including housing, income support and benefits, healthcare services, transportation, and senior-specific programs and services. 
    

2. Mentoring Opportunities: Established Seniors Empowering Newcomers
   Inspired by the established seniors' desire to play an active role in helping newcomers, we offer mentoring opportunities between established seniors and newcomers of all ages. Seniors possess decades of experience and wisdom in various aspects of life, allowing them to provide valuable insight and guidance on career paths, entrepreneurship, social engagement, relationships, and adapting to the new life here in Canada.
    

3. Seniors’ Voices Through Digital Stories 
   Promoting the inclusion of the newcomer senior into Canadian society, through this, we encourage seniors to share their journeys and experiences using short-form videos. They will be actively collaborating with creative professionals to ensure proper representation of their stories through these videos, which are then shared on different digital platforms to reach a broader audience.  

 

Through this project, we aim to support the inclusion of racialized and newcomer seniors by prioritizing their smooth integration, promoting healthy aging, and celebrating diversity.