Program helps immigrant seniors adapt to life in Calgary

When it comes to day-to-day life in Canada, immigrant seniors have a different set of needs and settlement issues than their younger counterparts. For this reason, Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC) offers a program to help seniors settle in, meet other newcomers and create connections.

Alina Ghita-Visinescu is co-ordinator, Settlement Community Programs, with ISC, whose mission is “connecting newcomers to the right service at the right agency every time.” The organization serves newcomers from 137 countries to Canada.

Ghita-Visinescu is herself an immigrant from Romania. She joined ISC in the spring of 2008 and began working in her current role in 2019 for what she describes as “a wonderful journey.”

ISC’s Community Initiatives for Immigrant Seniors Program (CISP) provides classes and workshops to its participants free of charge. Topics include life skills, international cooking and computer literacy, as well as fitness and social activities aimed at helping immigrant seniors get to know Calgary, make friends and stay active. Programming is offered in English, Mandarin and Farsi.

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