Irene

Irene is our 50+ Program Coordinator. She works with newcomer seniors organizing social activities helping them build a sense of community in Canada.

"The things that I enjoy most about my work is seeing the progression that newcomer seniors make from when they first arrive in Canada. Many newcomer seniors deal with loneliness and social isolation. When they attend our activities, it gives them a sense of self-confidence because even though they may not speak the same language as the other participants, they share a bond through their journey to Canada and this connects them. They look forward to coming to new activities on a weekly basis because they get to meet their new friends again. It is really important for them to be active.

Newcomer seniors love volunteering their expertise back to their community. We have a knitting group that knits clothing items that are then donated to various community agencies. To stay active, we run Zumba classes and tai chi. And to discover the Niagara Region and beyond, we have gone on field trips to places like Port Colborne in the summer, Fort George and most recently, to the Hamilton Fall Garden and Mum Show."

For more information about the program, please contact Irene at 50plusprogram@folk-arts.ca