Immigrant Seniors Action Council (ISAC)
Strengthening the voice, participation and inclusion of immigrant seniors in Durham Region.
The Immigrant Seniors Action Council (ISAC) is a community-led council that supports immigrant seniors, particularly newcomers to Canada, in identifying issues, sharing perspectives and strengthening their participation in community life.
ISAC members bring international education, professional experience, community knowledge and lived experience navigating life in Canada and Durham Region. The Council creates opportunities for immigrant seniors to connect with one another and with social and health service organizations, government representatives, community agencies and grassroots groups.
What ISAC Supports
Identify and raise issues and concerns experienced by immigrant seniors and strengthen their voice in community conversations.
Increase awareness of programs, services, resources and opportunities available to older adults.
Build relationships among immigrant seniors, community organizations, service providers and grassroots groups.
Strengthen opportunities for immigrant seniors to participate in decisions and initiatives that affect their communities.
Bring lived experience, professional knowledge and community perspectives to discussions affecting immigrant seniors.
Help inform and coordinate community efforts intended to improve seniors’ quality of life.
Building a Stronger Voice for Immigrant Seniors
ISAC provides a distinct space for immigrant seniors to identify and speak to the issues and concerns they experience. Through dialogue and engagement, members can help advise, inform and strengthen community responses affecting older adults.
The Council also creates opportunities to connect with government representatives, social and health service organizations, community agencies and grassroots groups, helping strengthen the participation and inclusion of immigrant seniors in Durham Region.
Who Is ISAC For?
ISAC welcomes immigrant seniors aged 55 and older, whether newly arrived in Canada or long-established in the community.
From S3 to ISAC
The Immigrant Seniors Action Council grew from CDCD’s Seniors for Seniors by Seniors (S3) Project. S3 brought together diverse immigrant seniors aged 55+, including established residents and newcomers, to connect, learn and participate in community life.
Through the project, seniors engaged with service providers, discussed issues and challenges affecting older adults, learned about services and resources, explored healthy living, shared their immigration journeys, built relationships and helped reduce social isolation.
An important part of S3 was Building a Stronger Voice for Seniors. Participants had opportunities to meet elected representatives and policymakers and learn about plans, priorities and initiatives affecting older adults in Durham Region.
As participants worked toward establishing a Seniors Advisors Council, that work evolved into the Immigrant Seniors Action Council (ISAC) — a community-led council focused on identifying issues, advocating, advising, informing and helping coordinate efforts to improve seniors’ quality of life.
The S3 Story Continues: Book Launch
As part of the legacy of the Seniors for Seniors by Seniors (S3) Project, CDCD is preparing to launch Seniors for Seniors, a publication that captures and celebrates the experiences, perspectives and voices of seniors connected through the project.
The publication reflects the importance of creating spaces where older adults can share their experiences, contribute their knowledge and help strengthen understanding of the issues affecting seniors in our communities.
Book Launch — October 2026. More information will be announced soon.
Interested in the Immigrant Seniors Action Council?
Connect with CDCD to learn more about ISAC and opportunities for immigrant seniors aged 55+ to participate.