Examining Recent Older Immigrants’ Lives in their Communities and their Experiences Contributing to Canadian Society
Abstract
This thesis investigated recent older immigrants’ experiences contributing to Canadian society, focusing on older adults who moved to Canada to join their families in Canada. Narrative inquiry was used to gain insight into recent older immigrants’ lives and experiences. Four participants were interviewed three times each. Analysis involved a holistic-content and a life course approach. Three themes were identified: (1) Receiving and Giving Back; (2) Staying in the Background; and (3) Contributing as Expressing Identity. This study highlights and acknowledges recent older immigrants’ informal and hidden contributions, the multiple ways they contribute, and the challenges they face in doing so. Furthermore, it demonstrates how recent older immigrants experience contributing to their families and communities and how family class immigration is connected to strong family and cultural rather than economic values.