Walk into Holy Spirit Lutheran Church during ICAN Seniors Association programming on any given day, and the feeling is immediate: people are welcomed, encouraged, and invited to join in. Seniors new to Canada who may have once felt unsure are learning, laughing, playing, and building friendships in a community created for and with them. This is the dream Rongmei (Jane) Cheng, a REALTOR® and salesperson with INITIA, brokered by eXp Realty, brought to life in Edmonton, Alberta.
“Community building is important to me because I have seen how much of a difference it makes, especially for seniors who may have more barriers and feel isolated,” said Cheng. “When people feel connected and supported, their lives become happier and more meaningful. That’s what motivates me.”
<iframe width="100%" height="425" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x_cFPwIhrX4?si=FKe7kRgZtF7EZBgy" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>When Rongmei’s mother first came to Canada, she faced barriers many older newcomers know well: limited English, no friends nearby, and unfamiliar social norms that left her alone at home and unsure how to connect with others. For newly immigrated seniors, social isolation affects health, daily life, and the ability to feel at home. Without support, it becomes harder to use services, stay active, and keep social ties. That strain reaches the whole family, including adult children balancing work, other life responsibilities, and caregiving for someone they love.
Drawing on her previous career supporting Canadian newcomers, Rongmei began teaching her mother simple English phrases and how to take public transportation to help her get out and meet people. As her mother made friends, Cheng started hearing from more seniors and adult children across the city facing the same barriers.
In 2017, Rongmei started a WeChat group where seniors learned English through voice memos and photos of everyday items. The lessons later expanded to include Canadian customs and social etiquette, creating a safe space for seniors to ask questions, build confidence, and connect with others.
As the group grew, Rongmei drew on her network for support, and in 2020 it became ICAN Seniors Association (ICANSA), a non-profit where immigrant seniors learn, stay active, and feel at home. Cheng continues to lead the organization alongside more than 200 volunteers, who have helped more than 1,000 seniors since its founding.
“Our slogan is to celebrate seniority through learning and playing,” said Cheng, and that spirit clearly runs through ICANSA’s programs. “We give seniors a place to belong, and that makes things different,” said Grace (Yunzhuo) Li, Vice President of ICANSA. Online classes help seniors build English, digital literacy, AI, and Canadian culture skills. In-person activities include Tai Chi, yoga, dancing, choir, knitting, cards, chess, and community gardening. Through these programs, seniors build friendships, try new activities, and take part in community life across Edmonton.
For members like Genzhen, the non-profit has become much more than a place to learn, “I call it my second, happy, and sweet home.” That sense of belonging leads to something even deeper for many seniors: renewed independence.
ICANSA also creates ways for members to share their skills and generosity. Seniors have donated community garden vegetables to the food bank, handmade items to the Cross Cancer Institute, and proceeds from handcrafted items or artwork to local causes, including ICANSA.
“They are very happy to put their hands together, to give a little help,” said Cheng. “They are very proud of what they are doing.”
As ICANSA grew, Rongmei developed partnerships with like-minded organizations. In 2020, she co-founded the YEG Seniors Alliance alongside WE Seniors and the Edmonton Senior Centre, helping 10,000 seniors during the pandemic. Now known as the Alberta Seniors Alliance, it has grown to include nine organizations working to strengthen support for older adults across the province.
Together, these organizations help older adults stay active, supported, and connected in their homes and communities. This work helps protect independence and can reduce pressure on the healthcare system.
“Programs and services like this—it’s actually helping the seniors keeping engaged, and then they will have better health, they don’t have to go to long-term care, and they will be able to age at home,” said Dr. Haidong Liang, CEO of WE Seniors. “Based on the Alberta Health Services, that [long-term care] cost is ranging from $70,000 to $90,000 per senior, per year.”
By helping immigrant seniors learn, play, connect, and contribute, Cheng has built more than a non-profit organization. Through ICANSA, she has rallied volunteers, strengthened partnerships, and created a community where seniors and their families feel supported in Edmonton. For this Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2026 nominee, a dream of helping others has become a lasting source of connection, confidence, and belonging.
REALTORS Care® Spotlight shares stories of how featured nominees of the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award are working to make their communities a better place for all.
