The Implementing Research for Equity in Aging - IREA program

Yesterday, we were warmly hosted by our wonderful partners at the Indo-Canadian Women's Association for another inspiring STRONG program session!

Our doctoral trainee Sadaf has been leading weekly health education sessions designed to support older South Asians in Edmonton in learning about healthy living, movement, and well-being in a culturally safe and empowering space.

The STRONG program is a free 8-week health and wellness program—and we have 4 weeks left! It’s not too late to join 💚

🗓️ Wednesdays | 11AM–1PM
📍 Indo Canadian Women’s Association
📧 [email protected]
📞 780-490-0477

Join us and be part of this welcoming community focused on staying strong, healthy, and connected!

This past Saturday, IREA had the privilege of participating in the 2025 Seniors Fair, hosted by the Council of Muslims on Aging Gracefully (COMAG).

The event was a vibrant and welcoming gathering that brought together older adults, caregivers, and community organizations for an afternoon of conversation, celebration, and connection.

We’re so grateful to COMAG for creating this space—and to everyone who stopped by our booth to learn more about research.

Thank you for inspiring us with your stories, questions, and presence. Let’s keep working together toward more inclusive, equitable aging. 💚

We’re so proud of our doctoral student, Alyssa Domingo, who presented her poster titled "Towards Inclusive Care: Integrating Intersectionality into Gerontological Nursing Education” at the in Helsinki, Finland! 🌟 This presentation sparked meaningful discussions about how we can integrate more inclusive care practices in our profession. 🌍💙

The ICN Congress brought together global nursing leaders to discuss the future of healthcare, addressing everything from climate change to fostering health for peace. It’s inspiring to see our trainee contributing to these conversations and advancing inclusive practices in nursing education! 👩‍⚕️

🎓 A Proud Milestone for Our Team!
We’re thrilled to celebrate our doctoral student Sadaf Murad-Kassam, who recently completed the 2025 CIHR Institute of Aging Summer Program in Aging (SPA) at Baycrest Academy for Research and Education in Toronto.

This prestigious, week-long program brought together graduate students and postdoctoral trainees from across Canada to tackle key challenges in aging research through mentorship, team-based learning, and knowledge exchange.

Sadaf's participation reflects her commitment to advancing inclusive, community-based aging research—and we couldn’t be prouder!

Learn more about the SPA program here: www.baycrest.org/summer-program-aging

IREA is excited to take part in the upcoming Seniors Fair hosted by COMAG!

🗓️ This Saturday, June 21, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Radisson Hotel, 18035 Stony Plain Rd

🎉 Join us for:
✔️ Dozens of vendors, community info, and activities
✔️ Free refreshments & swag bags
✔️ Door prizes and friendly faces!

🚌 Free bus pick-up & drop-off now available from Markaz ul Islam and Rahma (MAC)
📞 Call or text 780-554-4003 to book your ride
📧 Or email: [email protected]

✅ Everyone is welcome. Entry is FREE!
Let’s gather, celebrate, and support aging with dignity. 💚

📣 We’re so proud of our brilliant doctoral student, Sadaf Murad-Kassam, and her incredible patient partner, Afroz Shivji, who presented together at the 2025 NorthWest SPOR Collaborative Forum: the 10th Annual Conference on Patient-Oriented Research, hosted by AbSPORU!

Sadaf and Afroz shared their work on dementia research within ethnic communities, emphasizing the powerful impact of patient partnerships in shaping meaningful, inclusive research.

A heartfelt thank you to the organizers for creating space to connect with community members, patient partners, knowledge brokers, students, and researchers.

📚 We’re excited to share our latest peer-reviewed methods paper!
We reflect on the process of engaging researchers in studies with immigrant older adults, and offer recommendations on how to nurture and train the next generation of equity-focused researchers.
🔗 Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251336096

📢 Our new community report is out now!
This report shares findings from racialized immigrant older women on how neighbourhood environments shape mobility, participation, and connection.
📖 Read the report and discover actionable insights: https://irealab.ca/resources/building-inclusive-and-supportive-neighbourhoods-with-and-for-racialized-immigrant-older-women/

📣 We’re thrilled to share the launch of our new website and refreshed look at IREA Lab!
Our research centers the lived experiences of racialized and immigrant older adults, using community conversation and qualitative insights to advance health equity across aging.
🌐 Visit us at [irealab.ca] and explore our research, resources, and partnerships.

🎉 We wrapped up our Seniors Thriving, Reaching Out and Growing (STRONG) program this past Friday with an incredible workshop!
Community leaders, students, and investigators came together to co-conceptualize the STRONG program using intervention theory, and to explore the key ingredients that foster social connection and exercise for older adults.
💡 It was a day full of collaboration, ideas, and community spirit.