When Maria Kovacs arrived in Canada as a young Hungarian refugee in the 1950s, she knew almost no one. Decades later, she would call this country home—built on friendships, community ties and a sense of belonging she never expected to find.
Maria's story is not unique. A new study from the University of Toronto found that strong social connections were the thread woven through nearly every refugee's success story. Researchers interviewed 42 older refugees—25 from Hungary and 17 from Vietnam—to understand how they built new lives in Canada. The findings, published in the journal Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, reveal something powerful: community matters more than most of us realize.
"Our interviews demonstrated that social networks are not simply helpful additions to settlement," said Maia Jaffer-Diaz, a researcher with the University of Toronto's Institute for Life Course and Aging. "They are often central to successful integration and can shape opportunities across an individual's entire life course."
Both groups of refugees arrived during major moments in history. Hungarian refugees fled their homeland in the 1950s during political upheaval. Vietnamese refugees came in the 1970s and 1980s after the Vietnam War. Despite arriving in different decades under different circumstances, they faced similar hurdles: learning a new language, finding work, raising families far from extended family, and adjusting to customs that felt completely foreign.
But what made the difference? The study found that supportive relationships—with neighbors, community organizations, churches, schools and fellow refugees—helped newcomers overcome these challenges. These connections opened doors to jobs, language practice and resources. Most participants described feeling genuinely welcomed, even when they arrived with little more than a suitcase.
"Many participants described arriving in Canada with uncertainty and few resources, yet they also spoke about finding kindness, opportunity and hope," said Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, the study's senior author at the University's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
The research also highlighted important differences between the two groups. Hungarian refugees often arrived as children during a time of strong economic growth, which made finding work easier. Vietnamese refugees more frequently arrived as young adults and faced additional barriers, including challenges getting their foreign credentials recognized and experiences of racial discrimination.
Lead author Alyssa McAlpine emphasized that the lessons go beyond Canada. "Integration is a lifelong process," she said. "Our findings point to the importance of policies that strengthen community connections, reduce social isolation and support cultural belonging—all of which help refugees thrive not only when they arrive, but throughout older adulthood."
The researchers hope their findings will shape programs that support newcomers settling in Canada today and in the future. After all, as Maria Kovacs and countless others have shown, a single act of welcome can echo across an entire lifetime.