Abstract: This paper analyses the common and different points of the roles and functions of social workers with a perspective of community development in China and Canada. Social workers in China and Canada have much same roles when they promote the community participation, protect community members' interests and practise the social welfare and social security. But there are some distinct difference in the functions between China and Caoada. The Chinese social worker practices the government's orders in a stronger way and responses to the community concerns in a weaker way. Canadian social workers are independent and professional to respond to the community's need in time.