Community Connections for Newcomers
1111-11 Avenue SW T2R 0G5 Calgary, AB, Canada

Syrian Project Update: We have officially met 170 Syrian refugees in the last week alone. The government is prioritizing the most vulnerable people: large families with many kids, who have been living in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon for the last 3 years under the UNHCR. They are absolutely wonderful people who cannot stop thanking Canada. With the volume of new refugees, the hands-on support from community volunteers is becoming an even more essential service for these families and our community. We are overwhelmed seeing the resiliency of these families and the compassion and dedication of our volunteers.

We are putting together a plan for community members to volunteer to help a large number of Syrian refugees settle in Calgary. Please spread the word to anyone you know might want to volunteer! We are still waiting for more details on who will arrive and when. In the meantime, our volunteers continue to journey with refugees from many other crisis situations as they settle and integrate into Calgary. We are humbled by the resiliency of newcomers, and the welcoming attitudes of our Calgarian volunteers.

Can you pass the shortened Citizenship Challenge? I got 70% - a little short of the 75% minimum to pass. Happy Canada Day Week!

It's about that time of year where we start to plan our spring and supper packed full of activities to get as much out of the good weather we can. Here are some ideas you could pass along to newcomers.

Thinking of those in Calgary from Nepal and all of their families and friends affected by this disaster.

Here's a great story similar to those we see here in Calgary. What a benefit and value refugee newcomers are to our society!

Check to see if their research matches what you know about refugees in Canada.

Do you know someone who is learning English and would like to help? Check out our blog series on Learning English with practical resources and information on understanding the language journey of others.

We are really looking forward to sharing a nice dinner with our Community Connections volunteers and celebrating what it is you do! Come meet one another and share your stories, experiences, and ideas.

We found it fun to log in and try our hand at the citizenship exam. Try it and let us know how well you did!

A great story of new beginnings from a group of families in our program. Like many in Calgary, it is a story of struggle, hope and freedom. So thankful to our community volunteers who welcome families like these with open arms!

'It's the most wonderful time of the year (for parents)' - back to school! We've got some great ideas and resources to help a newcomer family prepare for their first school year in Calgary. Let's help make this an exciting time for everyone.

We all need good news from time to time. Its encouraging and hopeful to hear of immigrant success rates in Canada!