Organizations to help you get settled in Calgary
Organizations to help you settle
Calgary is home to community organizations, and settlement organizations who provide services and programs to help newcomers. Whether it’s finding the right school for your children, finding employment or participating in recreational programs, these organizations can help.
Settlement organizations provide information and guidance to newcomers. Staff often speak several languages and they provide services at no or low cost. We also have a list of a variety of culturally diverse organizations who can help if you’re new to Canada.
Organizations
1000 Voices is a gathering place for the North of McKnight communities. It is located at the Genesis Centre.
1000 Voices is a place which can be used for community meetings, discussion groups, programs and services, cultural arts and local events. The facility also offers workplace programs and career counselling.
ActionDignity is a community-based organization that facilitates the collective voice of Calgary’s ethno-cultural communities towards full civic participation and integration through collaborative action. They also offer various youth programs for newcomers and immigrants.
We offer Adult ESL and the Government LINC (language for newcomers to Canada) program. Currently we offer on-line classes, Monday to Fridays mornings and evenings.
Address: 345 - 6 Avenue SE
Phone: 403-410-1400 | Toll Free: 1-866-428-2669
Website: bowvalleycollege.ca
- The School of Global Access helps get the skills you need to live, study, and work in Canada. We have programs and courses in English Language Learning and Immigrant Advancement to help you open the door to new career opportunities.
Address: 219, 300 – 6 Avenue SE
Phone: 403-770-5155 | Toll free: 1-877-297-2553
Website: directionsforimmigrants.ca
Email: directions@bowvalleycollege.ca
- Directions for Immigrants in Trades and Professional Careers. Offers career services to help internationally educated immigrants newcomers secure professional employment and gain accreditation.
- Our services include one-on-one career coaching, employment workshops, workplace communication and exam preparation groups for licensing.
The Calgary Board of Education is Calgary’s public school system. Children who are not Canadian citizens must register through the Admissions and Assessment Office at Kingsland Centre, even if they have attended school elsewhere in Canada (Elementary, Junior and High School). Interpretation and translation support is available to parents; an appointment is required for service.
The foundation provides services for immigrant and refugee youth and their families by providing appropriate information, knowledge and experience as they build a life in Canada. Their In School Settlement Program:
- Helps newly arrived immigrant families settle into new communities
- Provides information on community resources and services in Calgary
- Offers services in over 30 languages
- Provides culturally sensitive services through a diverse team of Settlement Practitioners
- Works in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the Calgary Catholic School District board (CCSD), and the Calgary Public Library
- Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Hosts workshops in libraries, schools, and community centres on topics such as Employment, Healthcare, School Systems, Financial Literacy, Accessing Social Benefits, Housing, Education, and more
- Offers Functional English Conversation Classes to Newcomers looking to learn English
This organization provides settlement and integration services to newcomers and refugees in Alberta. Some of their settlement services include:
- Over 70 programs delivered through a multicultural, multilingual and multidisciplinary team of over 250 professionals, collectively speaking 60+ languages.
- Programs designed for every age group and demographic.
- Employment, language training, skills training and advocacy are a few of the areas of specialty.
The Calgary Catholic School District is the Roman Catholic separate school board in Calgary that offers separate school registration for newcomers (Elementary, Junior and Senior High School). Students who were born outside of Canada can register at the St. John Reception Centre before enrolling at a local school. They offer support to newcomer and immigrant youth and their families in adjusting and adapting to the Canadian school system and Canadian culture. They also offer interpreters to help families communicate with schools.
This association focuses on the concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families. They offer unique settlement and integration, language training, workplaces and family services.
The Calgary Public Library system featuring various branch locations across the city. Along with various library services, they also offer services for newcomers such as:
- Special workshops and programs for children and adults
- ESL Writing Club, conversation clubs, ESL/IELTS books
- Online courses, Learn English Storytime and ELL School Success
This not-for-profit connects newcomer professionals to strategies that will lead to successful employment outcomes.
This organization supports Francophone newcomer in their process of integration and social and professional integration on an ongoing basis.
The Centre for Newcomers is a resource centre for Calgary’s newcomers and refugees to receive settlement and integration services as well as information. Settlement and integration services include:
- Needs assessment and one-on-one counselling.
- Orientation to life in Canada.
- LGBTQ+ settlement services.
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada Program (LINC): This program serves recent immigrants to Alberta by helping them learn the English language skills needed to live, find employment, and study in Canada. Students of different English proficiency levels can progress at their own rate, with the support of experienced ESL teachers.
This program is also available to those individuals who have been in Canada for a while but need to improve their language skills to gain Canadian citizenship. Upon completion of LINC, students may continue their education in the English as a Second Language Program at Columbia College, or they may pursue their post-secondary education elsewhere, while some may choose to go directly to employment.
Columbia offers LINC classes at CLB 3 to CLB 8 in our full time and part time evening classes. For registration applicants need to obtain a referral from Calgary Language Assessment and Referral Centre (C-LARC). This program is funded by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary offers free immigration information and guidance to low-income women and their families. it also provides guidance and navigation with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada applications such as:
- Family reunification via family sponsorship
- Canadian citizenship applications
- Permanent Resident (PR) applications via economic streams: Express Entry, Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
- Some humanitarian and compassionate applications
- PR applications for people who have been deemed persons in need of protection/conventions refugees
Equilibrium School is a non-profit institution that has been serving our community since 1993. Equilibrium is an educational centre that promotes global education and intercultural understanding through the interaction of diverse groups of people of all ages. Equilibrium School offers a wide range of courses to prepare students for life, college, university, and technical and business institutes.
Equilibrium School offers small classes conducive to more effective teaching, with a maximum of 15 students per class. Equilibrium School prides themselves on their ability to customize all their programs (full-time and part-time) to meet individual students’ needs.
Unlike many other schools, Equilibrium’s programs are based on continual intake. That means students are free to join up anytime and do not have to waste valuable time as there is no need to wait for a new semester to begin. Equilibrium School is proud to have an extensive supply of teaching resources including smartboards in each class, which ensures students will always be provided with appropriate, up-to-date, and stimulating learning materials.
Equilibrium School offers ESL & LINC programs, English Language Assessments, GED Prep Course, Computer Trainings.
Phone: 403-370-5456
Website: http://icaionline.org
Email: communications@immigrantservicescalgary.ca
The Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI) is an arts council based in Calgary, Alberta. Founded in January 2019 with the purpose of connecting newcomer and immigrant artists and creative professionals to the existing arts community in Calgary. We strive to provide resources and information that would assist newcomer and immigrant artists turn their passion and creativity into thriving careers or businesses.
ICAI actively encourages diversity of expression and culture through the creation of a safe and welcoming community hub where newcomer and immigrant artists feel free to express their distinct cultural identities through their arts.
What We Do (Programs)
- Provide specialized information and resources for newcomer and immigrant artists
- Create free, inclusive and tailored networking events for newcomer and immigrant artist practice
- Provide support for artistic growth through career and business development strategies and mentorship
This organization offers language, employment, and settlement training for newly arrived newcomers and low income families. Specifically, their Welcome Resources Information Program is an information service to help guide newcomers through all the different programs and services available in Calgary such as:
- Traveling by public transit (bus or C-train),and buying a low-cost bus pass
- Joining social groups and meeting new people
- Finding a place of worship like a mosque, church, or synagogue
- Applying for documents like a Social Insurance Number or Alberta Health Card
Referral to programs for language, employment, settlement, etc.
Phone: 403-265-1120
Website: https://www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca/
Email: communications@immigrantservicescalgary.ca
Since 1977, Immigrant Services Calgary has been providing a wide range of settlement services to immigrants and refugees looking to begin a new chapter of their lives in Canada. We employ a client-focused, integrated approach when working with individuals and their families to help them settle in Calgary.
Our aim is to reach newcomers in a timely and responsive manner to facilitate a smooth transition, proper settlement and successful integration into the Calgary community. We work collaboratively to ensure our clients have access to programs and services that can help them overcome the challenges that come with immigrating to a new country, thus setting them up to succeed in their new life in Canada.
Address: 4800 Richard Road SW
Phone: 403-249-1749
Website: https://citedesrocheuses.com/
Email: caf@citedesrocheuses.com
The mission of La Cité des Rocheuses is to provide a gathering place and services for the general public, and to present artistic, cultural and community based programs in French in accordance with the needs and desires of the Francophone population of greater Calgary, while paying particular attention to youth.
The Francophone Newcomers Centre meets the needs of newcomers in Calgary. Our mission is to offer settlement and orientation services, as well as practical information.
The CLIC program offers French language classes based on NCLC standard (Niveaux de compétence linguistique du Canada). The goal of these courses is to assist students with being able to express themselves confidently in French, as well as developing their speaking and writing skills utilising examples from different situations of their daily lives (employment, health, transport, hobbies…).
Phone: 403-262-5776
Website: makingchangesassociation.ca
Email: info@makingchangesassociation.ca
Empowering women and girls is the vision of Making Changes and our four successful programs have more than 2,400 women use our services annually.
Women making the transition from unemployment to employment face a myriad of challenges from understanding corporate culture to building an appropriate wardrobe, often without any support systems in place to help them navigate this daunting change.
The women and youth who access our program face financial barriers. They are seeking employment, attending school or engaging in volunteer opportunities. While many of our participants are highly educated women accredited in foreign countries, they find themselves having to re-establish their careers with limited family or community support.
As a woman-centered organization, we offer four programs that are strategically connected to one another with the common objective of empowering women and teenage girls including the Employment and Life Skills program, Women in Technology Employment Training Program, My Best Friend’s Closet and Dress for Success Calgary.
At its core, our closet program appear to be about clothes. However, the clothes along with the skills offered through the ELS and the WIT programs, promote leadership, belonging and confidence, encouraging our participants and volunteers to be active in the community.
Phone: 403-262-8851
Website: www.mapleleafacademy.com
Email: esl@mapleleafacademy.com
- English as a Second Language school, offering fulltime, part-time evening & Saturday classes using subject-based approach including Pronunciation and Canadian Living
- Continuous enrollment
- IRCC funded programs for Permanent Residents or Refugees:
- LINC – Literacy and Pre-Benchmark to CLB 4
- Silver Club – community connections and informal English class for Seniors 55+
- ESL classes: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced programs available for International and Private students, including Refugee Claimants
- Customized English and employment training including private tutoring, business etiquette, resume reviews, and job search support.
- IELTS Prep classes & IELTS Testing Centre
- MappeD – GoA funded program (ends December 2021) employment prep program for Francophone young adults 18-35 years permanent residents and naturalized Canadian citizens
Phone: 403-668-0299
Email: info@pia-calgary.ca
Portail de l’ Immigrant Association (PIA) is your French-speaking chaperone in settlement and integration. PIA primarily offers the following settlement services to women and youth:
- Settlement Workers in Schools Program (SWIS)
- Needs assessment and referral services (Services related to housing and other basic needs)
- Information and orientation
- Community connections
As part of supporting the integration of women, young people and their families, PIA offers the following activities or services:
For the youth:
- Extracurricular activities
- Help with homework
- Tutoring
- Day camp - The Francophone Youth Center of Calgary
- Spelling competition
- 24-hour event in French
- Outings
- Summer employment program
- Youth volunteer program
For women: - Workshops on specific topics
- Coffee meetings
- Intercultural parenting workshops
- Civic engagement workshops
- Community kitchens
- Free Tax clinic
- Support service (childminding during the workshops, transport, and interpretation)
- Short term counseling
- Volunteering
- Activity celebrating International Women's Day
For families: - Franco-Festival
- Celebrations (Christmas, Family Day, National Francophone Immigration Week, Black History Month)
- Family outings
To close the gap, in Western Canada, between companies that are having difficulty finding workers, and individuals who are either underemployed or unemployed and seeking opportunities.
Operating since 2003, we are the only neutral party employment resource in Western Canada. We connect and share resources that help put the right people in the right organizations and positions. The desired results are growth for local business and in turn our economy and, a less strained social system.
Aspen helps people break out of the cycle of poverty and create better lives for themselves and their families.
Windmill Microlending is Canada’s largest microlending not-for-profit for skilled immigrants and refugees, Windmill addresses underemployment of internationally trained professionals across Canada.
By offering affordable loans up to $15,000 to pay for the credentials, licensing, training or professional development our clients are able to achieve career success and convert potential into prosperity for themselves and for Canada.
Phone: 403-263-1550
Website: www.ywcalgary.ca
Email: ywca@ywcalgary.ca or clink@ywcalgary.ca
This organization offers language, employment, and settlement training for newly arrived newcomers and low income families. Specifically, their Welcome Resources Information Program is an information service to help guide newcomers through all the different programs and services available in Calgary such as:
- Traveling by public transit (bus or C-train),and buying a low-cost bus pass
- Joining social groups and meeting new people
- Finding a place of worship like a mosque, church, or synagogue
- Applying for documents like a Social Insurance Number or Alberta Health Card
Referral to programs for language, employment, settlement, etc.
Phone: 403-237-9622
Website: www.ymcacalgary.org
Email: Ken.Lima-Coelho@calgary.ymca.ca
YMCA Calgary offers English language classes for newcomers to Canada at our Saddletowne, Shane Homes at Rocky Ridge, Shawnessy YMCA locations.
LINC focuses on improving communication by developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. We offer a variety of part-time classes during the day and in the evenings. Classes focus on themes relevant to newcomers such as Canadian culture, banking, community services, education, family, and getting around the city. Participants also take field trips, learn computer skills, volunteer, and participate in health and wellness activities as offered by YMCA Calgary.