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CALL Café Open to Members and Guests |
Building a Welcoming Community:
Empowering Immigrant Women in Calgary
| Paula Calderon, a dedicated nonprofit executive, brings over two decades of leadership experience in workforce development, education, and socio-economic impact projects. An immigrant from Colombia, Paula's personal journey informs her passion for supporting successful integration into Canada. With a distinguished career in nonprofit leadership mainly in the immigrant serving sector, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA) since June 2022. Her leadership has solidified CIWA's status as a provincial and national leader in gender-specific settlement services, offering a holistic range of support including settlement, literacy, employment, health, and community development programs. |
Immigration has long had a positive benefit to Canadian society, contributing to the country's social, economic, and cultural well-being. Between 2023 and 2025, Canada is projected to welcome 1.5 million new residents, aligning with the federal government's objective of expanding immigration targets. Coupled with inter-province migration, City estimates have Calgary growing by 62 new residents a day for the next several years, adding 110,000 people by 2027 — more than the population of Red Deer.
When arriving in Calgary, immigrant women face many challenges including language barriers, isolation and cultural adjustment, gender-based violence, access to education, employment discrimination, lack of recognition for foreign credentials, limited access to social services, financial dependence, and more.
As the CEO of the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA), Paula has solidified CIWA's position as the largest gender-focused settlement agency in Canada. Last year, CIWA served nearly 16,000 immigrant and refugee women, girls, and families, with a broad range of support services including settlement, language training, employment support, counseling, and more.
During this discussion, you’ll hear an inspiring immigration story from one of CIWA’s clients, highlighting the tangible impact of CIWA's mission. Together, they will showcase how CIWA empowers immigrant women and fosters inclusivity within the community, ultimately making a significant difference in the lives of newcomers. Gain insights into the future of immigrant integration in Canada with us.
| DATE: | Monday, October 16, 2023 |
| TIME: | 1 to 3 pm |
| LOCATION: | Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church - Scott Hall |
| PRESENTER: | Paula Calderon, CEO of the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association |
| REGISTER: | Register |
*You must be a member to register for this event, but when you do you can add 1 to 4 guests to your registration.
If you decide to invite guests after you have registered, you will need to cancel your first registration Cancellation Tips , then register again and indicate the number of guests that you will bring.
To contact us, please email CALL Café Team
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2023 | 2022 |