Helping newcomers to build a new and fulfilling life in Canada since 1988

 

Mihaela Craciun, our guest speaker, is Manager of Programming and of Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) at Saamis Immigration Services Association (SISA) in Medicine Hat.

 

It was fascinating to hear briefly about Mihaela’s life journey from her youth in her country of origin, Romania, to the present. An immigrant herself, she is now a well rooted Canadian, committed to giving back, through her work at Saamis, by connecting with newcomers, understanding their challenges, and helping them to feel welcome and develop a sense of belonging.

 

Mihaela expressed appreciation for the ways in which the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has supported the work of Saamis over the past couple of years. Team Freewheel has donated over 180 bikes to 75 families promoting much-needed mobility and access to resources including education, shopping and work. Rotarians have joined Saamis clients for a Family Movie night to converse in English; the Club has donated money to help cover the cost of a bus that took Saamis clients on a trip around town to see the Christmas lights; Rotarians accompanied Saamis clients on a ‘get-to-know-Medicine Hat’ walk to the Teepee; Club members spent time with Saamis clients in Echodale, showing them the museum and agricultural equipment from the past; and our Club recently put together 35 ‘health bags’ and handed them out, in lieu of International Men’s Day and the theme, ‘Healthy Men, Healthy World’ (see photos at the end of the article).

 

Mihaela’s presentation on SISA was lively, interactive, informative and enlightening.

 

The objective of this association is to assist in the integration, adjustment and resettlement of immigrants and refugees into the community and to foster the development of independence that will aid them in becoming self-sufficient.

 

In terms of numbers, in 2022, Permanent Resident intake to Canada was:

Arrivals to Medicine Hat numbered 259 in 2022, the breakdown being:

Mihaela spoke about how immigrants from refugee camps, in which they could have spent 10 or more years, had a huge challenge getting settled in Canada, due inter alia to unfamiliarity, language barriers, emotional stress, gender role differences, and adapting to a new culture while maintaining their own.

 

All immigrants are eligible for accessing settlement services in Canada. Saamis is funded by the IRCC to provide settlement support and services to any immigrant with Permanent Residence (PR) status.

 

Saamis provides three phases of help: arrival and survival; orientation and settlement; and grow and thrive.

 

Offered during these phases are five programs: Resettlement Assistance during first six weeks after arrival; Settlement Services to help newcomers to fully participate in social, cultural, civic; and economic life in Canada; Settlement Workers in Schools; Language Instruction offered at four different levels; and Community Connections which is federally funded and matches newcomers with volunteers acting as mentors, language coaches, or community ambassadors.

 

How can Rotary and others assist?

 

Opportunities include: volunteering on the Community Connections Program; offering and/or funding city tours e.g. to Police Point and Medalta; forming and/or joining Conversation Circles e.g.attending a Breakfast Circle at Saamis; putting together gift bags for women clients on International Women’s Day; and in general, creating a welcoming community by recognising and attempting to resolve cultural conflicts through effective cross-cultural communication.

 

The presentation was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by Club members. It served as an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between our Club and Saamis, to develop a better understanding of Saamis and the vital role it plays in our community; and to spark new ideas for Rotary Club involvement in the support of newcomers to our community.

 

 

Very best wishes to you and all your colleagues at Saamis Immigration Services Association.

 

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