Immigrant Services Calgary is pleased to announce our participation in the new Calgary East Zone Newcomers Collaborative (CENC). CENC believes a strong community is created through building relationships. As a group, we welcome newcomers in East Calgary and support them through our group’s collective free services. The zonal approach, created by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is a community model for inclusion for all newcomers to Calgary.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CENC created a rapid response to help newcomers and ethnocultural communities with ongoing needs. The cultural brokers provide support in 20 languages with referrals to more than a dozen agencies. If you or someone you know has tested positive for COVID-19 and you need information and support in your home language, please contact (toll free) the multilingual emergency response centre at 1-833-217-6614. All phone calls are completely confidential.

You’re not alone!

• You don’t have to go to work if you’re sick. Know your rights, contact the multilingual emergency response centre now.
• Apply for government COVID-19 relief. There are financial supports available to workers negatively affected by COVID-19. Find out how to apply by calling the multilingual emergency response centre.
• You’re not alone, everyone is feeling the strain of the pandemic. Reach out to the multilingual emergency response centre for information about food relief.

“Calgary’s community based organizations are in the best position to reach out to people in their communities and mobilize resources to help those in need. I know these dedicated people are committed to ensuring their communities receive vital supports in these challenging times. Alberta’s government is proud to work with these community partners to provide funding to enable this outreach.”  Hon. Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services, Province of Alberta

“This is an incredibly difficult time. COVID-19 has impacted every Calgarian, but we know the impact of this pandemic has been disproportionate for our neighbours and friends in northeast Calgary, many of whom are working critical frontline jobs. I’m so proud of this collaboration from across the community to ensure that residents in impacted communities are receiving the supports they need. It’s critical that every Calgarian understand their rights in this situation and have access to the programs and resources that are available. I would like to send a huge thank you to all the incredible organizations and outreach workers who are supporting our community when we need it most. We will continue to get through this challenging time, together.” Mayor Naheed Nenshi, City of Calgary

“I am grateful to represent so many hardworking frontline workers who call Northeast Calgary home. We owe these workers a debt of gratitude for all they’ve done to ensure our city survives these challenging times. The best way for us to show our gratitude is to adhere to public health measures that help reduce the spread, such as wearing a mask in public, physically-distancing, receiving the vaccine once it’s available, and avoiding gatherings in the meantime.  

If you are able, please shop at local businesses. They need our financial support now more than ever. This has been a difficult year for Calgary, and the City will continue to provide critical community supports as we enter the new year.”  Councillor Chahal, City of Calgary

Members of CENC include the following agencies and organizations:

Action Dignity - www.actiondignity.org
Alberta International Medical Graduates Association - www.aimga.ca
Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth - www.cbfy.ca
Calgary Public Library – www.calgarylibrary.ca
Centre for Newcomers – www.centrefornewcomers.ca
Cite des Rocheuses - www.citedesrocheuses.com
Distress Centre - www.distresscentre.com - 211 for 24/7 services
Immigrant Services Calgary - www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca

Support for this initiative comes from the Province of Alberta, the City of Calgary, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.