New organization open to help newcomers

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
A new organization has opened its doors in downtown Claresholm to help meet the needs of newcomers to the community.

Willow Creek Immigrant Services is a branch of the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.
Ricardo Morales, manager of community development and integration services, said they have already been providing outreach services to Claresholm through their High River office.
Then, after a meeting with Lethbridge Family Services, it was decided Calgary Catholic would provide added services to Claresholm.
At about the same time, Brady Schnell, Claresholm’s economic development officer, called.
Claresholm was applying to be part of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. One of the conditions was a settlement response plan for newcomers.
So, Calgary Catholic partnered with the Town of Claresholm.
Ultimately, Claresholm was successful in its application to the pilot project.
“We came on board to provide support for the newcomers,” Morales said.
He also came across a provincial grant that was obtained to focus on building the capacity of the Claresholm community to have the conditions to enhance or foster inclusion.
Morales emphasized any direct settlement services are provided directly from the High River office.
The Claresholm office will look at all community stakeholders, help build a welcoming and inclusive community, and help newcomers navigate the community, society and new place of residence.
Willow Creek Immigrant Services has two staff members. Susan Jarvis is the community engagement coordinator and Martina McGarry is the community outreach coordinator.
They describe what they do as a two-way process.
One way is building the capacity of community stakeholders in terms of fostering the conditions of the inclusion and integration of newcomers.
The other way is to help newcomers navigate in the community, access resources and feel a sense of belonging.
Jarvis loves the town’s motto, “Where community takes root”, noting this is where people take root.
“That embodies the work that we do,” she said.
McGarry’s role is to network and meet with these stakeholders, while Jarvis is the strategic planner, looking for ways to bring people together, and looking at systems and processes.
McGarry said she has been in Claresholm about 8.5 years, coming from Ireland. When she moved here, she was not aware the Calgary Catholic Immigrant Society existed.
“I had to navigate it all on my own,” she said.
Now, she will draw on her own resources and experience in her role.
Another aspect of their work is a welcoming Claresholm advisory committee has its first meeting later this week.
Some of the stakeholders identified so far are Family and Community Support Services, the library, Claresholm Local Press, chamber of commerce, museum, town council, Alberta Health Services, and examples of immigrants who are entrepreneurs.
They are still working on connecting with members of school council.
“Our hope is to get together community members to see where there are needs and gaps,” Jarvis said.
“The goal is we want Claresholm to be welcoming and inclusive,” she added, and how they thread that through everything they do.
McGarry said they are also looking for welcome volunteers to help newcomer families. It can be mentorship or one-time opportunities.
She also pointed out their services are not just for the immigration pilot, but any newcomers.
Morales stressed if people need client services they will be provided by settlement workers from High River.
The focus in Claresholm is to build the capacity in the community to attract, integrate and maintain newcomers.
“We’re there to provide and facilitate conditions that are going to make that happen,” he said.
Morales added when people feel this way, the community could be a choice place for people to relocate. It brings benefits such as economic growth, revitalization, prosperity and much more.
“People want to come to Claresholm,” McGarry said. “It’s Ric’s, Susan’s and my job to retain them here.”
Morales said that Claresholm is this way by nature. It is one of the reasons it was the only Alberta community chosen for the immigration pilot.
“We are part way there,” he said. “We are on a pathway of where we’d like to be.”
“(More than) five years ago we fought to stay here, and there’s a reason for it,” McGarry said. “It’s a phenomenal community.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can drop by The Willow Creek Immigrant Services office downtown from 8:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m., or contact Susan Jarvis at 1-403-618-7928 or Martina McGarry at 1-403-973-5583.