View as Webpage

Welcome to the fourteenth issue of Fresh Start!

On May 5, CCIS hosted the second annual Youth Employment Summit 2026. 

In honour of Arabic Heritage Month, the Foothills Local Immigration Partnership (FLIP) partnered with the Calgary Arabic Arts and Culture Society and the Okotoks Film Society to host a Community Conversation and Arabic Film Night in Okotoks.

Together, Cochrane and Airdrie ArabFest created a regional celebration of Arab culture, bridging communities, showcasing artistic talent, and inviting Albertans to experience the richness of Arab heritage. 

A key highlight for the BCIS office in April was a Census Informational Session delivered in collaboration with the City of Brooks. 

CCIS YYCTrades Training is a leading provider of innovative training programs, helping individuals redefine their goals and set a path to success in various trades. They offer industry-recognized training and certification to build a successful career and contribute to Alberta's economy.

2026 Programs List:

• Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training Program
• Pre-Apprenticeship Electrician Training Program - NEW INTAKE
• Pre-Apprenticeship Plumbing Training Program
• Building Maintenance Worker (BMW) Training Program - NEW INTAKE

(Application Open date - Continuous – Please apply in person! or online)

New to the Canadian healthcare system? This is for you!

In partnership with Praxus Health, we’re excited to invite you to a Women’s Health & Wellness Event.

This event is designed as a space to connect, ask questions, and access real support in your own language. From primary care to mental health, pregnancy support, and community resources—everything is in one place.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, and under this year’s theme “Come Together, Canada,” we’re creating space for an important and often difficult conversation — the mental health of newcomer men.



Many carry the quiet weight of expectations: to provide, to adapt, to stay strong. But what happens when those pressures go unspoken?

Join us for a live conversation 

Finances for Newcomers (with Thai Interpretation)

Join BCIS for an online seminar designed to help newcomers navigate financial management in Canada. Hosted by Jose Matias Pazuengo from World Financial Group (WFG), this session covers budgeting, savings, and long-term financial planning.

Rodeo Days Free Breakfast Bash

Kick off Rodeo Days with BCIS! Join us for a free community breakfast featuring pancakes, sausages, coffee, and juice. Everyone from Brooks and surrounding areas is welcome.

The High River Ag Society has expanded its partnership with FCIS to help newcomer and immigrant families experience rural rodeo culture. 

On May 5th, over 90 people gathered at Kinsmen Park in Strathmore to mark Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Children, and Two‑Spirited people (MMIWG2S). 

Our Canada Connects program introduces newcomers to a volunteer – a partner who is well-established in the Calgary community. It is designed to create opportunities for broader integration of newcomers who have arrived as refugees, and to help them adjust to living in Calgary and make new connections. 

As a Canada Connects Volunteer, you will become a guide to life in your community and our city at large. It is an exciting chance for you or your whole family to meet new people and see your own community from a unique perspective.