BC’s newcomer integration sector is going through major transitions as many of its founders have or are about to retire.
To document insights on the Sector, AMSSA is launching “Memoirs of the Newcomer Integration Sector”, a series of video-interviews of key sector individuals who have spent much of their life’s work in the Sector.
These interviews aim to capture their stories and journeys and document the creation of BC’s settlement agencies and other sector milestones to ensure that future leaders have insights into the evolution of the Sector in which to build on and grow.
Watch the trailer for the series and stay tuned for more interviews to come soon!
Manpreet Grewal, Archway Community Services, October 2021
In this recording, Manpreet Grewal, the Director of Multicultural & Immigration Integration Services at Archway Community Services, is interviewed by Donna Lo, the Manager of Pathways to Integration at Archway. Manpreet speaks about the formalization of immigrant services during the early years of her involvement in the sector, the wonders of successful collaboration with government, and the learning journey that working in the sector involves to best understand and serve newcomers.
“My work in the sector taught me how much you don’t know. You come with a frame of reference and you have an assumption of what the world looks like and how people should settle. Once I started working here, I started getting in tune with people who came from different backgrounds.”
“Never take anything for granted. Things change and you have to pivot a lot within these changes. Always be aware of what you don’t know.”
–Manpreet Grewal, 2021
Carol Wutzke, Vernon & District Immigrant & Community Services Society, September 2021
In the fourth video of the series, Carol Wutzke, the founder and retired Executive Director of Vernon & District Immigrant & Community Services Society (VDICSS), is interviewed by Katelin Mitchell, Director of Services at KCR Community Resources. At a time when the sector is realizing the opportunity to integrate the innovative strategies of smaller centers for the benefit of national conversations, Carol depicts a vivid picture of the early years and subsequent challenges of a service provider located in a small community.
“To me, each day that we were open was a success because as a small community, funding was somewhat difficult to obtain.”
“You don’t get involved [in the sector] unless you make this your career. It’s not just a job, it’s the heart and soul of what you do. […] What I loved the most was to see clients become Canadian citizens. To me that was so heartwarming.”
–Carol Wutzke, 2021
Alexandra Charlton, Settlement Orientation Services (SOS), July 2021
In this recording, Alexandra Charlton, the founder and retired Director of SOS, Settlement Orientation Services, is interviewed by Loren Balisky, Director of Engagement at Kinbrace. Alexandra takes us back to the early years of resettlement in the Downtown Eastside, and sheds light on the collaborative efforts of the Sector to establish funding for refugees.
“The kind of impetus to keep going was when we saw the results, people coming back and saying: ‘I’ve got my hearing, I got accepted, I can bring my wife and child now’, who they may not have seen for 5 or 6 years.”
“There’s so little you can do on your own, but if you get together, you are stronger, have more influence, and you can trade in terms of resources, information. I don’t think you can get anywhere in the Sector without collaboration.”
–Alexandra Charlton, 2021
Patricia Woroch, Immigrant Services Society of BC, July 2021
In this second video, Patricia Woroch, the retired CEO of ISSofBC, is interviewed by Ajlin Mehmedi, Settlement Services Manager at ISSofBC. Patricia gives a vibrant account of the fascinating history of the early years of the agency and its expansion, as well as some advice for future leaders of the settlement and integration sector before her upcoming retirement.
“It’s never about one person. I have been incredibly fortunate to have wonderful board, leadership teams, community members & staff who are committed to the mission statement. When you have that, you can handle anything.”
“The best advice I could give anybody is: listen. Listen to everybody around you, whether you want or not. Don’t rush to decisions. You need to do that to inform your decisions.”
–Patricia Woroch, 2021
Jean McRae, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, June 2021
In the first video of this series, Jean McRae, the CEO of ICA of Greater Victoria, is interviewed by Winnie Lee, the current Director of Operations at ICA, and presents the fascinating history of multiculturalism and (re)settlement in Victoria.
“Initially, our clients were refugees & sometimes small wins felt like real victories because we were working hard. We spent a lot of time doing cross-cultural education with service providers.”
“In this position I’ve been challenged so many times and thought to myself ‘I don’t know what to do’. I’ve had many opportunities to grow & I’ve met so many wonderful people. It is very rewarding.”
–Jean McRae, 2021
