What is Arms Open Mentoring?
Are you new to Canada? Do you feel lost, lonely, or confused? If you want to make connections in Calgary and area, we can help you. We offer personalized settlement support through the Arms Open Mentoring program.
When you join this program, you will be matched with a student volunteer from the University of Calgary. The student will support you as a guide. They will help answer your questions about living in Canada, for example:
- Buying food/groceries for your family at a low cost
- Traveling by public transit(bus or C-train),and buying a low-cost bus pass
- Joining social groupsand meeting new people
- Finding places of worship like mosques, churches, or synagogues
- Setting up a cell phone to communicate with your family and friends
- Getting winter clothes for your family
The student guides also benefit from this program. They have an opportunity to learn about the challenges that newcomers to Canada face. This program encourages the Calgary community to understand and support newcomers.
When is it?
Meetings are by appointment, not at set times of the week.
For more information, please contact Cesar Suva:
- Call (403) 235-3666 and ask for Cesar
- E-mail cesarsuva@immigrant-education.ca
Where is it?
This program is offered at the following locations:
- CIES Forest Lawn (SE)
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- 1723 – 40th Street Southeast, Calgary, AB T2A 7Y3
- Contact (403) 235-3666
- CIES Whitehorn (NE)
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- 3820 – 32nd Street Northeast, Calgary, AB T1Y 7L9
- Contact (403) 291-0002
What is the cost?
This program is offered free of charge.
How do I join?
Requirements / Eligibility
To join this program you must meet the following eligibility:
- Newcomers:New immigrants and refugees who have arrived in Calgary in the previous 18 months.
- Volunteers:University of Calgary students or staff are encouraged to participate as volunteers. If you have language skills in Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Vietnamese, Burmese, Tagalog and Spanish are particularly encouraged to apply. Please contact Cesar Suva at cesarsuva@immigrant-education.cafor more information.
There is no online registration for this program.For more information, please contact Cesar Suva:
- Call (403) 235-3666 and ask for Cesar
- E-mail cesarsuva@immigrant-education.ca
What If I Have Other Questions?
If you have any questions about this program, fill out the contact form below.