News

The Halifax Pride Festival 2017 starts today, July 20. Now in its 30th year, it continues to support the community, culture, and pride of Halifax’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2 Spirited, Asexual, Pansexual, and Allies (2SLBTQ+)...

We had a memorable launch for our new Strategic Plan at our AGM in June! Many thanks to the ISANS staff members who brought it to life! We’re excited to share it and start this journey. Here are a few photos from the AGM…

On Sunday June 25, 2017, the last day of Ramadan, the communities of Bedford United Church and the Al-Rasoul Islamic Society Mosque hosted an interfaith service to celebrate friendship, embrace Canada’s diversity, and celebrate its 150th birthday. To a packed house, dressed...

This year was the year of change, of innovation, of flexibility and of enormous effort by ISANS as we responded to the different contexts and needs of the immigrants who came through our doors. It was also a year of looking forward and preparing for the future. We are pleased to...

Thanks to all who attended our Annual & Special Meeting yesterday. We want to congratulate Chimo Taekwondo who received the ISANS Award this year! The ISANS Award recognizes an individual, community group, business or employer who has demonstrated exceptional and innovative...

By Heather Laura Clarke, Chronicle Herald, 19 June 2017.  It has been a busy year for ISANS and they couldn’t be happier — more work for them means more immigrants are making their home here in the province. ISANS executive director Gerry Mills says ISANS has continued to grow...

Last Friday, June 16, the You Gotta Sing! Chorus performed at Woodlawn United Church in Dartmouth as part of their Canada Sings! event series. ISANS was the dedicated organization for receiving donations at this event. It was wonderful performance and great turnout. ISANS...

Canadian Council for Refugees. June, 2017.  The world is witnessing an unprecedented number of refugees. Globally, 1.19 million refugees need resettlement. A third of those are from Africa. In 2016, in response to the crisis facing refugees from Syria, Canada took action. But...

CBC News, 17 June 2017. On World Refugee Day, Halifax supporters have one main message to the government: don’t let support slip. Halifax joined communities across Canada in hosting a refugee walk. A large group of adult and children braved the driving rain on Saturday...

CBC, 30 May 2017.  For new citizen Ngozi Otti, parenting in Canada required adaptation from what she was used to in Nigeria. “Being a mother in Canada is tough. Back home [in Nigeria] you got a lot of support. Here, between understanding childcare policies and rules,...

By Sonja Puzic, CTV, 5 June 2017 (photo by CP/Adrian Wyld).  The federal government has made some changes to the express entry immigration program, awarding more points to applicants who have siblings in Canada and those who have strong French language skills. Immigration...

By Crystal MacMillan, TESL NS Newsletter, 2 May 2017. With the small hands of toddlers grabbing at pencil and paper, a baby crying in the lap, and a senior family member in need of help, a young mother studying English at home certainly has her struggles. The learning environment...

Last night at the Halifax Chamber’s immigration focused Spring Dinner we presented a never before seen video to a crowd of 1000 people. It was a moving end to powerful speech by Gerry Mills, our Executive Director, who was a keynote speaker. Please take a minute to watch....

By Catherine Sas, Asia Pacific Post, 09 May 2017.  One of the leading immigration platforms of the Liberal government’s 2015 election campaign was to restore the age of dependent children to “under the age of 22”. The previous Conservative government had reduced...

From UNHCR Canada.  Arriving in a new country can be a scary experience, but when Najwa and Reyad Al Hamoud arrived in Canada they were greeted with jumps of joy. Elaine Hofer, one of the Al Hamoud family’s sponsors, had driven two hours from a Hutterite colony near Brandon,...

The April edition of Business Voice magazine focuses on immigration and the vital role immigration plays in our economy. At Home in Nova Scotia – starting on page 14 – features ISANS Executive Director Gerry Mills who speaks about immigrant retention and the...

By Anjuli Patil, CBC News, 2 April 2017. ‘We thought if people are living here in terrible conditions, we should help them.’ On Sundays, you can find Mohammed Al-Jokhadar and his wife Theresa in their tiny kitchen preparing big meals for people in need. They’re...

Refugee Rights Day is celebrated each year in Canada on April 4th. It is an opportunity to bring attention to the advances made in the protection of refugee rights in Canada as a result of the Singh Decision. Refugee Rights Day is also a time to learn about the threats to those...

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project is a new three-year employer-driven immigration program.  The program is designed to address labour gaps that certain sectors in Atlantic Canada are experiencing and to help businesses attract and retain global talent.  The Atlantic...

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Colin MacLean, former ISANS board member, Vice Chair and great supporter of ISANS, has passed away after a lengthy illness. Colin was a board member of MISA when MISA and HILC merged in 2009 and was one of the biggest...

From the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration: The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a creative approach to addressing our labour market challenges. Starting in March 2017, employers in Nova Scotia will be able to use the Pilot to hire foreign workers. Eligibility Employers looking to...

The 2017 African Heritage Month theme honours past and present legacies of African Nova Scotians while looking forward to future greatness.  Embracing the struggle and adversity that African Nova Scotians endured over the generations, the theme highlights their successes and...

All of us at ISANS are shocked and deeply saddened and would like to express our  heartfelt sympathy to all our Muslim brothers and sisters after the attack on innocent worshippers in the mosque in Quebec. This was an attack on all of us who believe in the value of each member of...

By Stephen Puddicombe, CBC News, 29 December 2016.  Amer Turkmani beams as he watches his five children twist, punch and kick pads at Chimo Taekwondo in Halifax. The children are just a few of the 60 or so young Syrian refugees who have signed up to study the Korean martial art...