Who We Are
Established in 1982, the Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) is a registered charitable organization and one of Canada’s largest gender-focused settlement agencies. We are dedicated to empowering immigrant women, girls and their families to build safe, successful and fulfilling lives in Canada.
Through culturally responsive programs and services in settlement, employment, language learning, family wellbeing, leadership and community connection, CIWA helps remove barriers, create opportunities and strengthen belonging.
For more than four decades, we have worked alongside clients, communities, employers, funders and partners to advance the social and economic inclusion, family wellbeing and long-term success of immigrant women and their families, while contributing to a stronger and more inclusive Canada.
Our vision is clear: Empower immigrant women. Enrich Canadian society.
history
CIWA began in 1982
CIWA began in 1982, when a group of immigrant women gathered in a Calgary school basement with their children beside them. They came for the Making Changes program after and, from their they grew and found their collective voice as the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association.
The early years were small, three staff and a budget under $6,000. The first programs were shaped with the women themselves, covering literacy, parenting, and family life.
Through the late 1980s and 1990s, that work took root. A volunteer program grew past 100 members, literacy and parenting programs spread across the city, and CIWA joined coalitions on immigrant and race relations. As employment bridging programs began to tackle the barriers women faced getting their credentials recognized, CIWA became Calgary’s hub for immigrant women.
Over the next two decades, CIWA grew into a holistic organization that walks beside women through settlement, language, employment, parenting, and wellbeing. Partnerships with employers opened real job placements, and the gender-specific approach earned national recognition.
By the mid-2010s, accreditation by the Canadian Accreditation Council and partnerships with more than 200 employers marked CIWA as both a service provider and a centre of expertise, with new supports for mental health, addiction, and family safety.
after CIWA turned a new leaf for Canada, We officially changed our name to the Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association reflecting our local impact and our national reach.
Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association, a leader making local impact with national influence.
Quick Facts
We offer over 50 programs and services for immigrant women and their families.
Over 230 businesses/employers collaborate with us to support access to employment for immigrant women.
Land Acknowledgement
As an immigrant-serving organization, we acknowledge that we work on the traditional lands of the Treaty 7 Nations: the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani, Kainai), the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney). We also recognize the Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6 and all the people who make their homes the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
We honour the diverse histories, languages, and cultures of the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land for generations. As settlers, we are committed to learning, fostering respectful relationships, and supporting reconciliation. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on this land, and we pledge to do so in a way that honors its original stewards.
Upcoming Events
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout.
Hospitality Training for Immigrant Women – February 9 2026 to May 1, 2026
Digital Marketing Training – July 6 to September 11, 2026
Training for Translators and Interpreters – April 7 to July 10, 2026 (including 2-week work placement) – open for registration
Bridging the Gap for Foreign Trained Accountants – April 13 to July 3, 2026 – open for registration
