The Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre has been serving Swift Current and surrounding area for well over ten years, but at the latest Swift Current City Council meeting they were given an acknowledgement for hitting a decade milestone commemorating an event that helped establish them in the community for the past decade.

The organization became incorporated as a non-profit organization over 10 years ago, and at the meeting, thanks, stories, and recognition were all given to the community-based organization helping to grow Swift Current.

Before becoming incorporated, the centre operated as long ago as 2007.

Both Icasiana de Gala, executive director, and Conor Barker, the board chair attended the meeting to address Council.

de Gala reflected back on the past years spent supporting new residents in the community.

“[City Councilor] Chris Martens did point out, just look at the visuals in the community. How many restaurants are there that are owned by newcomers or have a multicultural flavour? You hear so many different languages and see so many [different clothes].”

“It’s not us being able to celebrate [the milestone,] but every day, what you see in the community is a reason to celebrate.”

Before the onset of the pandemic, members of the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre were planning to attend the meeting in person to showcase the many different cultures that have found a home in southwest Saskatchewan.

Claudia Munoz, a settlement advisor with the organization, was around to see the beginning of their efforts to help settle people in the community when it was only two members, one of which was a part-time employee.

“We now have seven staff members, and it is still growing. That means a lot because that means that we are growing and the community needs us… there’s been a lot of changes.”

de Gala adds that not only their staff, but also programming have expanded since she began working at the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre.

“From the time I joined, there were only two main programs, just employment information and referrals settlements. Now aside from those two, we have employment programs, we have settlement workers in schools in Swift Current, we have community connections, we have a youth program and we have the local immigration partnership.”

She said their additional staff have continued to increase the quality of help they are able to offer.

For future programming, de Gala added that they would look to meet the needs of newcomers if gaps in service arise.

Estimates for how many people they have helped throughout the organization’s lifespan are around 1,500 people, in addition to the families of those who registered with the centre.

Viju Vijayan, a settlement worker for employment and community engagement, said that they benefit Swift Current by adding community members and employees into the area.

“I believe that the easiest way a city can improve its population rate is by inviting more newcomers and immigrants.”

“If we can attract more newcomers and immigrants from other parts of the country, that’ll be the best way to increase the population.”

He added that newcomers from other Saskatchewan cities say that they feel more welcomed by the population of Swift Current compared to their former city centres.

de Gala said that the response from the community to their efforts has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We feel the love from the community, it is great to hear people stopping by [the business location] and saying ‘we appreciate what you do.’"

Volunteers, as well as partner organizations, have also helped welcome newcomers to the area by working alongside the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre.

She added that following the pandemic, they would be looking to launch a cricket league to help new members of the community be able to participate in a familiar sport while interacting with the community.