Our Members

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ISCC’s Council members work collaboratively to identify priority issues, and develop and implement strategies to address these issues.

ISCC’s Council is comprised of government agencies, non-profit and funding organizations, and public institutions working to improve immigrants’ and refugees’ settlement and integration in Calgary. Each organization brings a wealth of expertise to the Council, giving ISCC the ability to influence change.

Representatives from 20+ member organizations participate on the Council and in our committees.

  • Marichu Antonio

    Executive Director
    Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary

    Marichu Antonio is the Executive Director of the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary, a community-based organization with a membership of 43 ethno-cultural organizations. She is a pioneer, innovator, and risk-taker, with a passion for working with communities. Marichu emigrated with her family from the Philippines 17 years ago, and today is the proud Recipient of the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and Avenue Magazine’s A-List of Volunteers in 2009.

  • Krystyna Biel

    Chief Executive Officer
    Immigrant Services Calgary

    Krystyna Biel possesses vast experience in the settlement sector and in her over 24-year tenure with Immigrant Services Calgary, she has held positions of increasing responsibility including ESL/Career Counsellor, Director of the Immigrant Language and Vocational Assessment - Referral Centre ((ILVARC), Interim Chief Executive Officer and as of October 21st 2013, Chief Executive Officer.

  • Fariborz Birjandian

    Executive Director
    Calgary Catholic Immigration Society

    Through 20 years of service as the Executive Director of CCIS, and through extensive volunteer work, Fariborz has a lifelong commitment to promoting diversity and equal rights, and improving resettlement and integration policies and practices for immigrants and refugees in Alberta.

  • Laurie Blahitka

    Executive Director of Public Health, Calgary Zone
    Alberta Health Services

    Laurie Blahitka, RN, MN, has been with Alberta Health Services for 33 years and is currently the Executive Director for Public Health, Primary Care, Chronic Disease Management, and Allied Health. Laurie is committed to the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategic and operational plans to support patient focused care and service delivery.

  • Susan Brooke

    Program Manager, Community Investments & Collaborations
    United Way of Calgary and Area

    As a Community Impact Planner with the United Way, Susan Brooke is focused on stewarding funds and engaging stakeholders in the immigrant and senior sectors to identify gaps, reduce barriers, and help create greater community impact by addressing the underlying causes of social issues.

  • Mamady Camara

    CANAF Coordinator
    Centre d’accueil pourles nouveaux arrivants francophones (CANAF)

    Originally from Guinea (Conakry), West Africa, Mamady Camera is the Director of CANAF and a member of Alberta Association of Immigrant-Serving Agencies (AAISA) Executive and Chair of AAISA Research Committee. Mamady holds a PhD in education assessment and evaluation from Laval University in Quebec, a diploma in specialized studies and project management from Université de Rennes 2 in France, and a Bachelor degree in education and social sciences from Guinea.

  • Tanis Cochrane

    VP Children & Youth
    YMCA

    Tanis Cochrane is VP Children & Youth with YMCA Calgary. Tanis' focus is strategic initiatives related to healthy child and youth development in YMCA programs, and external partnerships and collaborative initiatives that focus on positive outcomes for children and youth. Tanis holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta.

  • Christine Dugal

    Executive Manager
    Calgary and Area Child and Family Services

    Christine Dugal is a Senior Manager with Calgary and Area Child and Family Services. She is responsible for the diverse cultures portfolio, as well as three offices in the Calgary Region. Throughout her career, Christine’s focus has been on collaboration and innovation to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, youth, and families.

  • Pat Firminger

    Regional Director
    Government of Alberta Human Services

    Pat Firminger provides leadership to Alberta Works in the Calgary Region as Executive Director. Her significant background in the provincial and federal governments, labour market delivery and policy programming forms the core of her approach to the Calgary Region. She has worked extensively in the immigrant community and currently co-chairs the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary and is a member of the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership (CLIP).

  • Marty Hornstein

    Executive Director
    Jewish Family Service Calgary

    Marty Hornstein, CGA, RPA, started his career in the non-profit sector in 1981. Since then, Marty has held senior leadership positions with the Foothills Hospital, VRRI (now Vecova), and the Boys and Girls Club. Today he holds the position of Executive Director with the Jewish Family Service Calgary.

  • Nicole Jelley

    Executive Director
    The Talent Pool Development Society of Calgary

    Nicole Jelley, LLB, PHR, Executive Director of the Talent Pool Development Society of Calgary, is an internationally-trained lawyer, human resources professional, and instructor at the University of Calgary and Bow Valley College.

  • Nancy Purdy

    Executive Director
    Calgary Learns

    Calgary Learns proudly supports adult foundational learning programs in our community. As the Executive Director of Calgary Learns, Nancy Purdy draws upon her previous experiences as a non-profit capacity builder and collaborator, classroom teacher (including Adult English Language Instructor), and volunteer.

  • Liz Rees

    Program Officer, Multiculturalism Program
    Citizenship & Immigration Canada

    Liz Rees is a Program Officer for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, working on multiculturalism, settlement, and cross-sectoral integration initiatives. Liz has worked in the field of integration since 2001, serving in both the public and non-profit sectors.

  • Elizabeth Schnitzler

    Social Planner, Strategy and Partnerships
    The City of Calgary Family and Community Support Services

    Elizabeth Schnitzler, MSW, RSW, is a Social Planner in Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) at The City of Calgary. She works to advance social inclusion of vulnerable populations, with a focus on positive child and youth development and positive social ties. Elizabeth was instrumental in shaping ISCC and was one of our first co-chairs. She also promoted the development of the CARE Strategy.

  • Sharon Seward

    ESL Consultant, St. Paul Centre
    Calgary Catholic School District

    Sharon Seward is a Diverse Learning Consultant, English Language Learners for the Calgary Catholic School District. In her role as a Consultant, she supports teachers in programming for their English Language Learning students, as well as engaging in culturally responsive practices.

  • Salim Sindhu

    Executive Director
    Calgary Immigrant Educational Society

    Salim Sindhu obtained his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. In 1988, with the help of a few friends, he helped create the Calgary Immigrant Educational Society (CIES) to help immigrants residing in the South-East quadrant of Calgary. He has received the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award for community service, the Government of Alberta’s Centennial Medal, and the Star of the Millennium - Volunteer Award from the Wild Rose Foundation.

  • Beba Svigir

    Executive Director
    Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association

    Beba Svigir has worked as Executive Director at the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association since 2006. She has over 30 years of experience working in both non-profit and business sectors and has extensive background in education, curriculum development, and program management.

  • Dale Taylor

    Executive Director
    Centre for Newcomers

    Dale Taylor became the Executive Director of the Centre for Newcomers Society of Calgary in 2000, after various roles in post-secondary education, and not-for-profit management in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and in Chongqing, China. She has an M.A. from the University of Alberta.

  • Harry Yee

    Executive Director
    The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth

    Born and raised in Calgary, Harry Yee is a proud graduate of the Calgary system and completed his Bachelor of Education with a focus on Multicultural Studies at the University of Calgary. He has developed and implemented youth programs for Community Associations, YMCA, and the City of Calgary before joining The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth.