What activities are organized for newly arrived Ukrainians?
Since the start of the full-scale war, Calgary has welcomed over 26,000 Ukrainians, nearly half of whom have settled in the city. To support the new arrivals, city, provincial, and federal agencies, along with dozens of NGOs and parishes, have launched an ecosystem of programs: housing for the first month, language courses, employment assistance, mentoring, and psychological support.
1. Main coordinators and “entry points”
| Organization/service | What they offer | How to contact them |
|---|---|---|
| Centre for Newcomers (CFN) | Airport reception; 14 days in a hotel; host home search; LINC courses; job fairs; furniture bank | 565 36 St NE #125 ☎️ 403-569-3325 ✉️ [email protected] |
| Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC) | Needs assessment; CLB language tests; Unleash Your Potential career program | 910 7 Ave SW 🌐 immigrantservicescalgary.ca |
| Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) | GAR initial settlement; Margaret Chisholm residence; social program navigation | 1111 11 Ave SW ☎️ 403-262-2006 |
| Ukrainian Help Line (AHC) | Bilingual call center: housing, social benefits, rights, healthcare | ☎️ 1-888-701-1101 (UKR/ENG) |
Life hack: download the PDF “Information Guide for Ukrainians Arriving in Alberta” from the province's website.
2. Housing and emergency support
| Program | Format | Details / deadlines | Funding source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host Homes YYC (CFN) | 30 days with a volunteer family | 600+ applications; 100+ new hosts needed | Community donors + provincial grant ($2.1 million) |
| Emergency Hotel Rooms | Up to 14 days in a hotel | Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat | Alberta government |
| Rental Subsidy (CIWA) | $500 × 3 for 10 families | After 90 days of free accommodation | CIWA + private donors |
3. Language and career programs
| Course/project | Level | Schedule | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINC | CLB 0–6 | Day/evening; online + offline | CFN, CCIS |
| Everyday English for Seniors | 55+ | 2× per week | CIWA |
| Accreditation Café | doctors, IT | monthly | ISC, UCPBA |
| Job Ready YYC | all sectors | 4-week cycle | Welcome Centre |
Settlement services under CUAET are free until March 31, 2025.
4. Psychological and social support
| Initiative | For whom | Format | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peer-to-Peer Support Groups | Adults | 10× weeks; art techniques | CIWA |
| Mindfulness & Trauma Series | Children 6–12 | Play therapy | CFN + AHS |
| Mentoring Moms | single mothers | 1:1 mentoring; children's coworking | UWAA |
5. Specialized programs
-
Women and careers:
Women In Tech Jumpstart (UWAA) — 12 weeks of QA testing + paid internship ($23/hour). -
Youth: Camp Tryzub (UNYF & YMCA) — August 2025: leadership, Ukrainian, soccer.
-
Entrepreneurship:
Start-up Chest (UCPBA) — grants of up to $5,000 for microbusinesses; first competition — October 2025.
6. Operational communication channels
| Channel | Topic | Subscribers (July 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram @UAnewcomers_StStephens | job vacancies, hosting, furniture | 13,200 |
| Facebook Calgary4Ukraine | housing, rallies, news | 9,800 |
| WhatsApp CFN Housing Alerts | urgent requests for apartments | 2,400 |
7. Newcomer checklist (8 steps)
- Call the Ukrainian Help Line for housing.
- Register with CFN for a Settlement Plan and LINC test.
- Apply for a rental subsidy (CIWA).
- Attend the Welcome Session at ISC (every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.).
- Select language/career programs (LINC, Job Ready).
- Join psychological support groups (CIWA, CFN).
- Attend Camp Tryzub or Women In Tech.
- Follow the channels (@UAnewcomers, Calgary4Ukraine) for updates.
8. Challenges and gaps
- Housing: 600+ families are waiting for host homes; 25% are staying with friends or in hotels.
- Funding: Free settlement services will end on March 31, 2025.
- Mental health: The waitlist for Ukrainian psychotherapists at AHS is 6–8 weeks.
Conclusions
Calgary offers multi-level support for newcomers:
- Housing: Host Homes, subsidies, hotels;
- Language and career: LINC, Job Ready, QA courses;
- Mental health: groups and art therapy;
- Mentoring and youth: UWAA, Camp Tryzub;
- Entrepreneurship: grant programs.
Active community and volunteer involvement is critical to closing financial and service gaps and ensuring a warm welcome for every family from Ukraine.