Community Integration Programs & Services
Building belonging through community connections
At ISANS, growth begins with connection. Creating a welcoming environment where newcomers feel supported in navigating their settlement pathways is central to the work of Intake Counsellors within Community Integration Services. Through individualized and/or family needs and assets assessments, counsellors develop personalized settlement plans and provide timely, efficient referrals to community resources. This past year over 5,379 clients registered with over 17,186 needs assessments and referrals provided. Through Community Integration programs, newcomers, volunteers, and community partners come together to build relationships that strengthen communities across Nova Scotia.
When Yao Mensah Mawusi Akpelassi and his family arrived in Halifax, they came prepared. Through pre-arrival supports including Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA), Immigration francophone de la Nouvelle-Écosse (IFNÉ), and connections with Conseil de Développement Économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), they had already taken important first steps. But they quickly discovered that settlement is about more than preparation, it’s about people.
Like many newcomers, they arrived during a time of rising living costs, housing challenges, and increasingly complex public conversations about immigration. Navigating new systems in both English and French added another layer of difficulty. In this context, building meaningful connections becomes not just helpful, but essential.
At ISANS, through Community Connections program which bridges the gap between newcomer families and the broader community, Yao’s family was matched with James, a Canada Connects volunteer who helped transform their new environment into a place of belonging. Together, they explored Halifax, visited museums, shared meals, and practiced English in everyday settings.
With this support, Yao began to build both confidence and direction. Through ISANS’ Bridging Program, he earned certification as a Long-Term Care and Disability Support Worker, opening the door to meaningful employment. At the same time, social activities like community soccer helped him connect across cultures and grow his local network.
As his confidence grew, so did his desire to give back. Yao began volunteering with organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Blue Nose Marathon, becoming an active contributor to his new community. His experience reflects a core truth of integration: it is a shared process, where newcomers and communities grow together.
Volunteers like James play a vital role in this journey. As mentors and connectors, they support newcomers in navigating language, culture, and daily life while also gaining new perspectives and meaningful relationships of their own.
This shared growth is made possible by the dedication of volunteers. This year alone, 372 volunteers contributed more than 11,700 hours to support newcomers across the province. Their efforts help strengthen connections with diverse communities, including African Nova Scotian and broader Black communities, fostering inclusion, understanding, and a sense of belonging for all. Programs like Community Connections show how meaningful connections foster confidence, inclusion, and mutual growth.
“The program helped me transition from a newcomer to an active member of the community,” Yao reflected. “It gave me the confidence to contribute.”
Because when we come together, we don’t just settle we belong. Together, we grow.
372
volunteers active in ISANS programs
More than
384
volunteer hours contributed to supporting newcomers
372
community members volunteered at ISANS
165
ISANS clients volunteered in the community for a total of
11,729
hours
Where connection leads to growth: Yao’s Journey
“I joined ISANS because I wanted to use my international experience to support immigrants to Canada,” Yao says. “I was especially drawn to Canada Connects for the opportunity to work with young Africans, after having visited much of the continent.”