What I found was that having people from diverse backgrounds truly enhanced the dynamic of our team. It opened us up, brought different cultures into play, and enriched everything we did. We weren’t just filling positions—we were gaining new perspectives. Since then, I’ve become a strong immigration champion. For anyone considering hiring from diverse backgrounds, it’s important to think beyond staffing needs and consider how you’ll support and onboard people from different cultures.
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Stephanie Jones
Owner/ Operator at McDonald’s
Employer Support, Partners
Coming to a new country as a refugee is not easy, everything is unfamiliar, and it’s easy to feel lost. But organizations like ISANS don’t just provide service, they give people hope. Hope that things will get better. Hope that we can build a new life, find meaningful work, and feel at home again.
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Osman Mohamed
IT engineer
Community Integration
I feel really honored to be here at the first IWEN Vendor Market. This is a great platform where we can bring our business ideas back to life. Thank you for arranging this event. I feel like I have gained more confidence to continue with the next chapter.
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Sunny M. Dai
Founder of Serre Ko Handmade Press-On Nails
Business Development
ISANS has been instrumental in providing support to our employees for the past several years. It has been a good resource for anyone who is starting a new life in Canada. They are continuously evolving, especially with the current changes in immigration and they offer support to people even before they arrive in the country. Collaborating with them is a rewarding experience. Their commitment and passion to work truly shows in how they deal with everyone — their employees, clients and partners.
Ron Garcia
International Recruitment Manager, Shannex
Employment, Partners
Nova Scotia Health is honored to collaborate with ISANS in support of the One Person, One Record initiative, the largest healthcare transformation in Nova Scotia’s history. Through this partnership, we are committed to facilitating the integration of internationally educated healthcare & IT professionals into the workforce, ensuring they contribute their expertise to enhance patient care and improve the healthcare system. This alignment with the province’s health transformation efforts is a key step toward building a more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable healthcare sector. Thank you ISANS!
Jenn Williams
Recruitment Consultant, Provincial Planning at Nova Scotia Health
Employment, Partners
Dexter Construction Company and the Municipal Group of Companies work with ISANS to continue to build the capacity necessary in supporting immigrants and refugees through our partnership. Since 2011, Dexter Construction Company has hired over 100 clients from ISANS, and through programs such as Bridge to Construction and Engineers, through work-based competency programs. Dexter Construction has come to rely on ISANS to provide labour-ready individuals to join the construction sector during a period of acute labour shortages and an aging demographic across the industry. We look forward to working further to expand these programs and hire more clients for ISANS.
Ryan Kidney
Director of Human Resources, Dexter Construction Company
Employment, Partners
I would like to thank the RAP (Resettlement Assistance Program) housing staff member for her good treatment, kindness, flexibility, and understanding of my situation as someone new to the area. She dealt with us with complete transparency and flexibility. She deserves all my thanks and appreciation.
Shaza Mukhtar Mohamed Abdalla
ISANS Client, Refugee Resettlement
Refugee Resettlement
The key thing has been courage! Just gain enough confidence to say I can be an entrepreneur and a businesswoman. IWEN Vendor Market is a great event to test the waters and understand what we need to know in the market environment.
Carolyn Harnanan
Founder of Story Circles World
Business Development
Throughout our interactions, RAP (Resettlement Assistance Program) & Health coordinators and case managers consistently demonstrated a high standard of professionalism, patience, ethical conduct, and client-centered service. At no point did we experience negligence or lack of support. Their guidance and responsiveness significantly contributed to our sense of security and confidence during a critical transition period. My family and I express our highest level of satisfaction with the services received.
Ahmad Faiq Momand
ISANS Client, Refugee Resettlement
Refugee Resettlement