Calgary Immigrant Women's Association

What Calgary Immigrant Women's Association does

Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, legally Canadian Immigrant Women's Association, is a registered charitable non-profit founded in 1982 in Calgary, Alberta, with a gender-specific mandate to serve immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families. It operates more than 50 programs organized into five service lines: settlement and integration, language and literacy, employment bridging and job training, parents/seniors/youth services, and gender-based violence and mental health supports. Programs are delivered from a main office at #200, 138 4th Avenue SE and across 90+ community locations including Calgary Public Library branches, Calgary Board of Education schools, community associations, and partner facilities, with certified interpreters in 37 languages and a multi-province footprint spanning Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its product surface is human-delivered social services supported by basic web platforms including a program registration site, a resources portal (ciwaresources.com), the Diverse Workforce Platform employer portal, and Kindred for rapid access counselling. All services are provided free of charge to eligible clients, with childcare and first-language support included. CIWA's business model is grant-funded: revenue streams consist of multi-level government funding (IRCC, Province of Alberta, City of Calgary), foundation and United Way grants (United Way Calgary, Calgary Learns, FCSS), corporate sponsorships, and individual donations under charitable registration 118823657 RR0001. Employment and training programs are co-delivered with credentialed partners including SAIT, Bow Valley College, Calgary Legal Guidance, Calgary Public Library, and Calgary Board of Education. Governance is provided by a 9–15 member elected Board of Directors with a minimum two-thirds immigrant composition requirement.

Name

Calgary Immigrant Women's Association

Legal name

Canadian Immigrant Women's Association

Website

https://ciwa-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Calgary-based registered charity founded in 1982 delivering 50+ settlement, language, employment, and family support programs to immigrant and refugee women, girls, and families across 90+ community locations and four provinces, funded by government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant & Refugee Settlement Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN)

Keywords

• Settlement services
• Language training
• Employment bridging
• Family support
• Refugee services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: CIWA receives funding from federal (IRCC), provincial (Alberta), and municipal (City of Calgary) government sources to deliver settlement, language training, employment, and family support programs to immigrant women.
2. Charitable Donations: CIWA receives donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations. The organization holds charitable registration (118823657 RR0001) and accepts tax-deductible contributions.
3. Program-Specific Grants: Various programs are funded by specific funders including United Way Calgary, Calgary Learns, FCSS, and corporate sponsors for particular initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA) is a non-profit organization that delivers free settlement and integration services to immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families in Calgary, Alberta. Its core offerings include language training (LINC and English classes), employment bridging and job-readiness programs, settlement counseling, family and youth support services, gender-based violence prevention and recovery, mental health and wellness programs, and senior and disability support — all designed to support newcomer women's successful integration into Canadian society.

Product overview

The Canadian Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA) is a non-profit social services organization established in 1982, not a technology product company. It offers over 50 social service programs organized into five main categories: (1) Settlement & Integration Services including intake/referral, legal clinic, Find Me a Home emergency housing, and New Friends conversation groups; (2) Language & Literacy Programs including LINC classes from CLB 1-4, Pebbles in the Sand literacy, HIPPY home instruction, and Everyday English for Seniors; (3) Employment Services including career bridging programs (Office Skills for STEM, Bridging the Gap for Accountants, Translators/Interpreters training), job training (Hospitality, Culinary, Security Guard, Digital Marketing, Childcare, Modular Employment), and Early Childhood Educator certification (Levels 1-3); (4) Family & Youth Services including Cross Cultural Parenting, iGLOW youth leadership, Pathways to Success mentorship, Grandma's Kitchen seniors program, counselling services, and Rapid Access Counselling; (5) Gender-Based Violence & Mental Health including prevention programs, counselling, and emergency housing support. CIWA does not offer a software product or technology platform with integrations, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMILES (Small Multicultural Immigrants Learning Early Strategies): Early childhood development and quality childcare program for immigrant and refugee children aged six months to six years while their mothers attend CIWA programs.
• iGLOW (Immigrant Girls Leading Our Way)
• Grapevine

Products and services

• LINC / English Language Training Government-funded language instruction (LINC and ESL classes) for adult immigrant women to build English literacy and communication skills for settlement and employment in Canada.
• Employment Bridging Services Job-readiness, credential recognition, and employment bridging programs that help immigrant women enter the Canadian labour market.
• Settlement Counseling One-on-one and group counseling to help newcomers navigate Canadian systems, schools, housing, and community resources.
• Family and Youth Support Counseling, parenting support, and youth programs for immigrant families adjusting to life in Canada.
• Gender-Based Violence Support Trauma-informed prevention, intervention, and recovery services for immigrant and refugee women who have experienced gender-based violence.
• Mental Health and Wellness Programs Counseling and wellness supports addressing isolation, trauma, and adjustment challenges among newcomer women.
• Senior and Disability Support Targeted support services for immigrant seniors and persons with disabilities to access community resources and maintain well-being.
• Community Outreach and Interpretation Outreach, in-language communication, and interpretation support to help newcomer women access CIWA and external services.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIT partners with CIWA to deliver the Hospitality Training Program for Immigrant Women. The 12-week program provides 8 weeks of integrated occupational, English language and essential skills training plus 4 weeks of work experience placement in the hospitality and tourism industry.
• Bow Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBow Valley College delivers Early Childhood Educator training programs through CIWA, including Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 ECE certification programs. Bow Valley College provides the official certification curriculum while CIWA offers customized support, study groups, one-on-one tutoring, English language and employability skills enhancement.
• Calgary Legal GuidancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Legal Guidance collaborates with CIWA to provide the Legal Clinic, offering family and immigration-related legal support to immigrant women and their families on a low-income basis.
• Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative (MCHB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCHB partners with CIWA on the FRN Rural Multicultural Supports Project to address the needs of immigrant families in rural areas of Alberta, increasing the capacity of Family Resource Network programs to serve cultural families across Alberta.
• Language VenturecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLanguage Venture provides interpretation and translation services. The Labour Market Bridging for Volunteers program follows a social enterprise model and collaborates with businesses and agencies to offer paid interpretation and translation work to program graduates.
• Calgary Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Public Library partners with CIWA to host New Friends and Neighbourhood Groups programs at multiple library locations including Central Library, Seton Library, Shawnessy Library, Crowfoot Library, and Nicholls Family Library.
• Calgary Board of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Board of Education partners with CIWA for multiple programs including the Youth Program (delivered in junior high and senior high schools), Pathways to Success mentorship, and other educational initiatives.
• Baitun Nur Mosque CalgaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaitun Nur Mosque hosts CIWA's Grandma's Kitchen program sessions for isolated senior immigrant women.
• Genesis CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenesis Centre hosts CIWA's Grandma's Kitchen program sessions and Youth Program activities, providing community space for immigrant family services.
• Calgary Separate School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary Separate School District collaborates with CIWA on the FamJam Family Reunification and Resiliency Support Program.
• Zelos CapitalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness partner that has provided testimonials about hiring CIWA-trained talent.
• Osuji & SmithminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness partner that has provided testimonials about CIWA employment training program.
• RandstadminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStaffing agency business partner collaborating with CIWA for employment placement.
• Robert Half Talent SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTalent solutions company business partner for connecting CIWA clients with employment opportunities.
• SAITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Alberta Institute of Technology is a key educational partner delivering specialized training programs for immigrant women.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Major Calgary-based settlement agency providing refugee resettlement, language training, employment, and family services. Directly comparable to CIWA on geography, service mix, and funder base (IRCC/Province of Alberta), with a broader (non-gender-specific) mandate.
• The Immigrant Education Society (TIES): Calgary-based nonprofit delivering settlement, language, and employment services to newcomers. Closely comparable on location, target population, and program categories (LINC, employment bridging, settlement support).
• COSTI Immigrant Services: One of Canada's largest immigrant-serving agencies, headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area. Comparable on broad settlement, language, employment, and newcomer support services funded by IRCC and provincial sources.
• MOSAIC: Vancouver- and BC-wide immigrant settlement agency offering language, employment, settlement, and refugee services. Comparable on multi-site settlement service delivery and IRCC-funded programming.
• Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS): Nova Scotia's largest immigrant-serving organization offering settlement, language, employment, and community connections. Directly comparable in mission and program mix; regional to Atlantic Canada.
• ACCES Employment: Toronto-based employment services nonprofit focused on helping immigrants find work in their fields. Comparable on employment-bridging programs, employer partnerships, and IRCC-aligned service funding.
• SUCCESS (Vancouver): Vancouver-based multicultural service organization providing settlement, employment, language, and family services to immigrants and refugees. Closely comparable on integrated settlement service model and community-based delivery.
• Catholic Social Services (Immigration & Settlement): Alberta-wide faith-based settlement provider delivering refugee resettlement, language, and newcomer support services across the province. Directly comparable to CIWA on geography and core program offerings.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Calgary: Calgary-based women's services nonprofit offering shelter, housing, employment, and family programs. Comparable on gender-specific mandate and women's empowerment focus, but broader portfolio not exclusively immigration-focused.
• JVS Toronto: Toronto-based employment and social services nonprofit serving diverse populations including immigrants. Comparable on employment services, vocational training, and newcomer integration programs, but with a broader mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CIWA_yyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPzxnpkUzqgNdn7Xq5mfvPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CIWAyyc
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/calgary-immigrant-women's-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciwa_yyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calgary Immigrant Women's Association