What The Immigrant Education Society does

The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) is a Calgary-based registered charity founded in 1988 that delivers an integrated suite of settlement services to newcomers and low-income Calgarians. Operating from three physical locations plus a Moodle-based e-learning platform (TIES|Learn), TIES offers more than 50 programs organized around five pillars: language instruction (LINC in in-person, online, hybrid, home-study, and literacy formats), employment-skills training (Basic Accounting, Advanced Accounting with Sage 50/QuickBooks, Office Administration), entrepreneurship (IWEP, NIWBE, Newcomers Entrepreneur Hub), mental health and settlement support (Healthy Minds counselling, Money Smart financial literacy, IAC online chat), and childcare (TIES Little Beginnings, ages 0-6, plus free childminding for LINC participants). The Centre for Immigrant Research underpins service innovation through peer-reviewed studies with the University of Calgary, UBC, the University of Michigan, and SAIT, generating evidence-based program design and open educational resources such as NICO.

TIES is funded primarily through government grants—principally IRCC for LINC and Service Delivery Improvements, supplemented by Alberta Labour, Alberta Government Community Initiatives Program, and the City of Calgary Change Can't Wait initiative—alongside tiered fee-for-service social enterprise programs ($200-$500 per semester), Little Beginnings childcare tuition, donations with 50% matching via Crowdfunding Alberta, and competitive research grants (SSHRC, IRCC). It served 31,644+ clients in fiscal 2024-25 (381,644 cumulative since inception) through 140+ active partner collaborations, and is one of only two Calgary non-profits offering live on-demand settlement reception via the IAC platform. Sub-brands (Healthy Minds, Little Beginnings, TIES|Learn, TCIR, Money Smart, Literacy Centre) are wholly-owned operating units under a single charitable umbrella, and the organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors.

Name

The Immigrant Education Society

Legal name

The Immigrant Education Society

Website

https://immigrant-education.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Immigrant Education Society is a Calgary-based non-profit founded in 1988 delivering integrated language, employment, settlement, mental-health, and childcare services to newcomers and low-income Calgarians across three locations and an online learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant Settlement and Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial & Consumer Integration (Banking, Credit, Taxes) (EDAAADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Need-Based Grants & Bursaries (EDAIAOAB)

Keywords

• Language instruction services
• Settlement services
• Employment training programs
• Newcomer integration services
• Immigrant education

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Programs (IRCC, Alberta Labour, City of Calgary): Core programs such as LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) are fully funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), making them free to eligible participants (permanent residents, refugees, citizens). Additional funding from Alberta Labour, Alberta Government Community Initiatives Program, and City of Calgary Mental Health initiatives.
2. Social Enterprise Fee-for-Service Programs: Fee-based programs including Basic Accounting ($200-$400/semester), Advanced Accounting ($300-$500/semester), and Office Administration & Clerical Training ($200-$400/semester). Pricing varies by immigration status. These generate revenue supporting community programs and newcomer services.
3. TIES Little Beginnings Childcare: Affordable, high-quality, culturally-rich childcare program for children ages 0-6, offering daytime, evening, and weekend care. Generates revenue while supporting family participation in other TIES programs.
4. Donations and Crowdfunding: Donations from individuals and organizations. Crowdfunding Alberta provides 50% matching on donations to increase impact for newcomers and families.
5. Research Grants: Funded research collaborations with universities and government bodies including IRCC Service Delivery Improvements funding, SSHRC grants, Alberta Government funding, and partnerships with University of Calgary, UBC, and University of Michigan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

TIES is a not-for-profit charitable organization delivering language instruction, employment skills training, settlement and financial literacy support, mental health counselling, entrepreneurship programming, and childcare to newcomers and Canadians in need. The organization offers a coordinated portfolio across in-person classes at three Calgary sites, hybrid/blended offerings, and the TIES|Learn e-learning platform. Many programs (LINC, mental health, Money Smart, entrepreneurship) are free for eligible newcomers, while professional skills courses such as Basic Accounting, Advanced Accounting, and Office Administration & Clerical Training are offered at tiered fees.

Product overview

TIES operates as a multi-service nonprofit organization providing comprehensive newcomer support in Calgary, Alberta. The organization offers a coordinated portfolio of services organized around five core pillars: (1) Language Learning — including LINC programs in multiple formats (in-person, online, blended, home study, literacy) and standalone English courses like WORC and NICO delivered through the TIES|Learn e-learning platform; (2) Employment Skills — encompassing Basic Accounting, Advanced Accounting (using Sage 50 and QuickBooks), Office Administration & Clerical Training, and English for Employment programs; (3) Entrepreneurship — featuring the Newcomers Entrepreneur Hub (one-year program) and IWEP (9-week intensive for women); (4) Settlement Support — including community navigation, the Money Smart financial literacy program, and mental health counselling through Healthy Minds; and (5) Childcare — providing free childminding for LINC participants and Little Beginnings daycare for ages 0-6. The Centre for Immigrant Research (CFIR) underpins service innovation through applied research. All services are designed for newcomers and low-income Calgarians, with many programs free or low-cost.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Healthy Minds: Free, confidential counselling and mental health support services promoting mental health and family wellbeing for newcomers and new Canadians.
• Little Beginnings
• Centre for Immigrant Research (TCIR)
• TIES Learn
• Money Smart
• Integrated Women's Entrepreneurship Project (IWEP)
• Newcomers Entrepreneur Hub
• NIWBE (New Immigrant Women Becoming Entrepreneurs)

Products and services

• Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Free full-time and part-time English language classes for newcomers integrating into Canadian society, available in in-person, online, hybrid, and literacy-focused tracks and fully funded by IRCC for eligible permanent residents, refugees, and citizens.
• Employment Skills Programs (Accounting & Office Administration) Occupation-specific training for internationally educated professionals covering Basic Accounting, Advanced Accounting (including Sage 50 and QuickBooks), Office Administration & Clerical Training, and English-for-Employment preparation, with a sustained 75% employment placement rate over 15 years.
• Newcomers Entrepreneur Hub Free one-year program providing business advising, workshops, mentorship, and peer learning to help immigrant entrepreneurs in Calgary launch and grow businesses, supported by partnerships including BMO.
• Healthy Minds Free, confidential counselling and mental-health support services for newcomers and new Canadians, including individual counselling, workshops, and group support delivered through the Owl Practice online booking platform.
• Money Smart (Settlement & Financial Literacy) Free financial counselling, coaching, RESP sign-up, tax clinics, and workshops that build financial literacy for newcomers, combined with community navigation and general settlement support.
• Little Beginnings Childcare Affordable, culturally rich childcare for children ages 0-6 offered daytime, evenings, and weekends, with free on-site childminding for LINC participants to remove participation barriers.
• TIES|Learn E-Learning Platform Proprietary Moodle-based online learning system providing 24/7 access to English language courses and workplace-skills training (WORC, EEJS, NICO, TIES EAL Online Classes) for registered clients.
• Centre for Immigrant Research (CFIR) Applied research division conducting studies on adult education, equity, diversity and inclusion, digital literacy, skilled immigrant integration, and climate-related newcomer issues, partnering with universities and IRCC.
• Literacy Centre Specialized one-on-one and classroom-based literacy instruction for adult newcomers and low-income Calgarians with limited English reading skills.
• NICO (Newcomer Introduction to Classes Online) Self-guided, open-access online course that teaches digital literacy, online communication, and study skills to prepare newcomers for e-learning, available free for one year and sharable with other agencies.
• WORC (Workplace Online Retention Class) Free, self-paced online course combining workplace English instruction with soft-skills training to help English language learners succeed in the Canadian workplace.
• IWEP (Integrated Women's Entrepreneurship Project) Free 9-week intensive program supporting diverse and traditionally underserved women entrepreneurs in Alberta to launch or grow a business, with advising, mentorship, and peer learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31,644+ clients served in 2024-25 fiscal year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Calgary, Faculty of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Three-year IRCC-funded research collaboration examining emotional wellness practices for newcomers across prairie provinces (Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg). ReNEW Partnership for Best Practices.
• SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Research and program delivery partnership for FARM (Foundations Agricultural-based Industries for Refugees and Migrants) program. Joint curriculum development and research conducted at SAIT and TIES locations in Calgary.
• University of British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROSPI (Remote and Online Services for Professional Immigrants) research collaboration. Principal Investigator Dr. Anusha Kassan from UBC's Faculty of Education. IRCC Service Delivery Improvements funding.
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROSPI research partnership examining digital needs and online settlement service usage of professional immigrants. Principal Investigator Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson from School of Social Work.
• City of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded mental health initiatives through Change Can't Wait initiative supporting innovative programming for Calgarians struggling with mental health and addiction.
• Calgary FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Language Brokering Initiative research and toolkit development addressing impacts on newcomer youth.
• SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Language Brokering Initiative research examining emotional wellness implications for immigrant children acting as translators.
• IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of LINC programs and IRCC Service Delivery Improvements funding for research projects including ROSPI, ReNEW, and NICO curriculum development.
• Alberta LabourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Immigrant Access Counselling (IAC) research and pilot project developing online settlement counselling services for naturalized citizens and AINP nominees.
• Alberta Government Community Initiatives ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for GROWing with Newcomers (GWN) project using gardening as medium to strengthen community ties and enhance settlement experience.
• Crowdfunding AlbertaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing 50% matching on donations made to TIES, increasing impact for newcomers and families in need.
• BMO (Bank of Montreal)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNewcomers Entrepreneur Hub program supporter, providing access to financial literacy expertise and business mentorship.
• Calgary LearnsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Reading Room literacy program supporting adult newcomers with limited English reading skills.
• GatewayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGateway connects platform partner linking newcomers to TIES services and other community resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ACCES Employment: Toronto-headquartered non-profit specializing in employment services for immigrants, with offices across Ontario. Comparable to TIES because it targets the same internationally educated professional segment, offers similar occupation-specific training (accounting, office, IT), and shares employer-hiring partner programs.
• Catholic Social Services (Edmonton): Edmonton-based faith-affiliated non-profit providing refugee resettlement, language training, employment, and settlement services. Comparable to TIES because it operates an equivalent multi-service newcomer model on IRCC funding and competes for shared client pools in the prairie region.
• Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA): Calgary non-profit offering language, settlement, employment, and wellness services specifically for immigrant women and families. Comparable to TIES because it covers the same geography, customer segments (newcomer women, families), and shares several program pillars including mental health and settlement support.
• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Calgary-based non-profit providing settlement, language, employment, and refugee services to newcomers. Directly comparable to TIES because it operates in the same city with the same immigrant-serving mandate and competes for the same IRCC/Provincial funding pool.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: Large Toronto-area non-profit providing language training, employment services, settlement, and newcomer mental health programs. Directly comparable to TIES as a multi-service immigrant-serving organization funded by IRCC with similar LINC, employment, and settlement programming at materially larger scale.
• NorQuest College: Edmonton-based publicly funded community college offering LINC, settlement, employment training, and refugee career programs. Comparable to TIES as a regional competitor in prairie newcomer services and as an institution offering credentials that compete with TIES' occupational training programs.
• MOSAIC BC: Vancouver-based non-profit delivering language, settlement, employment, and refugee-support services across BC. Directly comparable to TIES because it operates the same integrated-service non-profit model funded by IRCC and provincial authorities, including fee-based training programs and free government-funded settlement streams.

Regional players

• Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS): Nova Scotia's provincial immigrant-serving umbrella offering language, settlement, employment, and entrepreneurship programs. Comparable to TIES because it mirrors the same integrated non-profit newcomer services model under IRCC funding, but operates in a different region and does not compete in Calgary.
• Columbia College Calgary: Calgary-based private career college offering ESL and academic upgrading for newcomers. Comparable to TIES because it competes for the same newcomer learner market in Calgary with similar English-language programming, although Columbia delivers credential-bearing programs rather than the broader social-services stack TIES operates.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Calgary (Newcomer Programs): Calgary YMCA delivering newcomer settlement, language, employment, and youth programs as part of a broader community-services portfolio. Comparable to TIES because it touches the same immigrant customer base and competing IRCC/funder pool, but at the level of incidental programs rather than a singular focus on settlement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TIESyyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_cQQUjG6ek1leUrGR4eZvQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TIES.yyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tiesyyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ties.yyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Immigrant Education Society