Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
AAISA is a Calgary-based non-profit umbrella association founded in 1980 that represents more than 50 newcomer-serving agencies across Alberta, delivering Canada's only Settlement Practitioner Certification, professional development, policy research, and sector advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies does
AAISA is a Calgary-based non-profit umbrella association founded in 1980 that represents more than 50 newcomer-serving agencies across Alberta, with the network reported at up to 55 organizations. Its core function is sectoral coordination: it convenes member agencies, represents the collective voice of Alberta's settlement sector to government, and runs the only Settlement Practitioner Certification in Canada at levels 1, 2, and 3.
Its product portfolio spans three lines: (1) credentialing and professional development via the Settlement Practitioner Certification and ongoing training programs; (2) policy research and advocacy, including joint research outputs such as the Temporary Foreign Workers Prairie-region study with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan analysis, and the March 2026 RAP Dashboard Evaluation Report; and (3) capacity-building programs including the Mental Health Capacity Accelerator, Grassroots Accelerator, and a National GBA+ Capacity project.
Its business model is a non-profit funding mix comprising grants from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Government of Alberta, supplemented by membership dues from the 50+ member agencies. AAISA is also a member of the National Settlement Council, formalizing its role in pan-Canadian sectoral coordination. The go-to-market is a community-led membership model with a lean operating footprint of 1-10 employees; revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
- Legal name
- Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
- Website
- https://aaisa.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AAISA is a Calgary-based non-profit umbrella association founded in 1980 that represents more than 50 newcomer-serving agencies across Alberta, delivering Canada's only Settlement Practitioner Certification, professional development, policy research, and sector advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership dues: AAISA generates revenue through membership fees from newcomer-serving agencies across Alberta. Members pay dues in exchange for representation services, access to research, training discounts, and networking opportunities.
- Government funding: The organization is funded by the Government of Alberta and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to support its mandate of representing and developing the newcomer-serving sector in Alberta.
- Professional development and certification: AAISA generates revenue through professional development workshops, training courses, and certification programs for settlement practitioners. Members receive free or discounted registration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Membership fees (pricing not publicly disclosed) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AAISA is a non-profit umbrella organization that represents, advocates for, and develops the capacity of over 50 agencies providing resettlement, settlement, and integration services to newcomers across Alberta. Its core offerings include the Settlement Practitioner Certification (levels 1, 2, and 3) — the only such certification in Canada — professional development training aligned to the Alberta Settlement Practitioner Competency Framework, policy and research publications, and government advocacy at municipal, provincial, and national levels.
Product overview
AAISA is a non-profit umbrella organization representing agencies that provide resettlement, settlement, and integration services to newcomers in Alberta. The organization operates as a single unified service portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings center on professional certification (Settlement Practitioner Certification levels 1-3), professional development training, research and policy analysis, advocacy at government levels, and member coordination. The certification program is the only one of its kind in Canada for settlement workers. Training courses are aligned with the Alberta Settlement Practitioner Competency Framework. Research publications cover immigration policy, newcomer mental health, rural settlement, and sector-wide surveys. AAISA also facilitates the Grassroots Accelerator Program, Mental Health Capacity Accelerator, and provides a Settlement Sector Toolkit for practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Settlement Practitioner Certification Three-tier certification program (levels 1, 2, and 3) for settlement workers, offered by AAISA as the only certifying body in Canada and aligned with the Alberta Settlement Practitioner Competency Framework. Members receive certification at no cost.
- Professional Development Training Courses and training programs designed for settlement practitioners' unique challenges, delivered for over a decade and aligned with the Alberta Settlement Practitioner Competency Framework. Available to member agencies with priority access and discounts.
- Policy & Research Services In-depth research and analysis on critical issues facing newcomers in Alberta, providing practical solutions to enhance newcomer-serving agencies. Includes sector surveys, policy briefs, immigration levels plan analyses, and topic-specific reports.
- Policy Advocacy Advocacy work at municipal, provincial, and national levels on behalf of the Alberta newcomer-serving sector, including representation in the National Settlement Council (NSC) and engagement with federal and provincial officials.
- National Engagement Approach Engagement service with government officials and participation in provincial committees to inform and advocate for the newcomer-serving sector, including the Provincial Engagement Initiative committees and working groups.
- Membership Services Annual membership for over 50 newcomer-serving organizations across Alberta, providing member directory listing, priority access to workshops and professional development, representation in advocacy work, research library access, and sector networking.
Quantifiable outcome
- The only organization in Canada providing Settlement Practitioner Certification (levels 1, 2, 3)
Companies that use Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS)coreAAISA and CCIS jointly commissioned Pivotal Research Inc. to conduct policy research focused on Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan). The project analyzed TFW needs and service gaps, producing research to strengthen the TFW-serving ecosystem across the Prairie region.
- National Settlement Council (NSC)coreAAISA participates in the National Settlement Council by sending delegates to represent the perspectives of Alberta's newcomer-serving sector and gather pertinent information for AAISA's membership. The NSC brings together settlement sector representatives from across Canada.
- Government of AlbertacoreGovernment funding partner supporting AAISA's mandate of representing and developing the newcomer-serving sector in Alberta. AAISA acknowledges the Government of Alberta as a funder.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)coreFederal government funding partner supporting immigration settlement programs. AAISA acknowledges IRCC as a funder and works with the department on immigration policy and sector coordination.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI): Ontario's provincial coordinating body for immigrant-serving agencies, providing policy advocacy, sector research, and professional development. Functions as the eastern counterpart to AAISA in a federated sector model.
- Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA): British Columbia's provincial umbrella of immigrant-serving agencies, providing training, research, and advocacy for member organizations. Closest structural parallel to AAISA, differing only by geography; comparison illuminates how AAISA could nationalize its model.
- Manitoba Immigrant Services Association (MISA): Manitoba's umbrella association for immigrant-serving agencies, offering research, training, and advocacy. Peer in the Prairie/settlement-sector landscape and a co-region collaborator on TFW research.
Regional players
- Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS): One of Canada's largest immigrant-serving agencies, providing direct settlement services rather than acting solely as an umbrella. Comparable on training and credentialing but operates a different (delivery vs. coordination) model.
- Saskatchewan Settlement Services Association: Saskatchewan's settlement-sector association supporting member agencies across the province. Comparable mandate to AAISA but smaller scale and limited training/certification offerings, making AAISA a benchmark for capacity.
Others
- Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Direct service provider and AAISA's existing research partner on the Temporary Foreign Workers project. Comparable on service portfolio and training, and a useful benchmark for what a member agency looks like at scale.
- National Settlement Council: Federal-provincial forum in which AAISA already participates through delegates. Not a competitor so much as the governance layer that channels sector priorities to IRCC; relevant because changes here directly affect AAISA's funding and influence.
Emerging players
- Canadian Council for Refugees: National advocacy coalition on refugee and immigrant rights that overlaps with AAISA's policy advocacy mandate. Differs in scale and orientation (national advocacy vs. provincial sector coordination).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies social profiles
Digital presenceAlberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
What does Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies do?
AAISA is a non-profit umbrella organization that represents, advocates for, and develops the capacity of over 50 agencies providing resettlement, settlement, and integration services to newcomers across Alberta. Its core offerings include the Settlement Practitioner Certification (levels 1, 2, and 3) — the only such certification in Canada — professional development training aligned to the Alberta Settlement Practitioner Competency Framework, policy and research publications, and government advocacy at municipal, provincial, and national levels.
Is Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies a public or private company?
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies founded?
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies was founded in 1980. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies based?
Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership dues are the primary driver. The others are government funding and professional development and certification.
Who are Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) and Manitoba Immigrant Services Association (MISA). Regional players are Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) and Saskatchewan Settlement Services Association. Others are Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) and National Settlement Council. Canadian Council for Refugees is listed as an emerging player.
Does Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies.