CIWA

What CIWA does

CIWA (Canadian Immigrant Women's Association) is a Calgary-based non-profit organization founded in 1982 that provides settlement, language, employment, counselling, and family support services to immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families. Originally named Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, the organization rebranded in 2022 to reflect its expanded provincial and national scope across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. CIWA operates more than 50 programs and services delivered through over 90 community locations in Calgary, serving clients from over 140 countries who speak 135 languages, with certified interpreters covering 37 languages. Core service offerings include settlement and integration support, language and literacy training (LINC, Pebbles in the Sand, Everyday English for Seniors, HIPPY), employment bridging programs (childcare, hospitality, culinary, digital marketing, accounting, interpretation/translation), gender-based violence prevention and mental health counselling, youth programs (iGLOW, Pathways to Success), and the Family Resource Network. Supporting sub-brands include SMILES Childcare Centre, FamJam, iGLOW, and HIPPY.

CIWA's underlying technology is light and operational: interpretation and translation services across 37 languages, digital learning platforms for online classes, and online registration systems via Microsoft Forms. There is no proprietary platform, public API, or AI/ML capability. The organization's go-to-market is community-led, relying on partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, settlement agencies, and community organizations, plus word-of-mouth referrals and culturally sensitive, gender-specific service delivery. CIWA's revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial: federal funding from IRCC, provincial funding from Alberta Government, municipal funding from City of Calgary FCSS, plus United Way Calgary, corporate sponsors (Scotiabank, RBC Foundation, ConocoPhillips, Jays Care Foundation, Rogers, Fasken), and individual donations. All services are provided free of charge to eligible clients (permanent residents, convention refugees), with free childcare provided during program hours. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors of 9-15 members, at least two-thirds of whom must be immigrants to Canada.

Name

CIWA

Legal name

Canadian Immigrant Women's Association

Website

https://ciwa-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIWA is a Calgary-based non-profit founded in 1982 that delivers settlement, language, employment, and family support services to immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families across 90+ community locations, funded primarily by federal, provincial, and municipal government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Immigrant Settlement and Family Support Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Educational Support Services (611710), Language Schools (611630), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Language Conversation & Exchange Groups (EDAAAFAO)

Keywords

• Immigrant settlement services
• Language training programs
• Employment bridging services
• Gender-based violence counselling
• Family resource network

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Funded by federal and provincial government programs including IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), Alberta Government, and City of Calgary for settlement, language training, employment, and family support services
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations, with charitable registration number 118823657 RR0001. Annual fundraising campaigns and planned giving programs support ongoing operations and special initiatives.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorships from businesses such as ConocoPhillips for employment initiatives, and event sponsors for International Women's Day celebrations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIWA is a non-profit settlement agency that provides free settlement and integration services, language and literacy training, employment bridging and job training programs, gender-based violence prevention and mental health counselling, family resource network support, and youth and seniors programming for immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families in Calgary and across Alberta. Services are delivered in 37 languages through more than 90 community locations and supported by over 230 employer and community partners.

Product overview

CIWA (Canadian Immigrant Women's Association) is a non-profit settlement organization established in 1982 offering over 50 programs and services for immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families. The organization operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core service areas include: Settlement and Integration Services (intake, referral, legal clinic, community groups); Language and Literacy Programs (LINC classes, Pebbles in the Sand literacy, Everyday English for Seniors, HIPPY); Employment Services and Bridge-to-Work Programs (career bridging, job training in childcare, hospitality, culinary, security, customer service, administration, accounting, digital marketing, interpretation/translation); Parents, Seniors and Youth Programs (parenting, counselling, after-school support, youth mentorship through iGLOW and Pathways to Success); Family Resource Network (coordination, parenting, home visitation, rapid access counselling); and Gender-Based Violence Prevention (culturally-sensitive counselling and case management). Supporting infrastructure includes SMILES Childcare Centre and an Interpretation and Translation service. The organization delivers programs at over 90 community locations in Calgary with certified interpreters in 37 languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMILES Childcare Centre: Small Multicultural Immigrants Learning Early Strategies - early childhood development, lifelong learning opportunities and quality childcare for immigrant and refugee children aged six months to six years while their mothers attend other CIWA programs.
• FamJam
• iGLOW
• HIPPY

Products and services

• Settlement and Integration Services Comprehensive intake, referral, legal clinic support, housing-related referrals, and community integration assistance for immigrant and refugee women in Calgary, including the Find Me a Home Project for women fleeing abusive situations and New Friends and Neighbourhood Groups for English conversation and community connection.
• Language and Literacy Programs Foundational through CLB 4 English language classes for newcomer women, including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), Pebbles in the Sand literacy program, and Everyday English for Seniors, delivered at community locations across Calgary.
• Employment Services and Bridge-to-Work Programs Suite of bridge-to-work and career bridging programs for newcomers with low-skills, mid-skills, or professional backgrounds, providing specialized training pathways, work experience placements, and connections to the 230+ employer partners.
• Find Me a Home Project Emergency and temporary accommodation for multi-barriered immigrant and refugee women fleeing abusive situations, including housing crisis support such as evictions and damage deposits.
• New Friends and Neighbourhood Groups Safe, supportive environment for immigrant women to practice and improve English conversation skills, form meaningful relationships, learn about community resources, and share experiences.
• Gender Based Violence Prevention Program Professional and culturally sensitive counselling and case management services for immigrant women and families facing family dynamics, domestic issues, gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and trauma.
• Parents, Seniors and Youth Programs Holistic programs including After School Homework Help, Cross Cultural Parenting, Grandma's Kitchen, In-Home Support, One-on-One Counselling, Pathways to Success, and iGLOW youth empowerment serving immigrant parents, seniors, and youth across ages.
• Family Resource Network Inclusive family-focused center offering prevention and early intervention services across child development, caregiver capacity building, and social connections domains, including coordination of services, home visitation, and rapid access counselling.
• Digital Marketing Training Free 10-week training program equipping immigrant women with in-demand digital marketing skills including web design, SEO, online advertising, email marketing, social media, graphic design, and data analytics.
• Training for Translators and Interpreters 14-week full-time training course helping bilingual professional women start careers as community translators and interpreters, including CILISAT and Community Interpreter exam preparation, delivered in partnership with CISOC and Language Venture.
• Culinary Skills Training 12-week training program helping immigrant women start careers in the food industry as cooks, prep cooks, or kitchen helpers, with food safety certification and workplace English components.
• Hospitality Training Program 12-week program delivered in partnership with SAIT providing 8 weeks of occupational skills training and 4 weeks of work experience for employment in the hospitality and tourism industry.
• Childcare Training Pathway 26-week training program assisting low-skilled immigrant women to obtain Level 1 Early Childhood Educator Certificate, delivered in collaboration with Bow Valley College with English language enhancement and employment skills.
• Modular Employment Training 11-week training program for low-skilled immigrant women to enter housekeeping, room attendant, and kitchen help roles, with Alberta Food Safety Basics certification included.
• Office Skills Training for STEM Professionals 12-week full-time training supporting immigrant women to practice skills and gain experience needed to enter the Canadian workplace in STEM-related fields, including digital skills training.
• Bridging the Gap for Accountants 12-week full-time employment training helping professional immigrant women with accounting or finance backgrounds join the Canadian workforce, with QuickBooks, Simply Accounting, Xero, and MS Excel training.
• iGLOW - Immigrant Girls Leading Our Way Transformative initiative for immigrant youth ages 10-19 focusing on holistic development through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement.
• Pathways to Success Career-focused mentorship program serving immigrant girls ages 14-21 with yearlong mentorship, job shadow experience, and field trips to job fairs.
• HIPPY - Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters 30-week program enhancing parental support for preschool children through weekly in-home parental literacy support and family literacy activities.
• Everyday English for Seniors Program focusing on enhancing English oral and written skills for immigrant seniors aged 55+ to build confidence and active participation in their integration process.
• SMILES Childcare Centre Early childhood development and quality childcare services for immigrant and refugee children aged six months to six years, enabling their mothers to attend CIWA programs.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SAIT for the Hospitality Training Program providing 12 weeks of customized training (8 weeks occupational skills + 4 weeks work experience) for immigrant women seeking employment in hospitality and tourism industry. SAIT provides curriculum expertise and certification.
• Bow Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Early Childhood Educator Employment Training programs (Levels 1, 2, and 3). Bow Valley College delivers certification courses while CIWA provides support including study groups, tutoring, and English language enhancement.
• Calgary Legal GuidancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Legal Clinic providing family and immigration-related legal support to low-income clients. Calgary Legal Guidance provides legal professionals and expertise.
• Calgary Separate School District (CSSD)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the FamJam (Family Reunification and Resiliency Support Program) to provide cross-cultural parenting support and family engagement activities for newcomer families.
• Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative (MCHB)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the FRN Rural Multicultural Supports Project addressing needs of immigrant families in rural areas of Alberta. MCHB serves as a key collaborator in expanding services beyond Calgary.
• KindredsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Rapid Access Counselling services providing single-session, 75-minute focused counselling appointments for caregivers and children through the Family Resource Network.
• Language Venture: Interpretation and Translation ServicessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides interpretation and translation services; CIWA's Labour Market Bridging for Volunteers program trains interpreters and connects graduates with Language Venture for employment.
• Cultural Interpretation Services for Our Communities (CISOC)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationProvides curriculum and certification preparation for the Labour Market Bridging for Volunteers: Interpretation and Translation training program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MOSAIC: British Columbia's largest immigrant-serving agency, delivering multilingual settlement, language, employment, and refugee support across Metro Vancouver. Operates the same federally-funded business model as CIWA at materially larger scale, including anti-violence and women-focused programs.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: Toronto-based settlement agency delivering language, employment, settlement, and newcomer women's services funded largely by IRCC. Closest provincial analogue to CIWA in service breadth and federally-funded settlement model.
• Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC): Calgary-based settlement organization providing language training, settlement support and employment services to immigrants. Operates as a co-funder in the same Calgary metro and competes with CIWA for IRCC and FCSS settlement dollars.
• Newcomer Women's Services Toronto (NEW): Toronto-based non-profit delivering gender-specific settlement, language and integration services to immigrant and refugee women. Closest mandate peer to CIWA in service specialization on newcomer women.
• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Largest settlement agency in Calgary delivering federally-funded language, settlement and employment services to newcomers. Operates in the same city, serves overlapping populations, and draws from the same IRCC funding pool, making it CIWA's most direct local competitor.
• Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers: Edmonton-based settlement organization delivering language, settlement, employment and family services to immigrants and refugees in Alberta. Direct provincial peer operating under the same IRCC funding framework as CIWA.
• Catholic Cross-Cultural Services (CCS): Toronto-based settlement agency providing language training, settlement services, and women's programs to newcomers. Operates the same federally-funded IRCC settlement model with comparable women-and-immigrant program mandate.

Regional players

• Manitoba START: Winnipeg-based settlement organization providing language, settlement and employment services to newcomers across Manitoba. Operates the same federally-funded model as CIWA but in a different province.

Broad incumbents

• Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA): Provincial umbrella organization representing settlement and multicultural service providers across British Columbia. Not a direct service-delivery competitor but an industry-body peer representing agencies of similar mandate and funding model to CIWA.
• YMCA Calgary — Newcomer Services: Calgary branch of the national YMCA, offering settlement, language and newcomer employment services alongside broader community programming. Sits inside a much larger regional social-services operator but offers overlapping newcomer services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.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

Profiles19 records

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 CIWA