María, originally from Colombia, arrived in Canada in 2019 and joined the Gateway Program in November 2021 with a clear vision: to build a good quality of life, balance her personal and professional goals, and contribute to her community by empowering others.

After sharing her goals and priorities, becoming a registered psychologist and learning French, her Gateway planner created a personalized settlement plan with tailored referrals and resources to support her growth both professionally and personally.

With dedication and ongoing support from Gateway, María has continued advancing on her plan. She is currently working with the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine (Department of Medicine) as a Research Coordinator and Community Engagement Lead. Her lived experience navigating two high-risk pregnancies as a newcomer inspired her to support other mothers facing similar challenges. Recently, her team, Protecting Every Pregnancy Canada (PEP-C Lab), partnered with Gateway to host an event focused on enhancing support for newcomers making informed decisions about vaccines during pregnancy.

María’s journey reflects Gateway’s impact in transforming newcomer aspirations into meaningful achievements through personalized guidance and strategic community partnerships. She shared that she reached out to Gateway to collaborate because she knows firsthand how deeply committed the program is to providing meaningful, people-centered support.

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Every story like María’s represents a possibility waiting to be unlocked.

At Immigrant Services Calgary, we assist over 10,000 newcomers annually in building meaningful lives, pursuing fulfilling careers, and contributing to the social, civic, and economic fabric of our city.

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