Milestone for Saamis Immigration

By Gillian Slade on June 23, 2018.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

An association that opens a welcoming door for people from around the world celebrated its 30th anniversary with a party on Friday.

Over the past three decades, Saamis Immigration Services Association has played a vital role in helping to settle people from 111 countries, said Antonio Samayoa, executive director.

Its service of helping people settle in the community is a “job well done,” according to local MLA Drew Barnes.

Initially, Saamis Immigration was known as Medicine Hat Society for Immigrant Settlement. They operated with a group of volunteers and one employee. Today they have a staff of 24, have their offices on Third Street downtown and a building large enough to provide a range of classes for those learning to speak English.

Saamis has helped newcomers to make a positive contribution to the community, says MLA Bob Wanner.

Many of Saamis Immigration’s clients were wearing traditional attire from their home country at the event on Friday. They served coffees from around the world with unique snacks. There were exotic desserts and flags draped like banners, creating a festive mood. In another area someone was deftly applying henna with a steady hand, creating intricate designs on hands and arms.

A young woman, Diana Garcia, shared her personal success story of arriving as an immigrant in June 2009. Her family was looking for a better future. Saamis Immigration provided English lessons so she was well prepared to enter high school that fall.

She has since graduated from high school, studied at Medicine Hat College and worked for Air Canada at Medicine Hat Airport for a period. Garcia’s grandfather had been a pilot so she was fascinated by air travel. She is now a flight attendant with Sunwing Vacations in the winter and spends the summer working as a settlement worker with Saamis Immigration. She talked passionately about the support settlement workers were for her and her family. She is also a Canadian citizen now.

As Saamis Immigration grew over the years, it moved from Dunmore Road to Seventh Street SE, near Alexandra School. In 1998, it began operating out of the Odd Fellas building in Crescent Heights, staying for 16 years.

Saamis moved to its current offices on Third Street in 2013. In 2016, it also leased the former King of Trade building that provides enough space for classrooms.

The organization also operated two settlement branches in other locations, one year in Lethbridge and four years in Brooks. It’s run five different programs, all through funding made available by the federal government.

Samayoa paid tribute to committed volunteers and board members, dedicated staff and community partners.

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