On November 8, 2025, the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) proudly hosted the fourth annual Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Assembly, welcoming 227 participants to a full-day gathering of learning, resource-sharing, and community building.
Held in Calgary, the event brought together migrant workers, service providers, legal experts, and consular representatives to explore pathways to permanent residency, workplace rights, and access to support services. The day began with networking, followed by opening remarks from Hasmik Asmaryan, that set a tone of solidarity and inclusion. Jessica Juen, moderated the event, ensuring diverse voices represented and capturing key discussions into actionable insights for each session.
Morning Sessions: Policy, Protection, and Pathways
The morning featured a keynote presentation by Laura Anne Goulding of Shory Law, who unpacked recent IRCC policy changes and immigration pathways. Given the changes in the immigration landscape in Canada for temporary residents, this information helped TFWs to be aware of their choices and make informed decision for themselves and their families. Attendees then heard from Simonette Pili of Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office, Barry Mulaney of Employment Standards and Steve Holzer of Occupational Health & Safety giving power packed information on critical topics such as worker protections and rights for temporary foreign workers in Canada. This was followed by a Q&A panel discussion facilitated by Jessica, where audience questions were addressed with clarity and care by the speakers.
Afternoon sessions: Consular Engagement and Community Resources
After a networking lunch and group photo, we were delighted to have the attendance of Honourable Consul General of El Salvador, Juan Antonio Salamanca, Honourable Consul General of Guatemala Mynor Joel Aguirre Medina, Honourable Consul of Philippines Vida Soraya Verzosa and Honourable Consul General of Mexico Evelyn Elia Vera Barreto who graciously shared information on various consular services available for the temporary foreign workers before and after their arrival in Canada.
This session highlighted the collective voice of collaboration between the consular representatives and CCIS. Our valuable partnerships have opened the doors to further strengthening the TFW Program, creating new pathways of support and cooperation that directly benefit temporary foreign workers. By working together, CCIS and the consulates are mobilizing resources, expanding access to services, and ensuring that foreign workers feel supported both upon arrival and throughout their time in Canada.
They were followed by informative sessions by Rubin Abid & Mina Berangi of Workers Resource Centre and Tara Bracanovic of ACT Alberta who shared resources available for foreign workers in face of abuse and unjust practices within workplace.
Towards the end of the day, participants explored the Informational Table Fair in collaboration with all the community partners in attendance. Each organization present played a vital role in fostering meaningful connections, offering participants direct access to valuable information, services, and support networks. The participants were able to gather resources to support their journey to settle and integrate in Canada.
This information table included resources and information shared by all the Consulates, Employment Standards, Workers Resource Centre and our valued community partners such as Shory Law, ACT Alberta, Latino & Cross-Cultural Society IRERI, Migrante Alberta, CCASA – Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse. We also want to acknowledge the presence of our partners like AISAA – Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies, Cargill, Lethbridge Family Services, Ambrose University and others who attended the event.
The success of the event is truly echoed in the testimonials from the participants – “I learned a lot of valuable information about my situation, especially regarding my work permit options and pathways for career and immigration opportunities.” A short post event survey revealed that all the participants acknowledged that the event increased their understanding of topics relevant to Temporary Foreign Workers and increased their awareness on their rights and responsibilities as foreign workers in Canada. This resounding feedback highlights the event’s meaningful impact in empowering Temporary Foreign Workers with knowledge, confidence, and a clearer path forward.
A special thank you to the 24 volunteers and the dedicated TFW Program staff whose tireless efforts behind the scenes ensured the event ran smoothly and created a welcoming space for all attendees. Their commitment and care made this assembly a true success.
