Chander Anand - Volunteer of the Month for January 2020

Congratulations to the first ISC Volunteer of the Month for 2020: Chander Anand.

Since registering as a Volunteer in August of 2018, Chander has tried a bit of everything, and is an enthusiastic volunteer no matter what role she takes on. She has been very active as a community volunteer, helping out with many of the special events and programs held around Calgary and at our agency, including the Cross-Cultural Adaptation Program (CCAP). She is also frequently seen at ISC as an office support volunteer, helping us at the reception and with data entry. With such varied volunteer experience, it is not surprising that her recorded volunteer hours since registering with the program are up to 170 hours total!

Here is what Chander had to say:

Thank you for choosing me as the volunteer of the month. Here is my story.

I was born in India. India is a country that is full of natural beauty, cultural diversity and loving and warm people. I was raised in a family where love and care came first. My parents taught me to always give the best of yourself in everything you do. The best people are the people who always do something good for other people. That's why I strongly believe in togetherness and caring for others. I am a post grad from India. I worked with the Government of Punjab, India at a highly reputable position. I moved to Calgary 10 years ago to join my husband. In my spare time I do meditation. I love to read novels and poetry books. I like cooking, knitting, sewing, crochet, embroidery, and painting. I also love to go to the gym for exercise and go out for long walks.

Canada is a land filled with plenty of opportunities and receives everyone with open arms. Canada has lots of support for immigrants and always provides ample opportunities to improve their lifestyle. After so many years, I came to know about Immigrant Services Calgary. I joined the Women’s Support Group, which helped me to improve my confidence and skills. I attended lots of sessions and gained so much knowledge. Because of ISC, I met highly enthusiastic and positive people. This taught me how to be resilient and adaptable in my social life. I learned about Canadian workplace culture. Then I started to volunteer at ISC as an office support and data entry volunteer. I also volunteered for special events in various roles. This work has exposed me to many different cultures and enriched my life. At Immigrant Services, I have gained valuable experience because I have had the opportunity to meet all different kinds of people I wouldn’t have met before. I also volunteer for a variety of different organizations for a number of different roles. I love to volunteer, no matter what the activity is. 

ISC is a place full of great people, who can make a positive change in your life. They always support and encourage everyone to continue their personal and professional growth. Now, everyone at ISC is a very important part of my life. I will always be grateful for everything they are doing for everyone. 

I am very thankful to Immigrant Services Calgary for giving me these wonderful opportunities. I feel so proud to be a part of a team that helps newcomers in Canada who come from all over the world. I hope to continue volunteering with ISC and want to spend many more years, bringing smiles and hope to newcomers in Canada. I want to give back to the community and to make a difference in the life of immigrants. I will continue helping out as much as I can. Everyone at ISC: "I LOVE YOU ALL".

Thank you so much for all your hard work Chander. Your commitment to volunteering is inspiring, and the support you give to the work we do at ISC is invaluable. Congratulations!

Chander has been a long-time volunteer with the Cross- Cultural Adaptation Program (CCAP). She has always been enthusiastic in helping in different capacities: from data entry, frontline staff and at community events organized by the agency. With an ever-smiling personality, she has consistently shown commitment, efficiency and a positive attitude in her work. Being the volunteer of the month would be a well- deserved honor for a dedicated person like Chander.

-Harvinder Dhillon, Settlement/ Integration Counselor