Volunteer of the Month - February 2016

Iris joined Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC) in July 2015 as a Language Bank translator. Since then Iris has contributed over 70 hours of volunteer service to ISC.  Iris has been translating our clients’ documents from Spanish into English further facilitating their successful settlement in the Calgary community. 

“Volunteering for ISC is my way of showing appreciation for the opportunities I have had as an immigrant myself. In the 20 years since I moved here from Cuba, I have travelled a long journey towards achieving my personal and professional goals, a journey that continues on as I work towards setting and attaining new goals. I know first-hand what it is like to come to a new country with hopes that our previous accomplishments and academic credentials will ease our settlement; and I understand the reality we face with so many hurdles on the way to our destination. This is why, after re-qualifying to become an Alberta-certified teacher and gaining years of experience as an educator in the public system, I decided to volunteer my time to help others achieve their dreams."

"It brings me great satisfaction to know that every transcript, diploma, licence or certificate that I have translated from Spanish into English will facilitate someone’s goals and open up a world of opportunities to become a successful citizen of Canada. This is why I will continue to volunteer, as long as the Settlement and Language Bank Center needs my services.”

Iris has been a tremendous addition to our volunteer team and we are grateful for all of her contributions!

Congratulations Iris!