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IMMIGRANT ADVISORY
TABLE (IAT)

The Immigrant Advisory Table (IAT) is a committee of community members who were born outside of Canada that represent a diversity of Wood Buffalo Region and work together strategically.

 

Drawing on the varied experience and expertise of its members, the IAT:

  • Advises on newcomer needs, gaps and barriers;

  • Provides insight on Local Immigration Partnership activities and community integration needs from the perspective of individuals with lived experience of having moved to Canada;

  • Shares information between the Local Immigration Partnership and community groups, including ethno-cultural associations where possible;

  • Promotes the work and values of the Newcomer Interagency Network through community channels and networks;

  • Serves as a champion of welcoming and inclusive communities.

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Meet the Immigrant Advisory Table Members

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Priya Mary Jacob

Hello My names Priya Mary Jacob. I am a BSc nursing student and a certified Health Care Aide who has just finished first year of nursing school. I am 21 years old and I love to learn! I am a volunteer at the YMCA and Alberta health services.

 

I am passionate about becoming a voice to the voiceless, and this is one of the reasons why I wanted to pursue nursing.  I Hope I can be of value to our community even if it's in a small way. I am so happy and proud be an IAT member and work as part of a team.

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Ramazan Nassery

My name is Ramazan Nassery. I have established my life and family in Fort McMurray and live here since 2008. I worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Indonesia for four years assisting asylum seekers and refugees with their claims and resettlement to a third country. I also has extensive experience with Canada’s private sponsorship of refugees program. Furthermore, I worked with the YMCA of Northern Alberta Wood Buffalo in Fort McMurray for nine years, where I served initially as Program Coordinator of the temporary foreign worker program and then run the YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services in the same capacity. I was also an active member of the board of directors of the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo and Community Network for a total of three years.

 

I am passionate about social justice and strive to identify gaps in social policies.  I advocate for a responsive programs and services which help to improve the quality of life for people in the Regional Municipality of Wood buffalo (RMWB).

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Jane Njoroge

My name is Jane Njoroge. I am originally from Kenya, East Africa. I came to Canada in June 2013, and I have been living in Fort McMurray since November 2014.

 

I am a social worker by profession, currently working at the YMCA of Northern Alberta as a wellness worker. My family and I have been blessed in this city. I love this community because of its uniqueness and diversity.

 

I love to see a thriving community hence, I volunteer actively with Emergency Social Services, Social Justice, Social Action and an honoured member of Coalitions Creating Equity Wood Buffalo. I am really honoured to be a member of IAT. One of the hats I wear as a social worker is that of Advocate and sitting at IAT will give me an opportunity to be a voice in helping to identify human rights issues in our community and barriers to addressing these issues, which hinder immigrants’ equal access to services and resources. I am committed to supporting education initiatives to ensure a more inclusive community.  I appreciate the endless efforts that are being put in place to ensure more inclusivity and equity. Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in FMM.

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Hongning Zhao

I am happily married and have two lovely boys. I have experience as an instrumentation engineer, which let me understand the perspective of oil and gas industry. Two years of working with Calgary Catholic Immigration Society widened my view and helped me understand the differences and similarity between immigrants. At present, I'm the vice president of Fort McMurray Chess Club because my sons are really into chess. Being connected with kids and parents is my pleasure and an honour. The passion driving me to help is right inside of our community-----diversity, love and understanding. We learn from each other. We lift up each other. Together, we can make the community and the world better.

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