The Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre has come a long way in five years, starting out with just one part-time employee in the basement of the Chamber of Commerce building.
Tuesday, City of North Battleford mayor Ian Hamilton cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the centre's new location, which boasts seven offices, a meeting room, a staff room and two language assessment areas.
"We not only want to welcome people to the community, we want to keep them here," said Hamilton as he congratulated BIRC on its work in the community. "When you move forward, we move forward."
BIRC moved to the new location, 1102 - 101st St., from their previous location beside Prestige Insurance, Nov. 22.
"We were open the next day," said Justine Petty, BIRC settlement co-ordinator. "We put in a lot of work."
Jennifer Niesink, BIRC manager, said, "We were looking to move for some time, but it was a matter of finding a place and getting it renovated."
The BIRC, which now has seven full-time employees, handles over 400 visits per month, with over 300 total clients. Last month, BIRC handled 657 visits, helping newcomers to the community access provincial and federal immigration programs, organizing a furniture program, providing employment resources, recruiting volunteer English tutors and engaging immigrants in the community, among other services.
Chris Zhang is one of the BIRC's clients. Having immigrated to the Battlefords from Dalian, China, about three years ago, he regularly makes use of the centre's resources and says the Battlefords have become home for him.
Zhang said he enjoys the new office, adding with a smile, "I almost go more often."
Leah Milton, Chamber of Commerce president, congratulated the centre's staff on their work, drawing attention to the fact the BIRC has become a part of the Saskatchewan Regional Newcomer Gateway and serves outlying communities in the area, such as Spiritwood and Cut Knife.
"It is great to see that the centre now has more room for their growing staff and clients," said Milton.
Milton credited the inception of the BIRC to Chamber of Commerce director Rob Rongve, who was quick to say it was a collaborative effort of the Chamber's economic development committee.
Rongve explained local businesses, at the time, suggested that rather than try to attract new businesses to the Battlefords, it would be more profitable to attract more employees, as several businesses were short-staffed.
This made sense to Rongve, who realized the success of local businesses would, in itself, attract more business to the Battlefords.
"I approached the local businesses first to come up with some money, then went to the provincial government, asking them to match that amount," said Rongve.
Rongve was successful and in 2006, the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre was born, having just one part-time employee and an annual budget of $12,000.
Today, the BIRC is funded federally through Citizenship and Immigration Canada and provincially through CanSask and Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, for a total annual budget of over $400,000.
"I think this is amazing, just to see how much it has grown," said Rongve.
