MCRC - 30 Years of Fostering New Beginnings
MCRC - 30 Years of Fostering New Beginnings
Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre
Join us in celebrating the long history of this amazing facility that calls Calgary home.
HISTORY OF MCRC
A Beacon of Hope
For three decades, Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre (MCRC) has served as a beacon of hope for thousands of displaced people seeking to rebuild their lives in Calgary. Established in 1994, MCRC has been the ‘first home in Canada’ for thousands of refugees from around the world, providing resettlement services, and support during their initial days in a new place.
MCRC is named after our co-founder, Margaret Chisholm, who alongside other volunteers, helped thousands of Vietnamese refugees resettle in Calgary in the 1970s. Through her work with the Diocese of Calgary, she was known in the community as, “The Lady Who Helped Refugees and Immigrants.” Her work was inspired by Matthew’s teaching, which was also adopted as CCIS slogan in early days: “I was a stranger and you made me welcome.”
By 1981, the Immigration Department of the Diocese of Calgary and Catholic Immigration Services (a creation of the Archdiocese) amalgamated to form Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS).
In 1994, the new CEO of CCIS, Fariborz Birjandian, pushed through several obstacles to build the Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre in Bridgeland, Calgary. And in 1995, the current CEO of CCIS, Gordana Radan became one of the first group of residents at the newly built MCRC after she arrived in Canada as a refugee from former Yugoslavia.
This year, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of MCRC, we honour those who have called it a home, a safe haven and a stepping stone towards their Canadian Dream.
Years in the Community
Story from our CEO
"I feel at home at MCRC because I came from MCRC."
Our own CEO recounts her connection with MCRC and the impact its walls have had on her life as a newcomer to Canada.
Stories of people who shaped and were shaped by MCRC
If the Walls at MCRC Could Talk
30 years, that’s how long Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Center has been standing. For all these years, it has been a witness to thousands of dreams, often helping those dreams come to fruition, thanks to the tireless efforts of the staff that have been working from the same building. Here, we present some of those who have shaped the spirit of this center, and those who have – in some ways or the other – been shaped by the spirit of this place.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Welcome to the vibrant world of CCIS on Instagram! Follow us for inspiring stories, community highlights, and snapshots of the incredible journeys of newcomers. Join us on this visual adventure as we share the warmth, resilience, and diversity that define the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.
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