Celebrating 30 years of ARAISA

September 17, 2025

We published a Spotlight on Data issue that looked at 30 years of immigration and growth in Atlantic Canada.

To bring ARAISA’s story to life, we created a timeline that highlights the moments, milestones, projects, and sector key moments and data, and people that made us who we are today.

We launched a new strategic plan, setting a clear path for how we’ll continue supporting the sector in the years ahead. For the first time, we officially determined the organization’s values: collaboration, continuous learning, accountability and leadership.

To mark this milestone, we refreshed ARAISA’s visual identity. Our new look and feel remind us that every newcomer to Canada brings a unique culture, history, and story. Some need support from settlement and integration organizations to begin their new life. To provide high-quality services, those organizations also need support from the broader settlement and integration community—and that’s where ARAISA come in! Our quilt-inspired branding reflects this interconnectedness: each patch represents the organizations, stories, cultures, and collaboration that create something beautiful and strong.

We created a new website, making accessing our resources and knowledge easier. The website now features an interactive acronyms list, a learning hub featuring online courses and webinars, an updated library, a calendar of sector events, and more.

One of our favourite activities was gathering words from organizations in the sector to describe ARAISA. The result? A word art logo filled with words that define our collective work and impact: collaboration, connection, support, leadership, and more. It’s a visual reminder that we are shaped by all the organizations we serve.

As we close out this anniversary year, we want to thank all of our member organizations, Board of Directors, staff, funders, and partners. These 30th anniversary activities have been about recognizing the strength of the sector and the relationships that make our collective work possible.

Here’s to the next chapter of ARAISA’s journey. We’re excited to keep building on the foundation of the past 30 years and continue working together to create welcoming, thriving communities for newcomers in Atlantic Canada.