STAFF

Say “Hello” to the ARAISA team. Do not hesitate to email or call us, we’d love to chat!

Carolyn Whiteway (she, her)

Carolyn Whiteway (she, her)

Executive Director

#Connector #Thinker #Juggler #DiversityChampion #Francophile
#CoffeeLover #ProudAtlanticCanadian

cwhiteway@araisa.ca

902-431-3205

Etoile Najm (she, her)

Etoile Najm (she, her)

Project Lead, MWSP

#Feminist #HumanRightsAdvocate
#Trilingual #NatureLover

enajm@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Olivia Finnamore (she, her)

Olivia Finnamore (she, her)

Coordinator, AIP Settlement Support

#Advocate #Bilingual #WithRefugees
#DogLover #TeaDrinker

ofinnamore@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Simone Chia (she, her)

Simone Chia (she, her)

Manager, Special Initiatives

#Immigrant #BuildingConnections #Hiker #Cyclist #SalsaDancer #ColdDipper #Optimist

schia@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Zahra Bazzi (she, her)

Zahra Bazzi (she, her)

Manager, Programs and Services

#Inclusive #Networker #SocialJustice #HumanRightsDefender #Swimmer #Francophone

zbazzi@araisa.ca

902-431-3207

Ngai So (she, her)

Ngai So (she, her)

Manager, Financial Operations

#Hiker #NatureLover #Shutterbug
#Foodie #Cat person #Feminist

nso@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Stephanie Redden (she, her)

Stephanie Redden (she, her)

Project Lead, GBA Plus National Capacity

#Feminist #DogMom #AmateurQuilter
#Crafter #StationeryLover #CoffeeLover

sredden@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Jason Chalmers, PhD

Jason Chalmers, PhD

Research Lead

#Interdisciplinarian #Feminist #Musician #Quilter #Dreamer

jchalmers@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Mélanie Veerapen (she, her)

Mélanie Veerapen (she, her)

Communications Lead

#OrganizationFreak #Francophone #Immigrant
#AmateurBaker #DIYfan

mveerapen@araisa.ca

902-431-3209

Florence Lux-Côté (she, her)

Florence Lux-Côté (she, her)

Sector Engagement Coordinator

#Francophone #Hiker #AvidReader #Feminist #Inquisitive #Doglover

fluxcote@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Gagandeep Kaur (she, her)

Gagandeep Kaur (she, her)

Office & HR Administrator

#PassionateExplorer, #Dreamchaser, #Teaperson #TechEnthusiast #CuriousGemini #Artisticsoul #ChardiKalaVibes #Quadrilingual

gkaur@araisa.ca

902-431-3203

Board of DIRECTORS

Meet the 2022-2023 Board of Directors

ARAISA counts on a committed Board of Directors. Elected every two years by ARAISA members, our Board is composed of full member agency representatives who are experts in settlement and integration in the Atlantic region.

Megan Morris

Megan Morris

Co-Chair

Megan Morris has worked in the immigrant settlement sector for over fifteen years and is currently the Executive Director of the Association for New Canadians (ANC), a community-based, non-profit settlement agency in Newfoundland and Labrador. Megan worked with various federal government departments, and served as a political aide to a former Cabinet Minister. With a long interest in immigrant and refugee issues, she has served on various Boards, Committees and Working Groups including, for example, the Coordinating Committee on Newcomer Integration, ARAISA, the Atlantic Metropolis, the Performance Measurement Advisory Group and the Professional Development & Sector Coordination Working Group.

Jennifer Watts

Jennifer Watts

Co-Chair

Jennifer Watts is CEO of Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), the largest immigrant serving agency in Atlantic Canada. ISANS provides a wide range of programs and services including resettlement, language, employment, business development, employer engagement, community integration and online programs both pre and post arrival. Trained as an Urban and Rural Planner, Jennifer has a background in community development, urban and rural planning and municipal issues having served as a Municipal Councillor on Halifax Regional Council from 2008-2016. Jennifer has lived overseas in Central America and the Middle East and her family has been involved in supporting refugees through private sponsorships and university refugee programs.

Mohamed Bagha

Mohamed Bagha

Treasurer

Mohamed Bagha is the Managing Director of the Saint John Centre (SJNC). He has been involved in the Newcomer Settlement Sector for over 10 years. Mohamed is very passionate in carrying out the mission of the SJNC – to improve the socio-economic well-being of Greater Saint John by supporting newcomer settlement and promoting multiculturalism. He wants to see communities across Atlantic Canada, like Saint John, thrive through diversity, where newcomers actively participate in society by fully contributing their talent, skills and culture. Mohamed has a Master of Interdisciplinary Degree focusing on Community Economic Development from the University of New Brunswick.

Bernadette Reynolds

Bernadette Reynolds

Secretary

Bernadette Reynolds is the Executive Director of Immigrant & Refugee Services Association of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I). Bernadette oversees a team of more than 40 staff who deliver settlement, employment, and integration services and programs to newcomers to P.E.I. Bernadette brings more than a decade of senior management experience with Western Union in both Canada and the U.K. Originally from P.E.I and holding a Bachelor of Business Administration from UPEI, Bernadette gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the immigrant experience by volunteering with Breaking Barriers, a U.K. program that assists refugees to prepare to enter the job market and with Estacion Inglesa, a program in Spain that helps Spanish speakers improve their English.

Lisa Bamford De Gante

Lisa Bamford De Gante

Director

Lisa Bamford De Gante is the Executive Director of the Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc. (MCAF), in New Brunswick.

Normand Bourdeau

Normand Bourdeau

Director

Normand Bourdeau is the Executive Director of the Centre de ressources pour nouveaux arrivants au Nord-Ouest (CRNANO). A native of Montreal, he now lives in Edmundston since 2018. During his career, he has held various positions in which he has worked with, hired and managed hundreds of newcomers from around the world. Most recently, he held the position of Intercultural Competency Trainer at NBMC. His professional experience, combined with the opportunity to grow up in a multicultural city has given him a unique perspective on the reception, settlement and integration of newcomers. He is passionate about continuous improvement and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience.

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