Province Recognizes Contribution to Strengthen Communities

Minister Thanks Executive Director for Work with Immigrants

The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, today acknowledged the work of Bridget Foster, who recently retired after 34 years with the Association for New Canadians. Ms. Foster began as a volunteer and rose to become the Executive Director of the Association for New Canadians. Ms. Foster immigrated to Canada in 1978 and began volunteering with the Association in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1979. She was named Executive Director in 1984.

“We are proud to have had such an innovative leader representing our province for over three decades. Under Ms. Foster’s leadership, the Association for New Canadians has grown from a small organization to a full-service settlement agency, which employs 50 staff and has a large volunteer network dedicated to serving newcomers throughout the province.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

Ms. Foster has received a number of high profile awards, most notably the Federal Government’s Paul Yuzyk Award for Lifetime Achievement in Multiculturalism in 2012.

“Ms. Foster’s legacy will continue not only to touch the lives of individuals served by the association, but also to enhance the economic, social and cultural growth of the province in the years to come. I would like to express congratulations on her lifetime of work and achievements for the benefit of newcomers to Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- Minister O’Brien

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• Bridget Foster retires as Executive Director with the Association for New Canadians after 34 years with the organization.
• The Association for New Canadians is recognized throughout Canada as a model of best practice for a full service settlement agency.
• Since the launch of the provincial immigration strategy in 2007, annual immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador has been increasing, reaching a high of 731 permanent resident admissions in 2012 – a growing trend that is expected to continue.
• Through a Federal Government Request for Proposal process, the agency has been awarded federal funding for settlement services since the early 1980s.
• Work is now carried out by a staff of 50 and a network of 150 volunteers, who undergo training to assist in the delivery of services.

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 

2013 11 18                                     2:30 p.m.