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About

Our Strategy

AAISA's Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 sets five goals that guide everything we do.

AAISA's Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 — each goal explains what AAISA hopes to accomplish and the strategies that will guide that work. Detailed actions are carried out through AAISA's staff through the many projects and efforts we undertake and board strategy and long-term planning.

Cette page comprend aussi les priorités stratégiques officielles de AAISA en français. Voir la version française ↓

Goal 1

Strong Member Relationships

AAISA has reciprocal and respectful relationships with its members for a unified, responsive settlement sector.

Our strategies
  • Grow relationships and engagement with Francophone member organizations.
  • Strengthen relationships and trust with AAISA members.
  • Develop members' opportunities for engagement and governance.
Goal 2

Sector Sustainability

AAISA leads the sustainability of the settlement sector through training and collaborative capacity building available in both official languages.

Our strategies
  • Facilitate capacity building that increases organizational and sector health.
  • Develop professional development opportunities that engage, learn from, and support AAISA members in best practices.
Goal 3

Policy Influence

AAISA influences policies at all levels, within organizations and across all levels of government, that promote equal access, opportunities, advancement, and outcomes for newcomers.

Our strategies
  • Link with other umbrella and external organizations to collaborate on policy advocacy.
  • Strengthen AAISA's capacity to be a resource and partner to government bodies and institutions.
  • Build AAISA's capacity and processes to ensure appropriate and effective responses to emerging advocacy needs.
  • Amplify the sector's collective expertise on the assets and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Goal 4

A Trusted Voice

AAISA is an active, trusted voice for newcomer integration, producing and sharing effective knowledge, practices, and policies with stakeholders outside of the settlement and integration sector.

Our strategies
  • Produce and amplify rigorous research related to settlement and integration so AAISA, its members, and its partners can engage in effective action.
  • Engage and support AAISA members in relevant action outside of the direct settlement and integration sector.
  • Actively engage in proactive communication and relationship building with partners outside of the sector.
Goal 5

Organizational Health

AAISA invests in its organizational health so it can continue to grow with the settlement and integration sector.

Our strategies
  • Prioritize AAISA's business continuity processes.
  • Diversify funding for financial sustainability.
  • Focus on staff retention.

En français

Nos priorités stratégiques 2026 à 2030

Le plan stratégique 2026 à 2030 de AAISA établit cinq objectifs. Chaque objectif explique ce que AAISA souhaite accomplir ainsi que les stratégies qui guideront ce travail. Les actions détaillées sont mises en œuvre par l'entremise des plans opérationnels du personnel et du conseil d'administration de AAISA.

Objectif 1

Des liens solides avec nos membres

  • Développer les liens et l'engagement avec les organisations membres francophones.
  • Renforcer les liens et la confiance avec les membres de AAISA.
  • Développer les occasions d'engagement et de gouvernance pour les membres.
Objectif 2

La durabilité du secteur

  • Faciliter le renforcement des capacités qui améliore la santé organisationnelle et sectorielle.
  • Développer des occasions de perfectionnement professionnel qui font participer les membres de AAISA et les appuient dans l'adoption de pratiques exemplaires.
Objectif 3

L'influence sur les politiques

  • Créer des liens avec d'autres organisations cadres et externes pour collaborer sur les dossiers de plaidoyer politique.
  • Renforcer la capacité de AAISA à être une ressource et un partenaire pour les entités gouvernementales et les institutions.
  • Développer la capacité et les processus de AAISA pour assurer des réponses appropriées et efficaces aux besoins émergents en matière de revendication.
  • Amplifier l'expertise collective du secteur sur les actifs et les pratiques en matière d'EDI.
Objectif 4

Une voix de confiance

  • Produire et amplifier la recherche rigoureuse liée à l'établissement et à l'intégration.
  • Engager et appuyer les membres de AAISA dans des actions pertinentes à l'extérieur du secteur direct de l'établissement et de l'intégration.
  • S'engager activement dans une communication proactive et l'établissement de liens avec des partenaires à l'extérieur du secteur.
Objectif 5

La santé organisationnelle

  • Prioriser les processus de continuité des activités de AAISA.
  • Diversifier le financement pour assurer la durabilité financière.
  • Mettre l'accent sur la rétention du personnel.

National engagement

AAISA works with other provincial and regional umbrella organizations across Canada:

  • AMSSA — Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC
  • SAISIA — Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies
  • MANSO — Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations
  • OCASI — Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
  • ARAISA — Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies

AAISA participates in national structures including:

  • SIPPC — the Settlement and Integration Policy and Program Committee
  • NSIC — the National Settlement and Integration Council
  • The National GAR-RAP Working Group
  • The Newcomer Language Advisory Board
  • The Canadian Council for Refugees, Pathways to Prosperity Canada, and Metropolis Canada

Advocacy approach

AAISA represents Alberta's settlement sector through:

Policy briefings

Accurate analysis and current data brought to decision makers.

Formal sector seats

Seats on sector engagement tables, including SIPPC provincially and NSIC nationally.

Professional development

Training that builds the skills and professionalism of the sector.

Frontline insight

Direct observation from frontline practitioners across member agencies.

Read how this comes together in practice on our Policy Advocacy page.

Land Acknowledgement

In the spirit of respect and truth, AAISA acknowledges the land on which we do our work. We acknowledge the remarkable endurance, strength and resiliency of the traditional stewards of these lands. AAISA serves diverse people across of the Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 regions and all 21 Districts of the Métis Nation of Alberta. AAISA honours these relationships and the historical and ongoing stewardship of these lands by Indigenous Peoples in all our endeavours across the province.

Treaty 4Treaty 6Treaty 7Treaty 8Treaty 1021 Districts of the Métis Nation of Alberta