About

Gwen has lived in Canada all her life but loves the cultural diversity of the country. She received a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies in 2013 and taught English as a Second Language for 15 years before she started her role as the Program Director for Eastman Immigrant Services. The time in the classroom impacted her love and understanding of different cultures and gave her a greater awareness of the joys and challenges of newcomers to Canada. Gwen and her husband live in Blumenort, MB, love to ride motorcycle and have two sons. She loves to read, garden and travel.

Tessa lives in Steinbach with her husband Isi and their two daughters. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies from Providence College, TESOL certificate from Steinbach Bible College and worked in HR before starting the charity of Island Breeze Manitoba in 2009. She is involved in the newcomer community through her volunteer work with Cultures in the City each year as well as pioneering other events that feature the sharing of different cultural expressions in the community. Tessa finds joy in seeing people learn new things about other cultures for the first time, as well as learning herself.

Tessa has had many cross cultural experiences in the last 20 years spending time in Fiji (where her husband is from), Thailand, Ukraine, Australia, Cuba, and Nunavut to name a few examples. She is also connected to the business community and has served on the Steinbach Chamber’s Community Relations Committee for seven years and on the Board of Directors for two years. Tessa enjoys traveling, reading books on leadership and spending time with her family.

Inna grew up on the beautiful southern coast of Ukraine, near the Black Sea in the Odesa region — a place known for its rich diversity. From an early age, she was fascinated by the many cultures around her, which sparked a lifelong passion for learning about different people and traditions. Inna was raised in two cultures: Ukrainian on her mother’s side and Gagauz-Bulgarian, on her father’s side.

Fluent in English, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Russian, Inna has always appreciated how language brings us closer together and opens doors to new perspectives. She has had the privilege of working in Dubai alongside her husband from Egypt, which allowed her to experience even more cultures and deepen her understanding of the world.

One of Inna’s greatest joys has been exploring Canada, a country she loves for its welcoming, kind-hearted people and the natural beauty that surrounds it. There’s something truly special about the warmth and openness of Canadians, and she feel so fortunate to have experienced it firsthand.

Whether it’s traveling to new destinations, meeting people from different backgrounds, or discovering what makes each culture unique, Inna is always excited about the adventure life has to offer.

Emily was born in Bielefeld, Germany. At age 11, she moved to Canada with her parents and siblings. After living in both Alberta and Manitoba, Emily’s family decided to make Steinbach their home. She completed her studies in Human Ecology at the University of Manitoba and has since found her biggest passion to be helping others. Her career has enabled her to be involved with several non-profit organizations including working with families in crisis, teen support work in the north end of Winnipeg, and assisting those with physical and mental disabilities. She is passionate about using her skills and experiences to help newcomers make Canada their home. In her spare time, Emily enjoys gaming with her husband and playing with her dogs, Pippa and Nori.

Andrii grew up in Ukraine and also lived in Turkey, Istanbul briefly before moving to Canada with his wife in 2022. He received a degree in Computer Systems from Cherkasy Stage Technological University in 2017. Andrii loves living in Steinbach because of the kind people, the peacefulness, and the beauty of winter (when it’s not -35, of course!). He enjoys helping people and getting to know new people.

Itrat is originally from Bangladesh. He has a masters degree in business administration from IBA. Bangladesh is famous for the RMG (readymade garment) industry and Itrat began his career in the same industry as an executive. Together with his wife and daughter, he emigrated to Canada in 2023 during winter. Although initially it was hard to adjust to the climate, his family now enjoys the snowy weather. Living in Canada, Itrat really enjoys Christmas and how individuals from different countries bring their unique cultural traditions to Christmas festivities. In his spare time, Itrat loves spending quality time with his wife and two daughters and enjoys traveling. He has been to Poland, Nepal, Czech Republic, India, Russian Federation, Turkey, UAE, and Slovakia and hopes to visit more, especially Latin American countries and many places in Canada. Itrat enjoys geography because it helps him to understand people and their cultures. He is kind and helpful and looks forward to helping you!

With roots in Kenya and Rwanda, Sarah is currently married with one child and resides in La Broquerie, MB. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Ste Mary’s University in Halifax, NS, as well as a Missionary and Evangelism Diploma from Mount Hope Bible Training institute in Lansing, Michigan, USA. Sarah is an author and has written two books, “Miracle Escape” and “The Teenager’s Progress.” She loves to help other people and her golden rule is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Amira was born and raised in the Philippines, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Before moving to Canada, she lived in Dubai for seven years with her family. During her time in Dubai, Amira worked at a firm that allowed her to engage with people from different walks of life, enhancing her ability to understand and respond to the unique needs of others. Her passion for cultural diversity and understanding others has been a driving force throughout her life. Now living in Canada, Amira continues to embrace cultural differences and uses her background in psychology to better support those around her.

Originally from the Philippines, Bev graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Economics. She worked for the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for 7 years before moving to Canada. Upon arriving in Manitoba in 2006, Bev worked a variety of jobs from health care, to banking, to community development.

Bev loves to meet new people, especially newcomers, and is very passionate about helping them navigate the challenges of settling in a new country. She finds it very rewarding to be part of someone’s journey toward establishing a new life.

Roxanne grew up in southern Manitoba and spent the majority of her adult life in various communities throughout the province. Living in different ethnic towns gave her perspective on what it means to “come from away”, and this was further enhanced when her family spent a year in Mexico as missionaries/teachers. Steinbach is now her home of 16 years. Roxanne and her husband live on the south side of the city where they love working in the yard and taking walks with their two dogs. She also likes to read, play video games, knit and crochet.

Maria moved to Canada from Ukraine in 2023. She lives in Steinbach with her husband, three sons, mother and younger brother.

Maria’s is an open, cheerful person known for her sociable personality. She focuses on being open with and kind to others and is always willing to help where needed.

With a pedagogical education, Maria understands the basics of child psychology and development. She enjoys connecting with people and learning about different cultures. Maria believes that every person can make the world a better place through their actions.

Pam recently retired from the Evergreen School Division after a successful run of 37 years in the classroom and gym. Pam’s teaching career allowed her to work with students at all levels. Her passion for learning and teaching to help students succeed makes this new position a good fit.

Pam is a proud Canadian born Ukrainian who has always been immersed in the rich culture from an early age. When Gimli received Ukrainian citizens into the community due to war, the urge to help “her people” led to many hours of volunteering with the families and their children. Pam enjoys walks in nature, biking and all kinds of dancing. She loves to be with people and enjoys celebrating her many friendships and family relations.

Donna is originally from England, where she achieved a BA Honours in Journalism. She started her career in the healthcare field working as a medical secretary, first in a medical center and then in a specialized cancer hospital. Donna emigrated with her husband and young son to Canada in the fall of 2017, which provided them with a short period of time to acclimatize before their first Canadian winter! Before joining the EIS HIPPY program, Donna was a stay at home mom, looking after her two young children. In her spare time, Donna enjoys reading, playing with her children and going on adventures to explore Manitoba and its wildlife.

Magali is originally from Mexico. She emigrated with her husband and three kids to Canada in December of 2022, so they were introduced to Canadian winters immediately! Before starting with EIS as a HIPPY Home Visitor, Magali enjoyed participating in the HIIPY program as a client. In her spare time, she enjoys playing and watching Disney movies with her children. Magali says she loves living in Steinbach because it is a peaceful place and people in the community help each other.

Marjut is originally from Finland. She emigrated with her husband and three kids and dog to Canada on January 2024. She has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and she also completed her studies as a practical nurse in field of Care and Upbringing of Children and Young People. She enjoys being in nature, participating in any sports activities, spending time with her family and meeting new people. One of her mottos is “Work for what you believe in.”

Ritu was born and raised in India. She finished her degree in Humanities, with Sociology and English Language as her majors. Before moving to Canada in 2021, she was independently running a successful event management business in India. She loves to socialize and is willing to take on any new task with special attention to the details. Ritu believes that communication is the key to success in her life and is a joyful and enthusiastic person who is always willing to help others.

Olesja, born in Russia and raised in Kazakhstan and Germany, has played a key role in Manitoba’s settlement and immigration sector for over 12 years. After completing her education in Germany, she began her career working with immigrant children before moving to Manitoba. She coordinated settlement, employment, refugee support, SWIS, and integration programs, contributing significantly to the successful integration of newcomers into the community. Passionate about newcomer integration, Olesja believes effective immigration is vital for community success. She enjoys spending time with her two grown children and grandchildren and takes pride in her role as a marriage commissioner, helping to create new families.

Barb was born and raised in Canada but moved several times as a child. Each new place had its own culture and she learned to adapt and discover the nuances of each new place. She graduated from Red River College with a diploma in Business Administration and has several years of experience as an Administrator. Barb enjoys learning new things and her desire to grow and learn about new cultures developed from traveling and working with an international organization. She is passionate about helping immigrants find meaningful work in Canada. Barb resides in Linden, MB with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, watching a good movie, spending time with family, and hanging out at home.