It was June 2012 in Calgary when Lizette Ramirez disembarked a connecting flight out of Toronto from Chile to a fresh dump of snow. “I knew that Canada was cold but come on now,” Ramirez said jokingly. The difference in weather wasn’t the only factor keeping Ramirez from feeling connected. The first step off the plane marked the start of her journey in her new home and arguably one the biggest transitions in her life. Though equipped with a background in translation and education, Ramirez landed work at a resort in Canmore, arranged by her immigration agent. It was during the two-and-a-half years working at the resort where she experienced discriminatory behaviour from her employer and from guests. The worst part – she was mostly without a support network. "I don't know, maybe it was because I was just a hotel worker...I didn't feel like people were listening to what I was saying. They were like, 'Meh, whatever she's from another country,'" Ramirez said. "There were difficult times for me cause I never felt discriminated against before so I didn't know how to react. What I did was to isolate myself and tried not to get involved in anything (activities or conversations) in a way to protect myself." "I used to be an English teacher, so hair and the clothes and everything," she referenced her style of dress in her profession back in Chile. "And then I was a housekeeper. That is OK, but it was interesting the change. Some days I was like, 'What am I doing here?'" It's because of this common experience of feeling disconnected to the community that a group of Cochranites who identify as immigrants are putting together Cochrane's first Multicultural Celebration. The event is hoped to draw in immigrants and non-immigrants to build relationships and increase awareness of the town's diversity. "I noticed since I’ve been here in Cochrane there’s not too many spaces for immigrants. Or maybe I’m not aware of them," Ramirez said. "We are here and we can help and we are part of the community too so it is big, it's a huge thing." There are far from few immigrants in Cochrane. In the latest Cochrane census from 2016, there were 1,575 respondents who identified as being non-citizens of Canada and 3,190 respondents who identified as being an immigrant. The bulk of immigrants - 1,465 – arrived from 2006 onward, like Ramirez. Her sense of disconnection stemmed from how she was treated while working at the hotel and even though she has since moved to Cochrane, it still lingers. Now living in Cochrane with her husband whom she met at the resort, and their two children, being an immigrant still leaves her facing various challenges including a lack of a strong community network and a lack of confidence in fitting in. "Sometimes I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to understand people," she said. This is especially true when it comes to her customers in the home cleaning business she now operates in town. "It's also a challenge and why I didn't look for another job and started my company – I was afraid that I wasn't going to fit." Fleeha Ahmad, a settlement services coordinator with the town, said immigrants can be prone to isolation and depression if they feel detached from the community. "It's a very common thing," Ahmad said, noting it's especially true for seniors or new moms. "With the harsh weather, and then being older and hard to move around." "That's why it's important to have these community events." Andrea Baeza, an organizer for the Multicultural Celebration, said creating such events are the first steps in bridging relationships between neighbours – especially when there is a culture barrier. "We wanted to do this event to have the chance to create a sense of community here and awareness in the community that there are people from different countries who want to meet other people," Baeza said. "We want everyone to come here and start talking about what it means to be an immigrant, be a refugee, and what it means to create a sense of awareness and support." Baeza said she didn't speak a word of English when she first arrived in Canada nearly 11 years ago, also from Chile. "At the beginning, everything was so amazing, meeting different people. But, over time, language can be a boundary in terms of being able to do anything," Baeza said. "Creating more spaces – inclusive spaces for people who are new to Canada ... That is the main goal, to create a community in Cochrane." The event is open to all and will be held at the Cochrane Alliance Church on May 5, starting at 4 p.m. The Multicultural Celebration is free and a family-friendly setting with face painting, bouncy castles and an optional potluck style meal.
