Red Deer's Welcoming Week runs through Sept. 21 citizenship ceremony
A week of events organized by the Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership highlights newcomer and Indigenous experiences ahead of a public citizenship ceremony at Red Deer Polytechnic.
Red Deer's 2026 Welcoming Week, organized locally by the Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership, began Friday with a story session and photography exhibit, continued Monday with a citizenship-journey workshop, and concludes Sept. 21 with a public citizenship ceremony at Red Deer Polytechnic.
Two participants featured in the opening event were Donna Bishop, an Indigenous Elder with the Red Deer Native Friendship Society who moved to Red Deer from Edmonton around 1990 after being taken during the Sixties Scoop as a child, and Nieva Rosales, a Filipino teacher and accountant who immigrated to Canada in 2004. Rosales now works in Environmental Services at Red Deer Regional Hospital because her prior professional credentials are not recognized in Canada.
Bishop described Red Deer as welcoming because of its non-profits, volunteers and community supports, saying the city works honestly through difficulties rather than putting on a show for visitors. Rosales recounted leaving the Philippines for Hong Kong and later Canada to support two sick children, describing abuse by employers in Hong Kong and arriving in Canada with two pieces of luggage, $50 and a passport before working at Tim Hortons for eight years.
Both women said they still consider Red Deer welcoming despite facing hardship, though Rosales noted that racism and discrimination toward newcomers exist everywhere and said she believes attitudes toward immigrants in the community have improved over time.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.