Down by the Bay … that’s where you’ll find newcomers and literacy learners alike meeting in a new storefront space at St. Albert Centre. On Thursday, St. Albert Further Education cut the ribbon to open wide the doors to its first-ever satellite location.
If Further Ed lays claim to being a bridge to lifelong learning — which it does right there in its slogan — then this programming area might as well be considered its freeway toward that bridge. After all, the spot was chosen at least partially for reasons of mass transportation.
“We think this is a great location for newcomers because it’s on a transit line,” said executive director Cheryl Dumont during her remarks to the grand opening ceremony.
“It’s in this beautiful mall, which is so accessible. It’s a great place to walk and visit.”
The bright and open area will primarily be used for two of Further Ed’s major program streams: its Family Literacy and Newcomer Connection programs.
“That’s very much what we’d like this to be: a welcome centre in St. Albert for newcomers and for young families that have children.”
Muna Abdulhussain, Newcomer Connection co-ordinator, sees great potential for putting a community-service agency right in the very heart of a building where so many people would be going anyway.
“This space is important because most newcomers, whenever they arrive in a new city, the first touchpoint for them is the mall: they go shopping; they go for a coffee; they meet friends …” she said, adding that being right there at St. Albert Transit’s central hub means it opens itself up to being available to the most people as possible.
“It will be ideal and convenient for them.”
That’s an important issue of access being addressed. The Newcomer Connection Program only kicked off within the last two years but has already shown a strong and healthy client base that is getting bigger as time goes by. The number of immigrants moving to the city has increased in recent years. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more and more Ukrainian refugees will be setting up their new homes in St. Albert.
Further Ed was already facing a space crunch. To get a location in St. Albert Centre is the best possible solution for the organization and for the people it serves.
Last year, Abdulhussain had 250 clients in Newcomer Connection, a number that is soon to be surpassed in 2022.
“This year, with Ukraine, I am almost catching the number from last year,” said Abdulhussain. “We are very busy.”
Having this spot in the mall will help to facilitate access to them, and others looking for Further Ed’s many offerings.
