THE KENYAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IN CALGARY
(KAC–CALGARY)

The establishment of the Kenyan Community Association in Calgary in May 2009 has given Kenyans in Calgary an opportunity to stamp their presence in this City. Kenyans have been in Calgary for several decades now but mainly as students at the University of Calgary. In the early 90’s Kenyan families begun settling in Calgary from the east as a result of the robust economy as the oil boom begun to take Alberta by storm. The 2000 saw an influx of even bigger numbers of Young Kenyans from Ontario Quebec and the maritime. Calgary had by now become the preferred City to work and live in Canada. Many of the young people established small businesses and begun to register their presence in the Calgary economy. Many others joined the labour market as professionals in various international organisations and government institution operating in Calgary. With time, many have bought properties and established homes in Calgary. It is no wonder that even the recession of the last year or so has found many Kenyans so rooted in this city that they could not be moved.

Kenyans in Calgary have kept an ad-hoc quasi type association meeting mainly when there is a kind of celebration like Jamhuri day or to console a community member who is bereaved or in some kind of need. Kenyans have also been very keen in joining community members when they have special functions like weddings, bridal and baby showers, graduations, fellowships etc. The desire to have an officially registered community organisation for Kenyans has always been there. It is against this background that Kenyans in Calgary saw the need of forming a community organisation for Kenyans and friends of Kenya to champion their course in Calgary, Alberta and the whole of Canada. Mr. Robert Mugo took the challenge and together with a few other Kenyans volunteered to organize Kenyans into starting a community organisation that we can now call “Kenyan Community Association-Calgary (KAC-Calgary). The rest is history.

Why would one want to be a member of the Kenyan Community Association-Calgary (KAC-Calgary)?

As a member of KAC-Calgary you will be is entitled to -

• The opportunity to network with other Kenyans and friends of Kenya be they professionals, business people, students and all manner of Kenyan Canadians in Calgary.
• Participate in the multicultural diversity of Kenyans and that, which makes Kenya a very unique community.
• As Kenyan and a member of KAC-Calgary, you will have the opportunity to market your expertise, services, products etc to fellow Kenyans in Calgary and indeed the rest of Canada.
• You will have the right to access information on events and developments happening in the community in Calgary. You will have the right to air your views and be hared and even the right to comment on things happening in our mother country through the Kenyan diplomatic mission in Canada.
• You will also have the right to attend and participate in organized community events, social gatherings by KCA-Calgary and connect with other Kenyans, families and friends.
• As a Kenyan and a member of KAC-Calgary, you will the right to referral and support letters to different organisations, federal and provincial government institutions etc.
• Right to emotional and social support during conflicts relating to family, friends, law enforcement agencies etc
• Right to participate in discussion forums by KCA-Calgary, air your views, be hared and respected

Although it will be required that the President and the board will set and implement policies and programs that benefit the community, membership involvement and participation is paramount for the success of these programs. I therefore call upon Kenyans in Calgary to embrace this organisation and strive to make it a home for the rest of the community.

Welcome to the Kenyan Community Association in Calgary (KAC-Calgary). Your ideas will go a long way into making KAC-Calgary a vibrant community organisation in Calgary.

KARIBUNI!

Derick Kivia Lwugi

PRESIDENT