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Kitchen Kompanions: Seniors Sharing Food and Stories

This fall, about 10 seniors joined the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary and Alberta Network of Immigrant Women (ANIW) for Kitchen Kompanions, a three-week program celebrating food, healthy cooking, memories, and the stories behind our favourite recipes. ANIW was happy to host by providing the space at our office as the Community Kitchen led the program.

Kitchen Kompanions brought immigrant seniors from ANIW’s community together on Tuesday afternoons to learn about cooking, connect, and share the food traditions and knowledge that are meaningful to them.

Over three sessions, they talked about favourite foods, recipes with history, and food for thought. Participants also contributed recipes, stories, and cooking wisdom toward a community resource book that will preserve and share their love of healthy cooking. Every participant took home a Good Food Bag after each session.

Every participant took home a Good Food Bag after each session. The bags were a sample of the Good Food Box program from the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary.

Thank you to everyone who joined, to the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary for leading the program, and to the volunteers who helped out!

Want to know about future programs at ANIW? Visit aniw.org/programs.

Session 1: September 22, 2026​

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Photos by: ANIW Volunteer Norah Heuvel

Session 2: September 29, 2026​

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Photos by: ANIW Volunteer Norah Heuvel

Session 3: October 6, 2026

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Photos by: ANIW Volunteer Pooja Romley, edited by ANIW staff

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Ivonne Toledo (Director at large)

International trained Lawer, graduated in Mexico with two bachelors, one in English Language and other in Laws.

Settled in Canada six years ago, faced all the vicissitudes of the immigrants. Now part of an immigration legal team, I want to contribute with team of the board of directors here in ANIW trying to help immigrant women to find their way in this country

Ramona Fernando

Ramona Fernando moved to Edmonton from Sri Lanka in 2000. I am a financial strategist by profession graduated from NAIT in 2016 with a degree in Accounting. I have worked in the banking, hospitality, event planning, accounting, taxation and non-for-profit sectors. Currently I am working at the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights as the Office and Financial Manager. My passion is serving the community, mentoring and coaching youth, adults and seniors. I spent my spare time with family cooking, reading, singing, gardening and learning new challenges in life and community.

Dr. Elham Rahmani

As a dual-immigrant woman, wife, and mother, I am passionate about empowering immigrant women across Alberta through inclusion, connection, and community engagement. With a Ph.D. and over 10 years of experience in research, data analysis, and project development, I bring strong skills in strategic planning and community outreach.

My involvement in building the Iranian community in Lethbridge and organizing cultural initiatives has helped create supportive spaces for immigrant women and families. As a volunteer board member with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women, I am committed to promoting equality, representation, and empowerment for immigrant women throughout Alberta.

Tracey Campbell

Tracey Campbell is an experienced career practitioner with over 20 years of expertise in career development, employment counseling, and public policy. As a former Senior Policy Analyst with the Government of Alberta, she has contributed to initiatives that support workforce development, diversity, and inclusion. Tracey is deeply passionate about empowering women and newcomers to reach their full potential through meaningful career pathways and community engagement. She looks forward to connecting with individuals and agencies to share knowledge, provide guidance, and collaborate on initiatives that strengthen employment opportunities and social wellbeing.

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Dr. Sandra Dixon

Dr. Sandra Dixon is a Registered Psychologist, Certified Life Coach, and Associate Professor at the University of Lethbridge. Her research focuses on spirituality, race, gender, immigration, and social justice, with special attention to racial trauma and anti-Black racism. She actively serves on several community and professional boards, including the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women. Recognized for her leadership and dedication to equity and inclusion, Dr. Dixon has received multiple awards for her teaching, community service, and advocacy in promoting social justice.

Jördis Weilandt(Secretary)

Oki und guten Tag! Mein Name ist Jördis Weilandt. I am an East-German artist, educator and researcher now splitting life between in Sikoohkotoki/ Lethbridge and Mohkinstsis/ Calgary. My training and work in the areas of social change stems from an understanding and personal lived experience that transformation begins first and foremost through relationships, created in spaces where people are able to bring their whole selves, where multiple knowledges are shared alongside and where collaboratives can imagine more just futures together.

Much of my work (on 3 continents) has centred around supporting women: as newcomers, as members of environmentally-minded communities, and as allies and accomplices to BIPOC. Having witnessed many times over how new immigrant women often carry extraordinary resilience, ancestral wisdom and relational strength inspires me to support their arrival and rooting in Treaty 7 territory. It is with clear intention that I want to initiate the building of healthy connections between local Indigenous nations and immigrant families, so that we can collaboratively determine liberatory pathways out of settler colonial Canada..

Hina Thaker (Treasurer)
Hina comes from a legal practice background of regulatory, privacy, labour and employment and human rights law. She has experience in both the private and public sectors as well as not-for-profit organizations. Her previous roles include in-house counsel at he Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, the Calgary Police Service and an Associate at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin. Hina has been practicing for 20 years and has gained board experience as a corporate secretary, and director throughout her career. She served on the ANIW board for several years in the past and has returned to the board again in 2025. 
Abby Aiyeleye

Abby Aiyeleye is a certified project manager and business analyst with over twelve years of international experience. Holding a Business Administration degree from the University of Greenwich, she is dedicated to empowering underrepresented groups through volunteer work. As a member of the Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton and ANIW, Abby is passionate about helping immigrant women thrive in Alberta and Canada. She encourages women to pursue ambitious careers and businesses while maintaining strong family values.

Dr. Maria Louisa Torres (President)

A mathematician born and raised in Mexico City.  I immigrated to Canada for further studies and a professional life in academia. I am involved with the Latin American Literary Association, Calgary Mexican Association and the Calgary Police Services. Other interests included working for the El Salvador Solidarity of McMaster’s University and the Hamilton Police Services. I am currently the president. I am passionate about the work that ANIW does to empower immigrant women.