Established Immigrant Families in Winnipeg Empower New Immigrants in Overcoming Their Challenges

Immigration to Canada has a long history, and families who arrived in the past have worked hard to establish a safe and stable environment for newcomers to Canada. This "Civic Platform" episode features Rita Chahal, currently Executive Director of the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, who has had a long career in the non-profit sector including helping immigrants become settled. She has a lot good advice for newcomers.

Trailblazer Chahal and her family were the second East Indian family to settle in PEI during the mid-'60s, travelling from Northern India to Pier 21 on Canada's east coast at the age of nine. She would later graduate from Dalhousie University with honours and eventually settle in Manitoba. Chahal’s work spans the academic and corporate sectors, spanning a 42-year career in the prairies. However, most prominently, she has served the not-for-profit sector for over 25 years.   

As a champion of change, Rita has held key leadership roles serving as Executive Director for The Women in Media Foundation, Employment Projects of Winnipeg, and the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (MIIC). Her vision and leadership played a crucial role in leading the province through the resettlement of refugees during the Syrian Refugee Crisis and the influx of US claimants during the Trump administration.   

As the General Manager of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, Rita was the first person and woman of colour to take on the role. Significant cornerstones of her initiatives addressed labour skills shortages issues, foreign-trained credential recognition, and Human Resources services to address the impact of domestic violence in the workplace.  

Her community work includes serving as a chair or executive member on numerous local, provincial, and national committees and Crown Corporation boards. She has served on the Winnipeg United Way Poverty Council and is currently a United Way Speakers' Bureau member. In 2021, the Nellie McClung Foundation named Rita an inaugural recipient of the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer Award. The award salutes Manitoba women's contributions to social justice, arts, sports, politics, community activities, and promoting democracy. In 2022, Rita was awarded the Top 25 Immigrants of Canada Award. An award which recognizes immigrants across Canada who have made a meaningful impact across the country. Most recently, she has received the Queens Platinum Jubilee award for her contributions and work as a community leader.  

A proud Canadian citizen, Rita refuses to be stopped from realizing her dreams. She has excelled in her career by building partnerships and serving as a titan for change, equity, and representation. As a parent, she is most proud of her three children, whom she and her husband instilled deep appreciation and honour for their bicultural heritage. That nine-year-old girl with two braids stepping on the eastern shores of Canada is now a grandmother of four who wants to leave behind a legacy of realized change, representation, and anti-racism action. 

Contact Zuher Almusre, our civic journalist, to share your story and explore civic issues at zuheralmusre@u-channel.ca. 

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The project is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).