The Canadian Immigrant Professional Alliance (CIPA) is set to host its first event in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Nov. 12, marking a milestone for immigrant-led professional empowerment in Canada.
The event will take place at the Roundhouse Auditorium, Red River College Polytech and bring together immigrant professionals, students, community leaders and employers to explore career pathways and inclusive workforce strategies.
Juanita Ama DeSouza-Huletey, founder, president and CEO of CIPA, said the organization was born out of experience and the conviction that immigrants can “come together to build something sustainable from within their own strength.” She emphasized collaboration forms the foundation of CIPA’s operations. The organization works with universities, employers and community agencies to align efforts and maximize impact.
Its programs align with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those focused on partnerships, decent work and innovation, aiming to bridge the gap between settlement and professional success.
CIPA integrates coaching, mentorship, digital training and social wellness into a single ecosystem. Through its coaching & mentorship hub, immigrant professionals receive guidance from mentors who understand cultural and professional transitions.
A key part of CIPA’s vision is empowering young immigrant and international students to transition successfully into Canada’s workforce. The organization partners with institutions such as the University of Winnipeg and RRC Polytech to offer mentorship, internships and digital training.
“Students are at the heart of what we do,” DeSouza-Huletey said. “Integration must begin long before graduation.”
Beyond professional development, CIPA believes “true integration extends beyond employment,” DeSouza-Huletey noted. Workshops on mental health, parenting and community-building reinforce that “professional success is sustained by personal and community well-being.”
“CIPA doesn’t aim to duplicate” DeSouza-Huletey added. “We exist to strengthen what already works […] We are immigrant-led and lived experience-driven, founded and powered by professionals who have personally navigated Canada’s social, cultural and professional systems,” she said.
CIPA’s framework is built on “the Five Cs,” which are coaching, connecting, collaborating, catalyzing change, and cultivating community. Its programs combine mentorship, digital training and social support, providing immigrants with resources that extend beyond settlement to long-term career success.
The Winnipeg launch event will showcase these programs, offering attendees opportunities to connect with partner organizations and access resources that support both professional and community integration.
DeSouza-Huletey said the goal is for CIPA to become “a national model for partnership-driven integration, where collaboration replaces competition, where every talent is recognized and where every immigrant professional can say with confidence, ‘I belong. I am contributing. I am thriving.’”
She added the launch event will mark a “true celebration of collaboration, courage and community,” before moving toward the next phase — securing funding to sustain its growing ecosystem.
DeSouza-Huletey advised “Don’t give up on your dream. Your skills, your story, your accent, your experience — they are valuable, even if they aren’t always recognized right away.”
For more information and to participate in CIPA’s launch event, visit luma.com/3b6ey6wc.
