The Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre is saying goodbye to a beloved leader, as they announced the resignation of Icasiana De Gala.

After twelve years with the organization as its Executive Director, it’s no surprise that De Gala has made an impact on the communities it serves.  

Kristy Sletten, board chair of the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre, said that De Gala was one of the first employees of the organization, which has now grown to 14 people and counting. 

“If you've ever met her, she is a force of nature,” Sletten said. “She is a very motivated and driven individual and I think that those qualities really helped to create an atmosphere of growth and innovation at the center. She was relentless in ensuring that the services that the Newcomer Welcome Center could provide were always in the best interest of our newcomer population, and really worked tirelessly to find various ways that additional supports could always be available to that population.” 

De Gala recently completed her Canadian re-certification of law credentials and will be moving forward to pursue a career in that field.

“I really feel like that move is such a beautiful way to show what is possible for the newcomers that settle here in Saskatchewan,” said Sletten. “Transferring credentials from one country to another is not easy, and Icasiana was definitely motivated to go through that lengthy process to get her law credentials recognized here in Canada and will be now joining that profession here.

"It is really a beautiful story, I think. And one that's very inspiring for our newcomer population.” 

Deanna Baje has been appointed as Interim Executive Director until the end of June, while the search is on to fill the role permanently.