Shortly Nick will be celebrating his Bar Mitzvah.  Nick and his single Mom arrived in Calgary just five years ago.  Within three days they contacted JFS to access resettlement services.  Thanks to JIAS Canada, JFS Calgary was able to help the family with rent, camp for Nick and, most importantly, found a wonderful family who not only employed  Nick's Mom, but became an integral part of their integration into Jewish life in Canada.  The family included Nick and his Mom in Shabbat and Jewish holiday celebrations.  They took them to the mountains and to the zoo, and enrolled Nick in a nationally recognized swimming program.  They encouraged Nick's Mom to continue her education, and provided child care for Nick while Mom attended an accredited certificate program in her profession.  They helped Mom with her job search, but most of all they "adopted" Nick and Mom as part of their family.  Mom has since remarried and has started practising her profession.  During the past five years, Mom and Nick have volunteered at a number of JIAS sponsored holiday programs.

Nick has attended Camp B'nai Brith every summer, he continues to swim and the families are in daily contact with each other.  Nick and Mom attend holiday programs at various synagogues in Calgary together with their Canadian "family" and, when it came to planning Nick's Bar Mitzvah, the Canadian family took it upon themselves to make it happen.  They initiated the study process, carpooled Nick to lessons with the Rabbi and sponsored the Bar Mitzvah weekend festivities.  JFS Calgary is delighted to have been part of this integration process and the staff are looking forward to attending Nick's Bar Mitzvah.