Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney announced on Friday that nine organizations that provide language training to newcomers in Calgary, Alberta are receiving almost $9.5-million in federal funding.

“Access to language training services is, for many newcomers, a first step in establishing networks and contacts so they are engaged and feel welcomed in their communities,” Kenney said.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) expects that more than 13,000 immigrants will benefit from this funding.

“I would like to recognize the organizations that provide crucial support to those who choose Canada as their new home, helping to ease the stress of moving to a new country,” said Kenney.

The nine organizations in Calgary that are receiving this funding are: the Calgary Immigrant Educational Society, the Agape Language Centre Society, Bow Valley College, the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Columbia Training Centre, Immigrant Services Calgary, Language Plus Inc. and the YMCA and YWCA of Calgary.

“Our new focus is on integration,” said Kenney. “We want people to be Canadians first and foremost—to be proud of and maintain their own tradition and heritage, but not at the price of developing their Canadian identity.

Kenney said that learning one of the two official languages of Canada is “a critical pathway to success in Canada.”

The CIC says that in 2009-2010, Alberta will receive almost $59-million in federal funding for settlement services, part of $1.4-billion that is being allocated to settlement and integration programs and services in all the provinces and territories (except Quebec, which has a separate agreement with the federal government) over a five-year-period.