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Get to Know Us
The Charlotte County Multicultural Association (CCMA) is a non-profit agency which provides information and services to newcomers, immigrants and refugees setting in motion successful settlement and integration in the community. Located in the Southern region of New Brunswick, we service the following areas: Lepreau, Pennfield, Blacks Harbour, Grand Manan, Deer Island, Saint George, Saint Andrews, Oak Bay and Saint Stephen. We work together with our communities, businesses, government services, employers and other service providers to welcome and take care our newcomers.
Meet The Team
Joan Majchrowski
Executive Director
Joan has worked at CCMA since October 2017, first as the Language Manager for St. George and now as Executive Director. Joan leads the CCMA team with a vision of inclusion for newcomers, driving the organization to expand our services for the benefit of newcomers and the community as a whole. In her role as Executive Director Joan leads operational planning, creation of innovation programming and partnership development to support inclusion and retention in Charlotte County. She is on the Board to Eastern Charlotte Chambers of Commerce and she loves socializing and getting to know other cultures. In her recreational time, you can find her crafting and fostering cats for the Saint George Animal Shelter.
Suren Yoga Nathan
Community Engagement
Suren’s work is focused on helping newcomers find a true level of acceptance and a deep sense of belonging within Charlotte County. Working with partner organizations, newcomers are brought together with local citizens in activities and events that promote harmony and build relationships. Suren also provides newcomers with employment services; businesses with cultural/racial education programs; and helps clients with ad-hoc needs. Prior to CCMA, Suren worked on IRCC and PCH funded projects across Canada, leading seminars on diversity, competing rights, and issues relating to identity and belonging. Work included national campaigns promoting diversity, documentaries on inclusion, and the creation of a forum studying the acceptance of multi-faith in Canada.
Svitlana (Lana) Palahuta
Project Assistant
Svitlana and her family moved to Canada from the Ukraine in the end of 2019. Having worked in Charlotte County for 2 years, she experienced first-hand the benefits of being a member of the CCMA. When the opportunity arose for her to join the organization and help other newcomers, she knew this was something she passionately wanted to do. Svitlana has a Masters degree in Economic Cybernetics, and comes to the CCMA with over 15 years of experience in administrative roles. In her spare time she is enjoying to deep in adventures with her three children.
Madison Watson
Youth Engagement
Madison grew up in Charlotte County and has recently moved back to her hometown of Saint George. Her work as the Youth Engagement Coordinator focuses on working with newcomer youth to engage them in pre-existing activities in the community, as well as developing new programming and activities for youth to attend. She will be able to help newcomer youth find and use resources located in the community as well as in their schools. In her spare time, Madison enjoys doing anything outside (hiking, kayaking, skating, and more) as well as settling in with a good book. Madison is excited to be back in Charlotte County and looking forward to meeting everyone.
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Julie West
Settlement Practitioner
Julie has worked in Charlotte County helping newcomers for more than 6 years. She works hard to determine your individual settlement needs and developing goals to help newcomers thrive in this area. She provides monthly information sessions geared to help newcomers and their immediate needs. Julie has lived in Charlotte County for 20 years – originally from Fredericton, lived in British Columbia for 4 years where she met her husband – returning to NB to raise her family. In her spare time, you will find her tending to her goats or foster kittens, but most likely enjoying a cup of coffee in her garden.
Brenda Allison
Settlement Worker
Brenda grew up in Charlotte County and lives in Saint George most part of her life. Her work as the Settlement Worker focuses on working with newcomers to engage them in pre-existing activities in the community, as well as helping them to settle here. She will be able to help newcomer find and use resources located in the community. In her spare time, Brenda enjoys doing anything outside (hiking, curling, and more) as well as settling in with a good book. Brenda is excited to help everyone in Charlotte County and looking forward to meeting new people.
John Studd
Lead Language Instructor
John completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and soon after left Canada for South Korea, where he began an extensive career as an ESL language teacher. Since then, he has taught in a wide range of countries, including Japan, Thailand, Greece, France, and Belgium but has spent most of his time in his home away from home, Prague, in the Czech Republic. Having grown up in Toronto, and after having lived in so many different countries, John understands well the obstacles that come from being a stranger in a strange land. His focus is on helping his students gain a deeper understanding of Canadian culture, and a true sense of belonging, by instilling confidence in their ability to communicate and connect with those around them.
Jennifer Blackier-Szakacs
Language Instructor
From a young age, Jennifer has had a hunger for learning about the world and a passion for helping others. After graduating from with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University, this Charlotte County native spent 6 years teaching English as a second language to adults and high school students in Japan. With a developed understanding of everyday needs in a foreign country and a renewed understanding of the challenges faced by English language learners, Jennifer has returned home to serve her beloved community. She aims to foster confidence in her students both in and out of the classroom, helping them use their English skills to thrive in their community. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys doing numerous arts and crafts, reading, singing and dancing.
Our Board of Directors
Jullian Riva
President
Kendall Kadatz
Vice President
Irina Puscasu
Secretary
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Briana Cowie
Treasurer
