Moving to a new country is an exciting experience, but it’s also very normal to miss your home country. One of the best things about moving to Canada is that it’s a melting pot of cultures that encourages you to stay in touch with your heritage and traditions.
Calgary has a diverse population and is one of the fastest growing cities in all of Canada. As a newcomer from the Philippines, you can expect to take part in cultural events and experiences that connect you with your community and provide that taste of home you may be missing. We asked Filipino newcomers living in Calgary to share recommendations on places to eat, shop, and enjoy cultural activities so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
In this article:
- Filipino restaurants in Calgary
- Filipino grocery stores in Calgary
- Filipino shopping and cultural events in Calgary
- Places to worship in Calgary
- Find daily support across Calgary
Filipino restaurants in Calgary
Calgary has an underrated food scene. While it may not be as large as other Canadian cities, you’ll still find restaurants serving incredible food from a variety of cultures, including the Philippines. Here are some of the top suggestions:
- Jollibee, three locations in Calgary (Try their famous Chickenjoy)
- Barrio Fiesta home cooking
- Paolo’s Dine-In (Try their crispy pata)
- Max’s Restaurant (Try the chicken Teriyaki)
- Seafood City
- Pacific Hut
Filipino grocery stores in Calgary
If you’re looking for the ingredients to cook your favourite Filipino dishes, these grocery stores are a perfect place to start:
- Hong Kong Food Market
- T&T Supermarket
- Seafood City Supermarket
Filipino shopping and cultural events in Calgary
Downtown Calgary is where you go to find most cultural events. Every year, the Fiesta Filipino takes place at the Olympic Stadium downtown. It’s a huge event that many Filipinos attend to enjoy food and activities that remind them of home.
For more regular group meetups, the best place to start is on Facebook. Start by checking out the Calgary Filipino Community group and the New Filipinos in Calgary group. Both groups discuss upcoming events, give leads on places to rent, and are a general hub for the Filipino community in Calgary.
Places to worship in Calgary
You’ll find plenty of churches across Calgary, with a number of them catering specifically to Filipino language and customs. Here are a few recommendations:
Christian
- Christ the Victorious Church
- Calgary Life Church
- St. Mark Church
- Calgary METRO Filipino Seventh Day Adventist Church
Find daily support across Calgary
As you transition from the Philippines to Calgary, you may need more regular support, beyond food and festivals, to help you adapt to life in Canada. To make sure you’re fully supported as a newcomer, try reaching out to some of these organizations:
- The Centre for Newcomers offers settlement services that include one-on-one counselling along with connecting you to other community services. They can also answer questions about finding a job in Calgary and what courses you should take to prepare yourself for the job market.
- The Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) is another organization that provides services for newcomers. Their children and family services help integrate new families into the community. They also provide a broad range of community services that include language translation, crisis response, and skill-building workshops.
The Calgary Region Immigration and Employment Council (CRIEC) works with newcomers to help them build strategies to find employment. They partner with local businesses to offer mentorship, volunteer opportunities, and training so newcomers have a direct line to employment.
