Ghani Hemad

Algerian oil and gas professional adjusts well to new life in Alberta

Alberta winters may be cold but the warmth of the people is what Abdeleghani (Ghani) Hemad appreciates most about living in Alberta. Originally from Tizi-ouzou, a city east of Algeria’s capital Algiers, Ghani first came to Canada in 2003. He stayed in Montreal for 15 months before deciding to make the move west to Calgary, where he heard there were more job opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

“My first days in Calgary were very challenging. It was winter. I had no friends or family with me. And I could not speak a word of English,” explained Ghani. “I took an English class but had to stop going because I needed to pay my bills. I worked as a dishwasher and a security guard, and wondered how I would be able to find work in the oil and gas industry.”

It was then that Ghani heard about the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, a non-profit organization that provides settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees in southern Alberta. Ghani attended the four-week Rig Hand Training Program and continued to work on his English language skills. Three days after completing the program, Ghani accepted a driller position with Ensign Energy in Calgary, one of Canada's largest land-based drilling and well servicing contractors. He continues to work there today and enjoys the interesting and challenging projects he works on.

“I am extremely grateful to the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, and specifically to Bob Khan, who is the head of the Rig Hand Training Program, for helping me find work in my field,” said Ghani. “I encourage people to come to Alberta because there are good jobs here and the people are friendly. It can be challenging at first to come to a new country, so my advice is to be prepared and, most of all, learn English before coming here. It will make things a lot easier.”

In 2007, Ghani’s wife, Zahia Belaid, joined him in Calgary. Zahia currently works for Safeway and is enjoying Alberta. Ghani and Zahia look forward to owning a small farm one day, like the one they owned in Algeria, and becoming “true Calgarians.”

Date Updated: Sep 14, 2010
RDP:1127