Halifax immigration organization changes name from ‘ISIS’ to ‘ISANS’

HALIFAX – A Halifax-based agency that offers services to immigrants revealed its new name on Wednesday, one month after announcing it would switch from ‘ISIS’.

The former Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services organization will now be known as Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia, or ISANS.

“We wanted a name that locates us, Nova Scotia, we wanted a name that says exactly what we do, immigrant services, and we wanted a name for people for whom English is their second or third language it’s easy to say. So, ISANS,” said Gerry Mills, the agency’s director of operation. “It checks the box on all those three so we’re thrilled.”

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The agency, which sought the change to distance itself from Islamic State terrorists, had been considering a new name for months.

MIlls said the switchover has led to significant costs, but said they had “no choice.”

“The websites have changed, the emails have changed, people will be wearing new name tags this morning, and the signs are going up right now as we speak,” she said.

Along with its new name, ISANS launched a new campaign on Wednesday asking Nova Scotians to make a pledge to help immigrants in the province. People are being encouraged to tweet their pledges with the hashtag #BuildingNSTogether.

“The focus for us is what we do and the people we serve,” Mills said. “So today we are asking Nova Scotians…what they are going to do personally, individually to commit to helping an immigrant settle here.”