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October 23, 2026
Registered nurse Samuel Adeleke pursued his childhood dream of living and working in Canada thanks to Alberta Health Services’ Internationally Educated Nursing (IEN) program. Photo by Leah Hennel.
IENs are recruited to rural communities, like the Cardston Health Centre, where Adeleke found an encouraging team and welcoming new community. Photo by Leah Hennel.
Story by Kelly Morris | Photos by Leah Hennel
CARDSTON — “Canada has been my dream country right from childhood,” says Samuel Adeleke, a registered nurse at the Cardston Health Centre.
“Everything in life has a purpose and reason. AHS was doing this pilot program, which I applied from my home country, Nigeria. At the end of the day, I happened to be one of the lucky people that was employed and I was posted to Cardston.”
Adeleke, an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN), arrived in Canada in October 2024 after a friend, who was already working as a nurse in Alberta, mentioned the opportunity.
At first, Adeleke thought it sounded too good to be true. “When they sent it to me, I read it online and used my Google to search if the program is real, if it’s genuine, and if it’s worth applying. I go, OK, this might be my breakthrough.”
Taking a strategic and competitive approach to attract, integrate and retain nurses — particularly in hard-to-recruit rural and remote areas — Alberta Health Services (AHS) has successfully recruited IENs to fill vacancies where there have been longstanding needs and no local candidates.
After arriving in Canada, Adeleke spent his first month in Edmonton completing a practical orientation at the University of Alberta Hospital, before settling in Cardston.
“Cardston has been a very good community, the people here are very welcoming,” says Adeleke. “Right from the leadership, Cheryl (Seaborn, Cardston Health Centre’s site manager) has been fantastic, even driving to pick me up in Lethbridge while it was snowing heavily. She’s always there to welcome me anytime.
“It’s like a family setting that you can easily approach anybody and they give you the solution to whatever you’re asking — and some people also come to me, and we work together, and find solutions. People are ready to guide you, support you, ready to correct you with love.”
Adeleke’s wife and three daughters, who joined him in Cardston in December 2024, were also quickly embraced by the community.
“Everybody just wants to help, to assist in one way or the other, to let you feel that you belong. Cardston community is superb.”
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