New Canadians Centre Launches Multicultural Food Crawl For June

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (PTBO DBIA) have put on a fun and delicious way to celebrate diversity with the Canadian Multicultural Festival during all of June, announced at Poco Burro Burritos on Thursday morning.

(from left to right) Minal Burdrani, Poco Burro co-owner; Tu Nguyen, NCC community engagement assistant; Andy Cragg, NCC execcutive director and Sunny Dalia, Poco BUrro co-owner. Poco Burro had opened at the former Jimmy Guaco’s location on Nov. 7. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The festival is being kicked off with the launch of the Multicultural Food Crawl involving 10 Downtown Peterborough restaurants.

For every $10 spent during June, a stamp is given for your Multicultural Food Passport. Six stamps enter food lovers in a draw to win one of three $100 Boro Gift Cards. Passports can be collected at the ten participating restaurants or at NCC.

The following are the Downtown restaurants:

• Bhojan

• Brothers Pizza

• Curry Mantra

• Dirty Burger

• La Hacienda

• La Mesita

• Levantine Grill

• Milk and Tea Shop

• Naka Japanese

• Poco Burro Burritos

On June 24, free samples from the 10 restaurants are available from noon to 7 p.m.

Participants can vote for their favourite restaurant on the food crawl online where two posts are chosen at random to win a $25 Boro Gift Card. Tag us to share your experience @newcanadianscentre #multiculturalfoodcrawlptbo We will draw 2 posts at random to win a $25 Boro Gift Card!

“Journey through the culinary world in downtown Peterborough,” said Hillary Flood, PTBO DBIA communications and marketing manager. “We are very excited to support the New Canadians Centre for the second Canadian Multicultural Festival and to recognize the hard work of these newcomer entrepreneurs.”

In addition to the Food Crawl, there are several Canadian Multicultural Festival activities for the month of June:

• June 24: Family Zumba party at Peterborough Square Courtyard

• June 26: An introduction to Cricket with the Peterborough Cricket Club at New Canadians Centre

• June 27: “Healing & Hope – Reflections on the Refugee Experience” Community Conversation at the Peterborough Public Library

• June 28: Try Vietnamese Cooking at New Canadians Centre

• June 29: K-Pop Dance Workshop at YMCA

• June 30: Crafts from around the world at New Canadians Centre

• June 30: Salsa Dance Night at Quaker City Square

“Celebrating the richness of multiculturalism is a cornerstone of our work,” said Andy Craig, NCC executive director. “We are so fortunate to share in unique customs, music, dance, food, sports and stories that contribute to a vibrant community.”

June 27 is Canadian Multiculturalism Day.

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Photos: New Canadians Centre Hosts Picnic In The Park For New Community Members From Ukraine

The New Canadians Centre Peterborough invited new, Ukrainian members of the community and long time community members to a picnic at King Edward Park on Wednesday night to meet, chat and eat together.

The rain held off long enough for picnic goers to enjoy traditional Ukrainian foods like Bublik and cabbage rolls, as well as some Canadian staples.

In a release earlier this week NCC announced that they have served approximately 90 individuals to date.

Linda and Peter Adam, who have lived in Peterborough for most of their lives, opened their home to a young Ukrainian refugee, and were at the picnic on Wednesday.

“We saw in the news that there was a need for homes, and I just talked to Pete about it and responded the next day,” said Linda.

The couple has never done anything like this before, though Linda says they are both glad they did it.

“She has really brought a lot of life into our house.”

In response to the offers of support from the community, the NCC has worked with CCRC’s Housing Resource Centre to create a web listing for hosts to post their homestay offers and to support hosts with information and advice: https://www.ccrc-ptbo.com/home-together/ukraine/.

As Ukrainian families arrive in Peterborough NCC will update their ‘SoKind’ registry for items they need. The NCC is unable to store an excess of donated items, so they kindly ask for only items specified on the registry.

The Wellness Centre is hosting a Zumba Party in support of the New Canadians Centre on July 26 at 6:30 p.m..

Led by international zumba instructor Ricardo Marmittee, this is a pay what you can class with all proceeds going to support Ukrainians and other new comers to Peterborough.

To register make a donation to the New Canadians Centre noting ‘Zumba Fundraiser’ the donation will act as a ticket.

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New Canadians Centre Provides Update On New Ukrainians In Peterborough And Invites Community To Welcome Picnic

The New Canadians Centre provided Peterborough with an update on local, provincial and federal efforts to assist Ukrainians displaced by war.

File Photo.

As of July 5, approximately 55,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada through the federal Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program.

Through this program, displaced Ukrainians can stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years.

In Peterborough, the NCC has served approximately 90 individuals to date, and another 46 in the Northumberland area.

As the CUAET program is a special pathway not typically applied to refugee resettlement, programs and initiatives to support displaced Ukrainians are constantly evolving.

In early April, in the absence of government support programs for displaced Ukrainians, the community raised over $30,000 for the NCC’s Client Emergency Fund to meet the most urgent needs of their clients. All the funds raised have been disbursed.

In response to the offers of support from the community, the NCC has worked with CCRC’s Housing Resource Centre to create a web listing for hosts to post their homestay offers and to support hosts with information and advice: https://www.ccrc-ptbo.com/home-together/ukraine/.

To welcome new, Ukrainian members of the community, the NCC is inviting community members to the Zabava-Ukrainian Community Picnic at King Edward Park from 5 -7 p.m. on Wednesday. Those interested in attending should bring a chair or blanket to sit on and a picnic meal for themselves.

Zabava is Ukrainian for a fun get-together.

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New Canadians Centre Launches Inaugural Week-Long Canadian Multiculturalism Festival

In honour of Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, the New Canadians Centre (NCC) is organizing a week-long inaugural Canadian Multiculturalism Festival in Peterborough beginning Monday to June 27 announced Wednesday morning.

(from left to right) Andy Cragg, NCC executive director; Zebiba Sultan; Brisham Ramoutar, NCC communications and community engagement specialist and Hilary Flood, DBIA communications and marketing manager. Flood samples Ethiopian cuisine made by Sultan. The vegetarian dish contains red lentils, split peas, beets and a salad atop a large piece of injera (Ethiopian sour flatbread).

The festival aims to display multiculturalism within Peterborough through performance, storytelling, film and food.

“Celebrating multiculturalism in Peterborough creates community and helps people to feel like they belong,” says Andy Cragg, Executive Director. “We are proud to showcase the richness of experience in our community. It’s an underappreciated and unrecognized day in Canada.”

A food crawl with six downtown restaurants can earn you tickets towards Boro gift cards. Every $10 you spent from June 20 - July 1, gets anyone a stamp towards a Multicultural Food Passport. Collecting six earns a draw for the gift cards and participants do not have to visit all six restaurants to earn an entry.

Stamps and passports are available at the NCC or the following restaurants:

• Curry Mantra

• Levantine Grill

• Hanoi House

• Real Thai Cuisine

• Dirty Burger

• Milk + Tea

“Downtown Peterborough is a culinary hotspot for multicultural cuisine in the region,” said Hillary Flood, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area communications and marketing manager. “We are so excited to be partnering with the New Canadians Centre for the Canadian Multiculturalism Festival to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contributions of our international cuisine and newcomer-owned restaurants and how they have shaped our culinary fabric downtown."

The following is a list of events occurring throughout the week:

Flavours of the World Sampling Day

All six restaurant will offer free samples of their food on June 25 between noon and 7 p.m.

Try It Series

The community can get their feet wet and participate in music, dance, cooking and sports from across the world:

• Indian Spices - Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the NCC

• Peruvian Flower Making - Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the NCC

• Taekwondo - Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at King Edward Park

• Ethiopian Cooking - June 23, 6 p.m. via Zoom with Zebiba Sultan (ingredient kits can be obtained at the NCC from Monday to next Wednesday)

• Zumba - June 24, 6 p.m. at the Silver Bean Patio (Millennium Park) by Dianely Hernandez

Anyone can register online at the NCC website to participate.

Cultural Fusions Video Series

Films are showcased to Dancers and musicians’ craft and culture with two films, “The Story Won’t Die + The Magic of Beginnings” and The Magic of Beginnings.

The former is about a Syrian rapper, tortured by Bashar Al-Assad for his lyrics, who uses his music to survive one of our century's deadliest wars.

The story of revolution and exile in a new documentary reflects a global battle for peace, justice and freedom of expression.

The Magic of Beginnings is about a local English-as-a-second-language teacher that learns Arabic to make the newcomers in her class feel at home.

Anyone can register online from the NCC’s website for a link to view the films online for free between Monday and June 27.

Building A Home Book Reading & Activities

On June 26 at 2 p.m., author & illustrator Casandra Lee will read her children’s book “Building A Home” followed by some creative art-based activities for children and families.

The book is about six children from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Pakistan who are now living, playing, and going to school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. The book was commissioned and published by the New Canadians Centre.

Multiculturalism Panel

The final da features a Canadian Multiculturalism Festival event at a panel discussion with Trent Professors Mohmin Rahman and Feyzi Baban and Cragg.

Discussions include immigration in Canada, local responses to immigration and perspectives on multiculturalism in Canada and Europe.

Each year, the NCC supports over 1000 clients hailing from over 100 countries and speaking more than 70 different languages. In 2021, the NCC saw a record-breaking number of immigrants come to their facility according to Cragg.

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Anti-Islamophobic Vigil Commemorated Anniversary of Family's Death In London

It was an incident that shook Muslims and the rest of the province as Stephanie Benn with New Canadians Centre (NCC) held a vigil outside city hall commemorating the lives lost from an attack last year in London, Ont. on Monday afternoon.

Hassan Mohamad, Kawartha Muslim Religious Association president, reflects on the Afzaal family killed on a Sunday walk in London, Ont. one year ago in an act of Islamophobia during a vigil. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Roughly 30 people with signs and flowers gathered to honour the sudden deaths of the Afzaal family (Yunmah Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Talat Afzall and Salman Afzaal).

Their lives were lost by a car that deliberately jumped a curb and struck them. Yunmah’s nine-year-old brother at the time was the only survivor of the incident.

The attack was considered ‘hate-motivated’ according to the London police.

"I was pretty shocked but I wasn't surprised because of the incidents that happened priors to those,” said Hassan Mohamad, Kawartha Muslim Religious Association president. “The Quebec incident and the Mosque here in Peterborough that the community helped us support and bring it back to life."

Members of the NCC detailed the lives of each member that was lost during the ceremony and preached how Islamophobia needed to be curbed.

“I think it's important to recognize the issue and the hate that Muslims have encountered, not only in Peterborough but across the province and across Canada," said Mohamad. "I think education is important and they need to understand what Islam is and how Islam is peace and the clothes you wear are a manifestation of that peace.”

Mohamad says the incident should create more awareness and education for everyone to help bring down any stigma of being Islamic.

“It's not just the clothes that make a Muslim,” he said. “It's the faith, it's the teachings and the practices so I think it's important that people understand those ideas.”

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New Canadians Centre Book 'Building A Home' Walk To be Hosted At YMCA

The YMCA of Central East Ontario is collaborating with the New Canadians Centre to host the ‘Building a Home’ Book Walk, from May 2 – 16, at the Balsillie Family Branch.

Author Cassandra Lee reads the book at the book launch, September 2021. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Building a Home is a story inspired by the candid accounts and artwork shared by six children from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Pakistan who are now living, playing, and going to school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough.

The story panels will be displayed outside the YMCA, along the path from the front doors towards Princess Street making the exhibit fully accessible for all members of the community to enjoy.

Building a Home was commissioned by the New Canadians Centre and written and illustrated by Casandra Lee. Casandra Lee is an Asian-American children’s author and illustrator. She moved to Canada in 2019 and now lives in Peterborough.

@ptbo_canada “Building a Home” is based on the real-life accounts of six children from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Pakistan. 🔗 in comments to order! #PTBO #fyp ♬ Home - Edith Whiskers

Building a Home is available in several languages on the New Canadians Centre website.

“We are always honoured to work with our neighbors at the New Canadians Centre. Hosting the book walk is a way to bring this beautiful story to another audience. Diversity and inclusion is the key to a healthy, vibrant community and it is so important to feel represented and for us to listen and to learn from each other. We hope the community will take the time to visit and enjoy it,” said Naman Khandelwal, the Chair of the YMCA of Central East Ontario’s Diversity and Social Inclusion Committee.

Printed copies of Building a Home (in English) are now available for purchase in-store and online at Watson & Lou.

New Canadians Centre Continue To Monitor Ukraine Crisis And Potential Refugees Says Peterborough Residents Are Already Offering To Help

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is monitoring the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and ready to accept refugees when Canada announces initiatives.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Kaczmarczyk says the Canadian government is currently focusing more on getting Ukrainians to Canada on a temporary, short-term basis.

According to a government press release, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has created the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, available to individuals fleeing Ukraine. There will be no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can apply. This is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians to come to Canada and eliminates many of the normal visa requirements, according to the release.

“For us, our staff will likely help local folks who maybe have family members in Ukraine navigate those applications,” said Marisa Kaczmarczyk, director of client services at the NCC Peterborough agency. “Some of these applications can be confusing, they may need someone to hep them walk through the process.”

Currently, Canada is focusing on Ukrainians already located in Canada. For example, Kaczmarczyk says an international student that may have to return to Ukraine soon because of a soon-to-be expired visa will be given the opportunity to stay past the expiration of their visa.

Kaczmarczyk says the NCC is already getting phone calls from Peterborough residents wondering what they can do to help.

“People have offered their time, spaces in their house, they’re ready to house a refugee,” she says. “At the moment because there isn’t a refugee program there is not a need for that - yet.”

She says anyone that calls is being put on a list and will be contacted when applicable.

The NCC is also directing people to established organizations that are accepting donations and providing help directly on the ground in Ukraine.

Donations directed to the Red Cross will be matched by the Canadian government until March 18. The NCC also suggests donating to UNICEF, which is helping children affected.

NCC continues to support refugees from around the world and have an ongoing need for refugee support team members. Those interested in helping can sign up here.

The crisis in Ukraine is ongoing, and ever changing. The NCC will continue to update the public as new information arises.

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New Canadians Centre Launches Children's Book Inspired by Newcomers to Peterborough

Author and illustrator Casandra Lee has brought six children’s stories to life in her new book, “Building a Home” during a book launch at the New Canadians Centre (NCC) on Monday.

Jorge Escalera (far right), poses with his family at Monday’s book launch. Escalera is one of six children whose story inspired Building a Home. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

The book draws inspiration from children experiencing new cultures for the first time after immigrating to Canada.

Bhisham Ramoutar, NCC communication and engagement specialist, had the idea for a book two years ago when a newly immigrated family was served pizza for the first time.

“We got thinking about all the big things and the small things that children have to face when they come to a new country,” said Ramoutar. “We wanted to find a way to share those unique experiences.”

When Lee began volunteering at the NCC, Ramoutar knew he had found the perfect candidate to bring his idea to life.

Lee met with the six children that were from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Pakistan. They currently live and attend school in Nogojiwanong–Peterborough.

“Writing ‘Building a Home’ was really a dream come true for me,” she said. “Working directly with children and then translating that into a written, illustrated children’s book was really special.”

Casandra Lee reads Building a Home at the launch on Monday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Over the course of five weeks, Lee met with the children over Zoom. They spoke about shared experiences they were faced with when coming to Peterborough. A recurring theme was their love for their mothers cooking, opposed to new foods they were offered in Canada.

Jorge Escalera, 11, came to Canada from Monterrey, Mexico in 2016 when he was six after his father received a job opportunity at Quaker Oats Peterborough. He was one of the six children that shared his story.

“I was very excited when my mom told me I could participate,” said Escalera. “I was so happy, it felt amazing.”

There are free 400 copies of “Building A Home” available from the David Goyette & Victoria Pearce Arts Fund at the United Way of Peterborough and District. Copies can be ordered here and picked up at the NCC office in Peterborough and Cobourg. A digital copy of the book is available for free online.

Educators are invited to book a reading of “Building a Home” by Lee or other newcomers associated with the New Canadians Centre depending on the timing of the reading. To book a reading email bhisham@nccpeterborough.ca.

“Building a Home” is available in English, Arabic, Bengali, French, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish.

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Youth Group Prepares to Welcome 78 Afghan Refugees to Peterborough

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) Youth Welcome Team prepared signs and cards for the 78 Afghan refugees coming to Peterborough, on Thursday.

Ava Williams and Maryam Abdella, members of the youth welcome team, make signs at the silver bean cafe on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Lubna Sadek.

The group met at the Silver Bean Café, with NCC group leader and youth worker Lubna Sadek to help make Peterborough a more welcoming place for the refugees.

“We’re very pleased with the positive response from the community regarding the refugees arriving,” she said.

The Youth Welcome Team meets once a month to plan projects and activities to welcome new Canadians to Peterborough.

They allow high school students to complete the required 40 hours of volunteer work they need to graduate and has approximately ten members.

“I’m a refugee too,” said Sidra Abdulla, a 16-year-old member of the welcome team. “When I came to Canada I saw a lot of people help me so I like to give back too.”

(Left to right) Sidra Abdulla, Aya Darrouba, and Angel Ngwepo present their finished welcome sign at the Silver Bean Cafe on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Lubna Sadek.

Almost 2000 Afghan refugees have arrived in Toronto according to an NCC press release. COSTI Immigrant Services, the main settlement agency in Toronto, has asked the NCC to support the settlement of 78 Afghans.

Andy Cragg, NCC executive director says they anticipate many newcomers will stay in Peterborough for four to eight weeks but will ultimately settle in Toronto.

During their stay in Peterborough, the NCC provides them with temporary housing, helps meet their basic needs, delivers basic orientations to life in Canada and help them find permanent accommodations.

Until the NCC is able to meet the newcomers on Friday, they will not know exactly what their needs are. For now, the NCC is asking those interested in helping drop off welcome cards to their office at 221 Romaine St.

Landlords and property managers who can provide affordable and safe housing for refugees are asked to contact the NCC at ncc@nccpeterborough.ca

Currently, the NCC does not have the capacity to process donations. They will post a call for items after they are able to assess the newcomer’s needs.

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Documentary from The New Canadians Centre Focuses On Migrant Workers

A short documentary, filmed and directed by local filmmaker Shahed Khaito called ‘The Hands That Feed Us’ was released on August 5.

Photo courtesy of the New Canadians Centre

The documentary is produced in partnership with the New Canadians Centre and the Peterborough Immigration Partnership.

It tells the story of Julie Fleming and Roberto Garcia at Circle Organic farm in Milbrook. Fleming is a co-owner and operator of the farm. Garcia arrived at Circle Organic from Mexico through the Peterborough Immigration Partnership.

The Peterborough Immigration Program connects with farmers and workers in the region to broaden the network of support and discuss the gaps and opportunities in this area of work.

Advocates for migrant workers have raised issues related to workers’ rights and sometimes abusive treatment because of the power imbalances created by the structural inequity of this program.

They have been vocal in their calls for a fairer immigration system, improved working conditions and treatment of migrant workers, and stronger provision and protection of employment rights.

For more resources regarding migrant worker issues and developments visit Justice for Migrant Workers, Migrant Rights Network, Migrant Workers Alliance For Change or Migrant Worker Health Project.

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