New Canadians Centre Adds Five Client Meeting Rooms After $166,500 Grant

By Scott Arnold

Renovations at the New Canadians Centre have created five additional meeting rooms where newcomers can privately access settlement services and support.

$166,500 OTF Grant from the Province helps New Canadians Centre create safer, more welcoming spaces for newcomers (photo courtesy of new canadians centre)

The improvements were made possible through a $166,500 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, awarded last summer.

The renovated space is part of the New Canadians Centre’s former St. James United Church building, which the organization purchased in 2025. The new rooms provide additional private, accessible and welcoming spaces for staff to meet with newcomers for settlement support, referrals and guidance.

“This grant allowed us to complete one of our first major improvements to the space, creating more private and welcoming areas where newcomers can access support with dignity,” said Jeeniraj (JJ) Thevasagayam, Executive Director of the New Canadians Centre.

The New Canadians Centre has been supporting immigrants and refugees in Peterborough and surrounding communities for more than 40 years.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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