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.

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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New Canadians Centre Holds Virtual Multicultural Day

New Canadians Centre is holding Canadian Multiculturalism Day to celebrate the contributions of the diverse cultures that make up Canada and its way of life on June 27 according to a press release.

Photo Courtesy of New Canadians Centre.

The virtual event features stories of our multiculturalism in Canada through performance, storytelling, film and food.

“We strive towards a multicultural society that celebrates the richness of diverse human cultures. When we celebrate diversity, we create community and we help all people to feel like they belong, to have hope, and to build confidence,” says Andy Cragg, Executive Director. “We know that people continue to be targeted for being different, made to feel unwelcome and excluded but we must counter this with hope and love, remaining confident that we can move forward in our pursuit of equity.”

Here is a preview of what to expect at the event:

Multicultural Showcase

Featuring new performances from the Ukti Centre for Movement & Arts, Irish Millie and Blue Wave Taekwondo, in addition to a rebroadcast of some favourite performances from past NCC festivals.

Stories from Our Community Radio-Podcast

Sharing the work of the Newcomer Radio Group, an NCC-Trent Radio project that has trained ten newcomers in the art of storytelling and audio production. Listen to their stories of home, transition, integration, and community on Trent Radio CFFF 92.7FM, www.trentradio.ca (broadcast time TBD) and online via podcasting platforms (Google, Apple, Spotify) on June 27.

“We are the Radical Monarchs” Film Screening

This free online screening, in partnership with ReFrame Film Festival, introduces you to the Radical Monarchs — an alternative to the Scout movement for girls of colour, aged 8-13 - and touches on important themes of representation, allyship, equity and youth leadership. Register at www.nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalism-day for a link to view the film between June 27 and July 4.

#CookWithTheNCC – The Aromas & Flavours of the World

Aromas, flavours, ingredients, who we cook for and how we share our recipes tell the stories that shape us as a community.

Stories shared thus far: - Jessie Iriwanto shares a taste of Indonesian culture with her new home country of Canada - Newcomer Tuncay Alkan exemplifies Turkish hospitality by sharing his hummus recipe.

All performances will premiere on the NCC’s official website, Facebook page and Youtube channel.

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Former NHL-er George Laraque Speaking In Peterborough This Wednesday

The Peterborough Partnership Council on Immigrant Integration (PPCII) has organized a one-day event this Wednesday (March 16th) called “Georges Laraque: My Canadian Story”. Laraque will be sharing his experiences as a second-generation immigrant from Haiti and how it influenced his experiences growing up in Tracy, a small community outside Montreal.

On the ice, he was known as an "enforcer" but off it, he is known for his outgoing and friendly personality. He is committed and passionate about a number of causes, including animal welfare, the relief effort in Haiti, and promoting active, healthy lifestyles. Also, he continues to be involved with numerous charities and wants to serve as a positive role model to young people.

The event takes place this Wednesday, March 16th at 8:00 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre. Tickets are available for free—limited to 4 per person—at the New Canadians Centre Peterborough (205 Sherbrooke St Unit D, across from the Fire Hall, in person only).

For more info, please contact Jason Stabler, Coordinator of the PPCII, at (705) 743-0882 x230 or via email at jason@nccpeterborough.ca.

[Photo via George Laraque Facebook page]

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