New Canadians Centre Assumes Ownership of St. James United Church Building
/The New Canadians Centre (NCC) has officially assumed ownership of St. James United Church located at 221 Romaine St., announced on Monday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Peterborough Blogs
New Canadians Centre Executive Director to Step Down From Role at End of June After Six-Year Tenure
/Andy Cragg, New Canadians Centre (NCC) executive director will step down at the end of this June after close to six years in the position.
Photo by David Tuan bui.
“Andy has made tangible, lasting contributions to the organization and Peterborough is a more inclusive and welcoming community because of his efforts. We are truly grateful for his dedicated service – he will be missed,” said Ghada Hussein, board chair.
Since 2019, Cragg has been instrumental in guiding the growth of the New Canadians Centre and navigating the local impact of multiple challenges and crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the fall of the political regime in Afghanistan, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and changes in Canada’s immigration policies according to a media release.
During Cragg’s tenure, many programs and services were added and expanded so the NCC could better meet new Canadians' language, educational, employment and settlement needs. The staff complement grew from 25 to 50 and the organisation’s budget doubled as NCC was successful in applying for grants and growing support from donors.
NCC served more than 2,000 newcomers from 104 countries last year – a 50 per cent increase over the previous year. Initiatives such as English in the Workplace, the Life Skills Program, and Community Training Program were implemented to respond to client and community needs. Through Cragg, the NCC also developed a Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan – a commitment to support clients, volunteers, and employees to realize a vision of nation-building that grows from mutual respect and understanding between Indigenous peoples and settlers. Most recently, Cragg has led the successful negotiation of a three-year contract with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to continue our work of serving newcomers in our region.
“It is an enormous privilege to lead this organization and an honour to contribute to its transformative work. After an incredibly rewarding six years, I’m looking forward to shifting focus to time with my young family,” said Cragg.
The Board of Directors has initiated a comprehensive search process to hire a new executive director and will work closely with Cragg and the senior leadership team to manage the transition and ensure operational continuity. NCC says a job posting will be shared in April and the new Executive Director is expected to be announced prior to Cragg’s departure.
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New Canadians Centre Seeking New Board Members
/The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is looking for board directors to join the governance team to fill three positions.
NCC began in 1979 when a group of volunteers committed to supporting refugees fleeing Vietnam. The NCC serves more than 2,000 newcomer clients annually. File Photo.
The positions are for two-year terms and board members may serve three consecutive two-year terms.
The NCC is asking that community members give five to ten hours per month to apply. They are looking for those with well-rounded governance experience and with a specific background in facilities management, capital campaigns, and/or IT/cybersecurity.
The information package and application form can be found online. The deadline for applications is at 5 p.m. on Feb. 23.
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Peterborough Concert Band Performing In Benefit Concert Fundraiser for the New Canadians Centre On Oct. 27
/The Peterborough Concert Band (PCB) will perform in a fundraising concert with all proceeds to benefit the New Canadians Centre (NCC) on Oct. 27 at Market Hall from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of the NCC.
In 2023-2024, NCC reports that more than 2,000 newcomers received assistance from their organization. It was a 50 per cent increase over the previous year and was the highest number of clients ever. The number included 1216 new clients according to the NCC.
“While Canada remains a global leader in welcoming newcomers, we are sobered by the local and global challenges and conflicts affecting all of us and often the newcomer community even more acutely. The services the NCC provides to clients are making resettlement in Peterborough a little more bearable. The top 10 countries from which newcomers arrive are Syria, Ukraine, India, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Iran, Mexico, and Pakistan,” according to a statement from the NCC.
The Peterborough Concert Band is one of the longest-running concert bands in Canada. Their Juno-nominated conductor and composer, Saman Shahi, will lead the band through selections ranging from classical to contemporary.
Following the performance, a reception will be organized by NCC.
Tickets are available through the Market Hall box office, their website or Peterborough Concert Band.
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New Canadians Centre Launch Canadian Multicultural Festival For June
/In celebration of Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, the New Canadians Centre (NCC) is organizing the Canadian Multicultural Festival for the month, announced at Fresh Dreams on Tuesday.
Hillary Flood, Peterborough DBIA vibrancy manager (left); Ty Nguyen, NCC community engagement assist (middle) and Andy Cragg, NCC executive director enjoying food from Fresh Dreams as part of the Multicultural Food Crawl. Last year, the NCC supported over 2,000 newcomers from more than 100 countries around the world. This is the highest number of clients ever and a 50 per cent increase over the previous year. Photo courtesy of the New Canadians Centre.
The festival is a series of programs and events celebrating multiculturalism in Peterborough.
A Multicultural Food Crawl, with 10 participating restaurants, was announced at the event to let the public experience culturally diverse flavours in Downtown Peterborough.
The locations are as follows:
Ariyana
Bhojan
Cork & Bean
Curry Village
Fresh Dreams
La Mesita Restaurante
Levantine Grill
Milk + Tea Shop
Oasis Mediterranean Grill (OMG)
Village of Thai
For every $10 spent during June, festival goers receive a stamp in your Multicultural Food Passport. Six stamps enter them into a draw to win one of three $100 Boro Gift Cards.
Passports are available at the NCC or any of the participating 10 restaurants.
“In Spain, our culture, our unity, and our love starts from the table where we spend hours talking with families and friends while sharing family-style meals, said Monica Silva, Fresh Dreams owner. Through my dishes and Fresh Dreams, I want to show the community a part of Europe and my culture.”
NCC’s 45th Anniversary Block Party will give samples from each participating restaurant at 221 Romaine St. on June 28 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (while supplies last).
The public can vote for their favourite restaurant of the crawl for a chance to win a $25 Boro Gift Card. Tag @newcanadianscentre #multiculturalfoodcrawlptbo on social media with your experience to be entered.
The NCC has several other Canadian Multicultural Festival events throughout June:
June 19: Bollywood Dance Party & Marketplace at Millennium Park
June 20: “Our Home” – World Refugee Day Community Conversation in collaboration with the Peterborough Public Library
June 22: Zumba Party at Quaker Foods City Square
June 23: Jollof Rice Cooking Class at New Canadians Centre
June 24: Language Exchange (Arabic, French, Spanish, Hindi) at New Canadians Centre
June 25: Coffee and Tea Tasting – Sip Around the World at the New Canadians Centre
June 28: NCC’s 45th Anniversary Block Party at 221 Romaine Street
“Celebrating the richness of multiculturalism is at the heart of community-building,” said Andy Cragg, NCC executive director. “We may be one small organization in one part of a huge country, but in celebrations like these and in the work that the New Canadians does every day, we are on the front lines of building an inclusive and prosperous multicultural society.”
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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.
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.
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.
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.
