Newcomer Centre

We're proud to be part of this important initiative.

At Edmonton Newcomer Centre, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and supported. Through our Rainbow Refuge program, we see firsthand how creating inclusive spaces can make a meaningful difference for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers as they build their lives in Edmonton.

We're grateful to the City of Edmonton - Local Government for including community organizations in the implementation of the Beyond Belonging: The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan. This funding will help organizations continue strengthening safe, affirming spaces and services for those who need them most.

Congratulations to all of the organizations contributing to this work. Together, we're helping build a more welcoming and inclusive Edmonton for everyone.

Edmonton’s Beyond Belonging: The 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan is ready to share.

Shaped by the lived experiences and priorities of more than 900 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontonians, the plan outlines seven coordinated action areas and over 50 subactions to strengthen safety, inclusion, and belonging across City spaces and services.

A few of these actions include:

❤️ Additional funding for the Community Mural Grant.

🌈 Supporting businesses become Rainbow Registered.

✅ Grant funding for community organizations.

This work reflects what community members shared about safety and what meaningful change looks like in everyday City life.

Read the full plan edmonton.ca/BeyondBelonging

Join us as we celebrate the many cultures that make our community stronger.

The Edmonton Newcomer Centre's 5th Annual Multicultural Festival is an opportunity to connect with the community, experience diverse cultures, and enjoy a fun afternoon with family and friends.

June 25, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We look forward to welcoming you!

We are grateful to share a heartfelt reflection from Luliia Druhak, a participant in our Culinary Skills Program, as she looks back on her learning journey.

“Completing this program has been a truly meaningful milestone for me, and I am so thankful for the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities it has given me.”

She also shared her appreciation for the people who supported her along the way:

“My special gratitude goes to Chef Daniel Huber for sharing his professional knowledge, high standards, and passion for the culinary industry. Your mentorship was both motivating and inspiring.”

Luliia further recognized the support she received from Essential Skills Facilitators Iryna Kalynka and Svitlana Gonchuk, describing their “outstanding support, patience, encouragement, and care throughout the program.”

She reflected on the deeper impact of the experience, adding:

“You are not only teaching skills, you are helping build futures and opening new doors for people.”

We are proud to support learning journeys like Luliia’s, where skills, confidence, and opportunity grow together.

Our Language Services team recently came together for Connects Day, a professional development experience designed to strengthen connection, collaboration, and learning through shared experiences.

Held at Mile Zero Dance Studio, the workshop invited staff to explore the relationship between movement, coordination, communication, and teamwork. Through interactive activities and cultural engagement, participants gained fresh perspectives on how people connect, communicate, and learn from one another.

A highlight of the day was an energetic and engaging session led by Eric Awuah and the team from the Ghanaian Dance Foundation. Through dance, rhythm, and coordinated movement, staff experienced firsthand the importance of listening, responding, observing, adapting, and working together. The session demonstrated how communication extends beyond words and how shared experiences can foster stronger connections within teams and communities.

The workshop was facilitated by a team largely composed of international artists and scholars. Led by Eric Awuah (Canadian Center for African Immigrants Movements Research Society and the University of Alberta), the experience was enriched by the contributions of Emmanuel Cudjoe (Ball State University), Mustapha Braimah (Mount Holyoke College), Adjetey Klufio (Goucher College), and kofi Anthonio, PhD (University of Ghana).

At Edmonton Newcomer Centre, we believe investing in our people strengthens our ability to serve newcomers and build welcoming, inclusive communities. Connects Day provided an opportunity for staff to step away from their daily routines, learn together, and deepen relationships through culture, movement, and collaboration.

Thank you to Eric and the entire facilitation team for creating such a meaningful and memorable experience.

We're excited to share Inclusive Hiring for High-Performance Teams, a course designed to help employers build stronger, more inclusive workplaces where newcomer talent can thrive.

Developed in collaboration with MacEwan University School of Continuing Education, this practical 7-hour course helps HR professionals, hiring managers and people leaders strengthen their approach to hiring, onboarding and retention.

Participants will learn how to:
• Design more inclusive hiring processes
• Reduce bias in recruitment and selection
• Better evaluate transferable skills and international experience
• Connect hiring practices to stronger onboarding and retention outcomes

Learn more:https://www.macewan.ca/c/documents/sce-inclusive-hiring-course.pdf

The course can be customized to your organization's hiring needs and workforce goals. To explore training opportunities, contact [email protected].

Recently, our team at the Welcome Centre for Immigrants (WCI) in Mill Woods came together to reflect on the first few months of serving newcomers in our new location.

Led by Laurie Hauer Director of Programs and Services and joined by managers and staff, the meeting was an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, review completed pathways, share ideas for continuous improvement, and explore solutions that will help us better support newcomers on their settlement journeys.

Beyond the discussions, it was also a chance to strengthen connections, foster collaboration, and enjoy some time together as a team.

As we continue growing in Mill Woods, every conversation, partnership, and success story helps us build a stronger, more welcoming community for newcomers.

Grateful for this continued partnership with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.

Your presence at our Plum Blossom Luncheon and your ongoing commitment to fire safety education and community support make a real difference for newcomers building their lives in Edmonton.

We’re proud to work alongside you in creating safer, more welcoming communities.

This afternoon, members of the Edmonton Fire leadership team had the pleasure of attending the Newcomer Centre's 3rd Annual Plum Blossom fundraising luncheon. It was incredible to hear the success stories from those who have been involved in the work that this organization does!

We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Newcomer Centre on fire safety education and general community support. This organization provides valuable support to community members who are new to our city.

We thank the staff and volunteers for the wonderful work that they do!

June is Pride Month, a time that reminds us that belonging is not something anyone should have to ask for, it is something everyone deserves to feel every day.

At the Newcomer Centre, this month holds deep meaning through our Rainbow Refuge Program. We walk alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers who are rebuilding their lives with courage, resilience, and hope. Many arrive carrying complex journeys, yet continue to show up fully as themselves in a world that has not always made space for them.

Learn more: https://newcomercentre.com/program/rainbow-refuge-program/

That kind of resilience calls for more than acknowledgement, it calls for a community that actively shows up and stands alongside them.

Pride goes beyond celebration, it shows up in real action, care, and everyday solidarity. It is about creating spaces where people feel safe to exist as they are, without hesitation or fear, and where belonging is not conditional.

We are grateful to our C5 partner, Boyle Street Community Services, for hosting this meaningful Pride event at Okimaw Peysew Kamik on June 4 at 10740 99 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5H1N7 from 1:30-3:30pm. We invite our community to join and take part in this celebration of inclusion, visibility, and belonging.

Recently, our Community Programs and Therapeutic Services staff came together for “Writing Who We Are,” a collaborative space for reflection, appreciation, storytelling, and community care.

Facilitated by Mila Philipzig from the Writers' Guild of Alberta, the workshop invited participants to explore the experiences of hyphenated Canadians and EAL speakers through guided writing prompts and open sharing in a safe and welcoming environment.

The session encouraged courageous and tender storytelling, highlighting the rich experiences, identities, and voices that shape our diverse communities.

As the session came to a close, many participants shared that they were leaving with a sense of peace, gratitude, connection, and appreciation.

A heartfelt thank you to Mila Philipzig for facilitating such a thoughtful and meaningful experience for our staff.