This was the perfect way to wrap up Welcoming Week 2024! Thank you to all of the Welcome Group Program newcomers and volunteers who joined us for a tour of the ROM on Saturday; we had such a great time with all of you. Much appreciation to Kids Up Front for the tickets!

We’re happy to announce our newest Steering Committee Member, Alex Sukhareva, a former Welcome Group volunteer. For more about Alex, click here!

What’s it like to be a newcomer in the Welcome Group Program? Check out our video featuring Rahel, who was matched with three volunteers!

“This is exactly the program that I needed to be in.”

Read more about Rahel here!

When newcomers arrive in Ontario, they don’t have to leave their artistic pursuits behind; there are many ways to work in the arts! To discover free opportunities for newcomers in the arts, we went to Work in Culture. Check out our video here!

Did you know that individuals with precarious immigration status can take a free university bridging class and pay domestic student rates for an undergraduate degree?

After coming from Iran as an 8-year-old, Natalie Nanaz Behroozi remembered how hard it was for her parents to find the information they needed. Years later, these memories compelled her to join the #WelcomeGroupProgram as a volunteer for Afghan newcomers.

With her empathy and enthusiasm, Natalie was able to help her group connect.

“It was great getting to know the newcomers and volunteers and forming our little community,” she said.

Check out our interview with Natalie here!