Welcoming Week

Waterloo Region Celebrates Welcoming Week 2024!

Welcoming Week is an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate the people, places and values that help everyone feel welcome and give them a sense of belonging in their local community, no matter where they come from. This year’s Welcoming Week takes place from September 13 - 22. We recognize the important work of many immigrant settlement organizations in this space. Welcoming Week is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of these activities.

Successful integration is a two-way street: the more welcoming communities are, the more newcomers feel at home and contribute locally.

Our Welcoming Week partners are organizing fantastic events to welcome newcomers and the broader community to the Waterloo Region. We encourage you to design Welcoming Week activities that resonate locally, considering what events, messages, and collaborations will be most effective in building an inclusive environment for all. Your ongoing work is vital to our community and makes a meaningful impact on both clients and neighbours. Thank you for demonstrating that welcoming communities are successful communities.

For more information or to participate in this year's Welcoming Week, please contact Abiha Syed: ASyed@regionofwaterloo.ca

• Learn how you can welcome newcomers by volunteering, donating, learning and celebrating.

Events and Activities

Sept. 11 | Newcomer Info Night: Health and Wellbeing Fair, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener | Free                                                                      

Join the KW Multicultural Centre for an inclusive event that connects newcomers, refugees, immigrants, and the community. Explore free wellness resources, tour an ambulance, and enjoy KPL children's activities.
Light refreshments and free prizes for the first 100 attendees. Don’t miss out—this event is free and open to all!

Interpretation available in Arabic, Spanish, Tigrinya, and more!

For more information visit: NIN2024 — Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre

 

Sept. 13 | Citizenship Ceremony hosted by the Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership  and the City of Waterloo                                                                              

We are honoured to host a special Citizenship Ceremony as part of Welcoming Week 2024.

Sept. 13 - 22 | Victoria Hills Community Centre Tours and Newcomer Information Board , 9:00 AM - 8 PM, 10 Chopin Dr., Kitchener | Free                                      

Get to know your community! Visit Victoria Hills Community Centre for tours and check out its Newcomer Information Board. It's a great way to learn about the resources and opportunities available in Kitchener. Hosted by the City of Kitchener

Contact the Victoria Hills Community Centre for more information: Victoria Hills Community Centre - City of Kitchener

Sept. 13 | Women's English Conversation Circle, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 80 Tartan Ave., Kitchener | Free                                                                                                   

Join Huron Community Centre for its Women’s English Conversation Circle learning sessions on Wednesdays from 10am-noon. These sessions are designed to empower and equip language skills in a supportive environment while connecting, learning, growing together, and fostering a sense of community and belonging.

Sept. 13 - 22 | Huron Community Centre Tours, 80 Tartan Ave., Kitchener | Free                                                                                                                                             

ALL are welcome to learn more about what Huron Community Centre has to offer. Drop into Huron Community Centre during the week of September 13-22, 2024, and staff will provide programming information and a tour.

Sept. 13 - 22 | Cambridge Public Library, Various Locations | Free                                                                                                                                                                      

As a Welcoming Week partner, we invite our community to programs and events throughout the week and to learn more about our services for newcomers. 

• Get creative with the Three of Welcome community arts project at Queen’s Square.
• Attend a Practice Your English session led by our amazing volunteers.
• Learn more about the library during a tour of Hespeler and Queen's Square.
• Enjoy a screening of the film, From Far Away, as part of the Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival. 

Everyone is welcome to attend these community events, no matter where they’re from or how long they have been here. Welcoming Week is a time to connect with our neighbours, learn more about each other, and give a warm welcome.

Sept. 14 | ESL Conversation Circle, 12:30 PM, 150 Pioneer Dr., Kitchener | Free                                                                                                                                             

Practice your English skills in a fun, safe, and interactive space. This FREE drop-in program, offered by Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, is a great way to improve your English and meet others in the community.

Open to adults of all ages! No registration required.

Sept. 14 | Newcomer Connections Picnic, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 200 Christopher Drive, Cambridge | Free                                                                                                 

Get ready for an amazing event! Welcoming Week is approaching, and you won't want to miss the Newcomer Connections Picnic. Join the City of Cambridge and the Kinbridge Community Association for a fantastic summer event. Discover incredible community programs and services, make new friends, and enjoy family-friendly activities.

Free food and refreshments available, so come prepared to have a blast and create unforgettable memories!

Register now: Newcomer Connections Picnic

 

 

Sept. 14 | Cinema Under the Stars, 6:30 PM, 100 Rittenhouse Road, Kitchener | Free                                                                                                                                    

Enjoy an outdoor family friendly movie* with your neighbours! Grab some popcorn, make a craft at the Artshine table, and more. Join Ward 6 Councillor, Paul Singh, meet new friends and learn about the Country Hills Community Centre.

*The movie will begin at dusk.

Sept. 16 | Newcomer Tour & Information event, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM, 100 Solstice Way, Waterloo | Free                                                                                                      

This is a great opportunity to learn more about what hospice care looks like in Ontario!
Hospice provides supports and care to individuals living with serious illness. It also supports their caregivers and the bereaved. Hospice Waterloo Region programs and services are available at no cost throughout Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge & surrounding townships.

Registration is required: Call 519-743-4114 or go to https://www.hospicewaterloo.ca/complete-calendar/

Refreshments will be provided. Translation services available by request. Our facility is wheelchair accessible.

Located on the 202 bus route. Kids are welcome.

 

Sept. 20 | Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival Wrap up, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM, 10 Huron Road, Kitchener | Free                                                                                 

Join us as we wrap up the Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival 2024 and discuss the importance of reclaiming the history of our immigrant populations and making space for future generations. Through an intimate archive of the Chow’s family lineage, A Passage Beyond Fortune offers an homage to the culturally significant but buried history of Chinese-Canadian communities in Moose Jaw.

Register here

Sept. 21 | Doors Open Waterloo Region, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Free                                                                                                                                                                   

Doors Open Waterloo Region is a day of discovery! Join the Region of Waterloo and explore 26 noteworthy buildings, interesting places and heritage sites. From robots, fire engines and theoretical physics to a 19th-century jail, a farm distillery and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of theatrical sets, props and costumes, there's something for everyone. Doors Open Waterloo Region creates meaningful qualitative experiences, delivered through storytelling, in celebration of our diverse community culture, heritage and architecture.

Admission to all Doors Open sites is always free.

For more information visit: Doors Open Waterloo Region - Region of Waterloo

Sept. 21 | Multicultural Festival of Elmira, 12:00 PM, Gibson Park, 17 First St. W, Elmira | Free                                                                                                                    

The Multicultural Festival of Elmira (MFE) was created by H.O.P.E. to help broaden knowledge and awareness of the diverse cultures around us, welcome newcomers to the Waterloo Region, celebrate various ethnic groups, raise awareness of diversity and inclusion through performances, workshops, services and vendors, and establish a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Check out the website for an updated list of performances, activities/workshops, children's activities, vendors and food vendors. H.O.P.E. – Multicultural Festival of Elmira 

Or contact Mary Dowhaniuk at marydowhaniuk@gmail.com

It is an event you will not want to miss!

 

Past Events and Activities

Welcoming Week 2023

Welcoming Week 2023: Embracing Diversity and Building Connections Welcoming Week 2023, celebrated from September 8 to 30, was a vibrant showcase of the diverse cultures and communities within Waterloo Region. This year’s events aimed to foster inclusion, celebrate cultural richness, and provide valuable resources to newcomers. The week offered a range of activities designed to connect residents, new and old, and highlight the supportive network available in our region. Events Welcome Week Open House (Sept 8): Hosted by YWCA Cambridge, this open house featured snacks, games, crafts, and information about YWCA's youth and employment programs, including the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Preschool Program. Community Open House (Sept 9): Forest Heights Community Centre offered a festive event with snacks, arts and crafts, face painting, henna art, and community information. Visit to the Rohingya Centre (Sept 12): Organized by the Immigration Partnership Belong Steering Group, this event provided insights into Rohingya culture through an exhibit and presentation by the Rohingya Centre of Canada. Tours and Community Information (Sept 13): Rockway Community Centre hosted tours and shared community resources. Newcomer Info Night: Technology and Employment Focus (Sept 13): KW Multicultural Centre held an event at Kitchener Public Library Central featuring informational booths, workshops, family portraits, and prizes. Tours and Community Information (Sept 14): Huron Community Centre offered additional tours and community resources. CAWA Info Night (Sept 14): The Canadian Arab Women’s Association hosted an evening of resources and community building at the Waterloo Public Library. Citizenship Ceremony (Sept 15): Immigration Partnership Belong Steering Group hosted a ceremony celebrating new Canadian citizens. Tours and Community Information (Sept 15): Chandler Mowat Community Centre provided tours and information on community services. Multicultural Festival of Elmira (Sept 16): Held at Gibson Park, this inaugural festival featured performances, food trucks, face painting, and cultural activities from various cultures. Newcomer Connections (Sept 16): The City of Cambridge hosted its fourth annual event, offering health and wellness information, social networking opportunities, and community support. Family Fun Day (Sept 23): Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre organized a day of activities, crafts, and community information. Cultures United: A Global Journey of Food, Stories, and Connection (Sept 23): This event, hosted by the Region of Waterloo Libraries and the Multicultural Festival of Elmira, celebrated cultural diversity through food, stories, and community connection. Neighbourhood Cultural Festival (Sept 30): Greenway-Chaplin CC and Muslim Women of Cambridge held a festival at Avenue Road Public School with cultural performances, food, and activities. Acknowledgements Huge thanks to all our partners for their invaluable support, including YWCA Cambridge, Forest Heights Community Centre, The Rohingya Centre of Canada, Rockway Community Centre, KW Multicultural Centre, Huron Community Centre, Canadian Arab Women’s Association, Chandler Mowat Community Centre, City of Cambridge, Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, Region of Waterloo Libraries, Greenway-Chaplin CC, and Muslim Women of Cambridge. Your dedication was key in making Welcoming Week 2023 a success.

Welcoming Week 2022

Welcoming Week 2022: A Celebration of Community and Diversity From September 9 to 18, 2022, Waterloo Region proudly joined the global Welcoming Week celebration, marking its first participation in this significant event. This year, we embraced the 10th anniversary of Welcoming Week worldwide, promoting a message of diversity, inclusion, and community connection. Our goal was to offer newcomers a warm welcome and opportunities to integrate into their new home. Events: Health & Wellness Tours (Sept 8-18): Organized by YMCA of Three Rivers, these tours introduced newcomers to local health and wellness resources. Newcomer Picnic (Sept 10): Hosted by Cambridge Newcomer Outreach Program, this event offered a chance to enjoy community and cultural exchange. Virtual Art Show and Colouring Contest (Sept 10-11): Muslim Women of Cambridge and Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre held a virtual art show and a children’s colouring contest. Invitation to Belonging (Sept 10 & 24): Volunteer Waterloo Region facilitated events aimed at fostering a sense of belonging. Welcome Week Tour and English Practice Events (Sept 11-13): Idea Exchange offered engaging tours and English practice sessions. Territorial Acknowledgements (Sept 13): Immigration Partnership hosted a virtual discussion led by Clarence Cachagee, founder of Crow Shield Lodge. This event focused on the importance of territorial acknowledgments and reconciliation efforts. Newcomer Info Night (Sept 14): Held by KW Multicultural Centre and Kitchener Public Library, this event featured information booths, family portraits, and a Grand River Transit tour. GRT Ride a Bus Program (Sept 14): Grand River Transit provided a hands-on orientation to help newcomers navigate the transit system. Toyota Culture Day (Sept 14): Toyota celebrated its diverse workforce with the theme “Many Faces, Many Stories… ONE TOYOTA.” Potluck Picnic (Sept 18): Muslim Women of Cambridge and Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre, organized a potluck picnic for newcomers to share cultural foods and build connections. Acknowledgements A heartfelt thank you to all our partners, including YMCA of Three Rivers, Cambridge Newcomer Outreach Program, Muslim Women of Cambridge, Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre, Volunteer Waterloo Region, Idea Exchange, KW Multicultural Centre, Kitchener Public Library, Grand River Transit, and Toyota. Your commitment and support made Welcoming Week 2022 a memorable success.