Organizations offering help to new Canadians

By Cade Ryan

Every year immigrants migrate to Windsor and there are a few locations to help them settle into life as a Canadian.

Immigration rates have been on the rise every year in Canada especially in Windsor, which is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada.

Organizations such as the Multicultural Council, located at 245 Janette Ave. and the New Canadians’ Centre Of Excellence located at 660 Ouellette, help newcomers to Canada by providing services such as finding employment, learning the English language, finding homes and programs for youth.

“At the Multicultural Council we have many programs to help newcomers to the country settle in, such as English classes, settlement assistance for government assisted refugees, the pre-employment program to help develop resumes and interview skills and also a youth program that provides a homework club funded for kids ages 13-24,” said Camila Alves, manager for community engagement and training at the MCC.

The New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence also offers many similar programs for immigrants as well.

“We have language training, settlement services, employment services, a youth program and many events like the Remembrance Day Veteran event happening today at Windsor West Branch,” said Reza Shahbaz, executive director of the New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence.

The Multicultural Council offers events like the Federation of International Swimming Athletes which is a swimming championship for immigrants from Dec. 6-11, and the Carrousel Of The Nations held every year in the second week of June, which is a festival where people from multiple ethnicities celebrate their customs, wear costumes, try food from different cultures and listen to a variety of music. The Carrousel Of The Nations is the oldest ethno-cultural event in Ontario, starting in 1974.

“The Carrousel Of The Nations is a really good representation of the multiculturalism we have not only in Windsor but Canada as a whole,” said Tina Bablusha an immigrant from Albania. “With events like these Windsor has made it easy for immigrants to feel at home.”