New Canadians Centre launches newcomer Welcome Pass
Image courtesy of the New Canadians Centre.
By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland County
A Peterborough program for newcomers has been launched in Northumberland County – the Welcome Pass.
The New Canadians Centre has launched the new Welcome Pass program for newcomers to Northumberland County.
This partnership with local business owners makes it possible to welcome newcomers and introduce their new community by offering access to free or selected discounted products and services. So far, six local partners have signed on to participate. As a result, the Squishy Goose, Cafe Lviv, JJ's Steak & Burgers, the Pink Cafe, 241 Pizza and YMCA Northumberland will offer discounts on meals, activities and admissions.
NCC began in Peterborough in 1979 when a dedicated group of volunteers committed to support refugees fleeing Vietnam. In 2008, they opened a second office in Cobourg in order to serve the Northumberland region better.
NCC now serves more than 2,000 newcomer clients each year, helping them access such programs and services as settlement and employment counselling, language assessment, transitional support, workshops on taxation and citizenship, English conversation, women's groups, skills training and youth programming.
The Welcome Pass is valid for one year and available to Northumberland residents who have lived in Canada for fewer than five years.
This program was launched more than 15 years ago through the Peterborough office, and has proven popular with both clients and the business community.
In Northumberland, businesses and entrepreneurs are invited to join NCC in improving newcomer social and cultural integration by becoming a Northumberland Welcome Pass partner. For more information, contact Manager of Community Development Bhisham Ramoutar at bhisham@nccpeterborough.ca or 705-743-0882 ext. 220.
