News
Recruiting Board Directors
Join Us at the Heart of Our Journey to Support Newcomers and Refugees New Canadians Centre Seeks Board Members Peterborough, ON – The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is looking for board directors to join the governance team that shapes the core priorities and advises on the strategic direction of our organization. NCC is seeking to…
Office Closed – Monday January 26
The New Canadians Centre Office will be closed on Monday January 26. All in-person programs (Intermediate-Advanced Spanish & Rainbow Connections) are cancelled. Stay safe and warm!
Building Home, From Lagos to Peterborough
Kolade Adewumi shares his story about moving from Lagos, Nigeria to Peterborough “My journey to Canada feels like a full circle moment, one that began long before I was old enough to dream or imagine leaving Nigeria. In 1993, a year after I was born in Northern Nigeria, my parents (from the Western and Southern…
Volunteer Spotlight – Ana Luiza Camargo Cruz (she/her)
Meet Ana! Volunteer Role/Position(s): Administrative Volunteer, Social Group/Workshop Facilitator (Peterborough Women’s Group) & Special Events Volunteer. Volunteering Since: September 2023 Languages: English & Portuguese “I really love volunteering at NCC because I can put in practice my life beliefs in each day of our meetings: love, empathy, hope, kindness, funny activities… and the best part: I always receive much…
Help our newest neighbours spread their wings
Do you remember the joy of folding paper airplanes and watching them soar across a room? When I visited our childminding room recently, I was delighted to meet young Abdelsalem. He and his family had just arrived in Peterborough from Sudan, and his parents had joined our English conversation circle. One of his favourite activities…
Volunteer Spotlight – Sara Chokre
Meet Sara Chokre! Volunteer Role/Position(s): Social Group/Workshop Facilitator (Conversation Circles). Volunteering Since: 2024. Languages: French, English, Arabic & Spanish. “My name is Sara, and I started volunteering with the New Canadians Centre in early 2024. Now, in 2025, I continue to volunteer as a translator, interpreter, and French teacher for an amazing intermediate/advanced class. I speak four languages – French…
Volunteer Spotlight: Cristina Tamburello
Meet Cristina Tamburello! Our October Volunteer Spotlight! Volunteer Role/Position(s): English Support Volunteer (Conversation Circles). Volunteering Since: I started my volunteer experience in May 2025 after attending the Northumberland Winter Celebration in December where I fell in love with the idea of helping new immigrants learn the English language. Languages: English/Italian. – Why do you love volunteering at our…
Job Posting
We are recruiting a Building Administrator to join the NCC Team. The New Canadians Centre Peterborough (NCC) is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated tosupporting immigrants and refugees in the Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton andNorthumberland regions. We strive to empower immigrants and refugees to become full and equalmembers of Canadian society and to provide community leadership…
Volunteer Spotlight: David Walsh
Congratulations on your retirement, David Walsh! This month, we want to include a special spotlight and thank David for his 15 years of volunteer service at the New Canadians Centre and contributions to making our community stronger. We wish him all the best for the future as he retires from his work with our English and French groups. David would…
Let’s Commit to Learning about Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation
September 30 is recognized across Canada as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day acknowledges the impact of residential schools in Canada on children, families, and communities, while honouring the children who were lost. It is a time to reflect and to commit ourselves to the ongoing process of truth, healing, and reconciliation.…
Standing Together: NCC’s Commitment to Welcoming Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 18, 2025 The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is committed to building welcoming, inclusive, and safe communities for newcomers across the Peterborough Region, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Every day, we are reminded of how important it is to stand together as a community and uphold…
Discover Global Flavors with the “Cooking with NCC” Series!
Food has a unique way of bringing people together. At the New Canadians Centre, we celebrate this by sharing delicious dishes from around the world through our Cooking with NCC series! Each episode features a community member sharing a favourite dish from their culture, offering personal stories and insights into its significance. Explore the Stories,…
Volunteer Spotlight – Elizabeth Rahman
Meet Elizabeth Rahman! Volunteer Role/Position(s): Board/Committee Member. Volunteering Since: Volunteering for eons… since NCC had just one paid employee. In the early days I brought many newcomers to the NCC, drove clients to appointments, led an English conversation class. Languages: English/French/passable Urdu. – Why do you love volunteering at our Centre? “I love volunteering at the NCC because…
In His Own Words: An Interview with This Year’s Ferne Cristall Award Recipient
When Ussama Al Khalid talks about language, he lights up. “It changes everything,” he says. “If you don’t talk, you’re almost like a baby – you can’t really get what you need. But once you start learning, once you try, it’s like doors opening.” Ussama knows this firsthand. Born in Syria, his early years were…
NCC Announces Executive Director
For Immediate Release – Monday July 7, 2025 New Canadians Centre Welcomes Jeeniraj (JJ) Thevasagayam as New Executive Director Peterborough, Ontario – Following an extensive search process and receipt of nearly 300 applications from candidates across the country, the New Canadians Centre (NCC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jeeniraj (JJ) Thevasagayam as its…
Lessons from the Land 2025
As an organization, we have reflected on the important work of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada and our role in helping more people settle on lands stewarded by Indigenous Peoples. The historical treatment of Indigenous Peoples was violent and unjust; and racism and discrimination towards Indigenous Peoples persist today. In this context, July 1 represents…
English Group Update!
The following English Groups are cancelled for the week, the Beginner English group on Tuesday, June 17 and the Online Wednesday English group on Wednesday, June 18. All regular English Groups will take a summer pause after next week — but don’t worry, we’ve got new summer sessions lined up just for you! Learn English…
Launch of Canadian Multicultural Festival 2025
PETERBOROUGH – June 27 is Canadian Multiculturalism Day. For the month of June, the New Canadians Centre is organizing the fourth annual “Canadian Multicultural Festival”, a series of programs and events to celebrate multiculturalism in Peterborough from June 18 to 27. On July 1, we celebrate Indigenous culture with an important day of learning and…
Celebrating Small Wins
It is easy to feel daunted by global events and economic pressures today. The ice storm was just one more challenge to overcome. I hope you got a boost from reading our special edition of the “New Canadian Times” filled with good news from our clients. It is important to celebrate happy moments, especially now.…
New Canadians Centre seeks Executive Director
Founded in 1979, the New Canadians Centre Peterborough (NCC) is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees across the Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton and Northumberland regions. NCC helps newcomers become full and equal members of Canadian society while fostering cultural integration in a welcoming community. With nearly 50 employees and over 250…
Upcoming Activities
Youth Group Live on Instagram
Let’s connect, learn, and have fun together! Join us on the NCC Youth Instagram for Conversation, Games, Activities, and more! This group meets twice weekly: Mondays at 3:30pm with Youth Group Facilitator Lubna Sadek and guests for music, food, art and more Thursdays at 5:00pm with Settlement Worker in Schools Steve Ross for useful tips…
Youth Group Live on Instagram
Let’s connect, learn, and have fun together! Join us on the NCC Youth Instagram for Conversation, Games, Activities, and more! This group meets twice weekly: Mondays at 3:30pm with Youth Group Facilitator Lubna Sadek and guests for music, food, art and more Thursdays at 5:00pm with Settlement Worker in Schools Steve Ross for useful tips…
Youth Group Live on Instagram
Let’s connect, learn, and have fun together! Join us on the NCC Youth Instagram for Conversation, Games, Activities, and more! This group meets twice weekly: Mondays at 3:30pm with Youth Group Facilitator Lubna Sadek and guests for music, food, art and more Thursdays at 5:00pm with Settlement Worker in Schools Steve Ross for useful tips…