Community Members

One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals.

Jean Vanier

Many of us want to support refugees, newcomers, and immigrants in our community but are unsure of the best approach. Here you'll learn how to be a good ally and what you can do to build an inclusive community at a neighbourhood level.

How to Be a Good Ally

Support with settling into a community is key to integration.

Help Available to Settle into Your Community

Support is here for your community integration.

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A man and woman sitting at a table. The man is pointing to a notebook on a table and a woman is holding a pen over it. There are flowers in the foreground of the picture. Two people are in conversation in the background.

Joining a Mentorship Program for Newcomers

Mentoring provides an opportunity to give someone a great start in their new home.

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An everyday English book sitting on a desk with glasses on top.

A Guide for Volunteers Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)

Coping with homesickness abroad is very personal and not all techniques will work for everyone.

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Four friends wrap their arms around each other.

Friendship: Embracing Cultural Differences

As you seek to build friendships across cultural lines, it is best to understand some basic elements of their culture.

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A hand stops the dominos from falling.

Unconscious Biases and How to Overcome Them

Unconscious biases will fade as you put yourself in different situations and meet different people.

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A welcoming community “has a strong desire to receive newcomers and to create an environment in which they will feel at home”

How to Support Newcomers in Your Community

As a member of the community, how can we help newcomers and immigrants settle in their new homes? 

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A person of color reading a book outside on a fall day.

Local ESL Services

Learn more about the English as a Second Language (ESL) options that are available to you within our community and online.

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On a Neighbourhood Level

Local Immigration Partnership - Lanark & Renfrew

Tips to Create Vibrant and Inclusive Communities

Creating a welcoming, inclusive neighbourhood helps alleviate all those fears, and it is a net positive for everybody.

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Person hiding their face with hands in winter

Helping Someone Soothe Homesickness

Coping with homesickness abroad is very personal and not all techniques will work for everyone.

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A business street sign that reads, “Hello Neighbor - Come On In.

Supporting a Newcomer Neighbour or Friend

Support begins where the conversation starts.

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Four teenagers hang out talking, joking and drinking coffee.

What to Expect When a Newcomer Moves In

When newcomers decide to make your community their new home, put away those fears and embrace the opportunity to make new friends and get to know another culture.

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