The 3rd annual Culture Connect, happening in 2024, is an opportunity to celebrate beauty in diversity and the importance of culture. Culture Connect brings together community groups, organizations, individuals, newcomers, locals and more across the Ottawa Valley to embrace multiculturalism in our communities.

Culture Connect consists of a series of events that create a space for collective learning, celebration, honouring of culture and traditions in our communities, and, most importantly, FUN!

We encourage people to take part in the various events happening across the Ottawa Valley throughout 2024’s Summer and Fall editions of Culture Connect. Bring your family, bring your friends and don’t miss out on these opportunities to immerse yourself in different cultures!

​What is the Culture Connector Award?

Tell us your story using our online nomination form. Think back to when you first arrived in the Ottawa Valley as a newcomer to Canada, whether it was 20 years or 20 days ago. Was there a person or organization who did something supportive – big or small – that made you feel at home here?

Maybe you witnessed a colleague or fellow community member explain the ins and outs of the Canadian workplace to a newcomer. Perhaps you have engaged with an organization that made you or someone new to our community feel welcome. Was there a teacher who inspired you to succeed, a community group offering support, or a new neighbour who helped you make valuable connections as a newcomer to the Ottawa Valley? Tell us how this person or organization helped you or someone you know and how they went the extra mile to support your adjustment to a new life in the Ottawa Valley.

​2024 Culture Connector Award Recipients 

Recipient Sue Skomsky from Pembroke:

Sue was able to inspire the rest of the workers and in our first month in the country organize a “Canadian house shower “ for Us, helped us to settle down, but not just that she supported our souls trying to make us feel at home. She and her husband Dan keep supporting us always with the best advice, the right word or just with time and real love, being happy with our achievements and follow our steps, now she is part of our family , our kids loved them like that and our real families in our country knew them and loved them just like us, she lead us to live the Canadian reality with the good and bad things, she is always there and she will keep doing it, we are sure about it.

Recipient George Yaremuck from Almonte:

George has acted as a translator for all of them whenever they’ve needed help. He’s raised $$ and support from friends, family and neighbours over and over again and given of himself and his resources every time he’s asked. George has welcomed these families into his own. He would have meals and share holiday events with them. George volunteers his time and resources to help newcomers whenever he can / is asked. He makes time, even if he’s busy, to fit in helping people who need help.

Recipient The ESL Group at the Pembroke Public Library:

This group has been at the library since 2013. They have a chat group. The purpose of the group is for newcomers to our area to talk with other Immigrants or Permanent Residents. They make friends and learn about the community. Plus learn English. Meets once a week.

Culture Connect 2023 was an enormous success!

With over 2100 individuals participating in events throughout 11 towns across Lanark & Renfrew, there was something for everyone! 46 events took place across the month of June, including the Culture Connector Awards, which was received with great enthusiasm for its debut! Our Ottawa Valley Reads Competition had people of all ages across Lanark & Renfrew enjoying diverse and different stories. People learnt, laughed, created, danced and sang while embracing the incredible diversity in our communities.

We couldn’t have achieved the success we did in 2023 without the help of our libraries, volunteers, local organizations, partners and sponsors.

We can’t wait to make Culture Connect 2024 even better!

The Local Immigration Partnership acknowledges that our work takes place on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Peoples, traditionally known as Anishinaabe and Omàmìwininì.

The Indigenous Peoples have inhabited and cared for these lands long before today. We take this time to show our gratitude and respect to the Indigenous Peoples and to the land for all that it provides us: trees to give shade, water and food to sustain us, and paths to connect us.

Our organization feels the weight of the responsibility to help ensure that the next generations of land stewards are respectful and grateful for the bounty of this land on which we all live, work, play, and learn. We will commit to learning how to be better stewards of this land in service to all the people and animals who walk on it and grace the skies and waters.

We will commit to engaging with and learning about the history and culture of the Indigenous Peoples. We will foster reconciliation between our community and the Indigenous Peoples as we forge new paths together for the mutual benefit of all those who walk on them.