About Us

Mennonite New Life Centre comes into being under the leadership of founding directors Adolfo and Betty Puricelli.

A Board of Directors is formed, with representation from supporting Mennonite Churches.

In partnership with the St. Clair O’Connor Community (SCOC) housing project, MNLCT opens a reception centre to offer temporary shelter to refugees arriving in Toronto.

MNLCT launches its LINC Program to support refugees and immigrants in learning English, an important step in their success in Canada.

MNLCT moves to 1774 Queen St. E in East Toronto, a building shared with two Toronto Mennonite Churches. Around this time, the Centre begins to respond to a new refugee movement from former Yugoslavia.

MNLCT extends settlement services in Mandarin to support a growing Chinese immigrant community in Toronto.

MNLCT conducts a “Visioning Process,” identifying community engagement, employment, and mental health services as strategic priorities. Work begins on developing the Newcomer Skills at Work Project, combining employment mentoring and civic engagement strategies to support newcomers in contributing their skills to the local labour market in addition to amplifying their voices in political and policy process.

MNLCT opens a new office at 2600 Birchmount Rd. bringing language and settlement services to a growing immigrant community in Scarborough.

MNLCT celebrates its 25^th anniversary by launching its first two internships for internationally trained psychologists, strengthening its mental health supports for newcomers dealing with stress and trauma.

MNLCT opens a new office at 2737 Keele St., deepening its relationship with North York’s Latin American community.

MNLCT launches the Bridge Training Program for Internationally Trained Psychologists and Allied Mental Health Professionals.

MNLCT amends its bylaws and adopted a community-based membership structure to better reflect its identity as an inclusive, secular organization that celebrates diversity.

MNLCT becomes an operational partner with Aurora House, providing transitional and mental supports to women who have escaped situations of human trafficking and intimate partner violence.

MNLCT opens an office at 1122 Finch Ave. W to provide more community access for settlement and mental health services, in addition to housing its Bridging Programs which now include Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health (BREM) and Bridge to Employment in Media and Communications (BEMC).

MNLCT holds several community events for fundraising and awareness including:

• Integration Through Recreation Celebration: a volunteer and donor appreciation concert and luncheon
• Community Picnic in High Park
• Giving With Love Fundraiser
• Holiday Crafts and Food Marketplace
  
  

The COVID-19 global pandemic shutters access to services for thousands of newcomers. MNLCT quickly pivoted to offering online services to continue engaging with and supporting the vulnerable communities it serves.

MNLCT launched an #AskMNLCT weekly webinar services where clients and community members could find answers and guidance in a time of global uncertainty.

Through MNLCT’s diverse range of services and programs, 4,500 newcomers found community and integration support. The Centre also launched two new Bridging Programs: Bridge to Employment in Services for Immigrant Populations (BESIP) and Bridge for Immigrant Women Reskilling into IT Coding Professions (C-Women).

MNLCT celebrates its 40th anniversary with a Gala event for more than 500 partners and community members.

MNLCT serves nearly 7,500 newcomers from more than 120 countries. In contrast to celebrating an incredible milestone; settlement services across the country learn that the federal government has plans to reduce immigration targets and funding for newcomer services.

Like many newcomer-serving organizations across Canada, MNLCT pivots strategically to continue its important work with less external support. Motivated to increase awareness, the Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto shifts its public name and brand to “MNLC” as part of a campaign to increase awareness and opportunities for partnerships to enhance existing services and expand into new areas of support for the communities we serve.