40 Years of MNLC
Watch stories about our centre's past, present and future from MNLC's founders, partners, donors, staff, and clients
Innovators
Betty Puricelli, Founding Director
Betty Puricelli and her husband, Adolfo Puricelli, were founding directors of Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto (now MNLC). Listen to her story about MNLC's first days.
Liz and Alf Koop
Watch Liz and Alf Koop's story about the early days of MNLC in the 1980s. Alf was one of the original members of our Board of Directors.
Tanya Chute-Molina, Former MNLC Executive Director
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we sat down with Tanya Chute-Molina, who served as the Executive Director of MNLC, after founders Alf and Betty Puricelli.
Watch our teaser video where she discusses how she came into her position and supported the advancements of the small-scale projects the staff had already started.
Dwayne O'Connor, MNLC Executive Director
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Executive Director Dwayne O’Connor sits down for an interview to discuss his plans for the future of MNLC. He also discusses what drew him to MNLC, and what sets it apart from its competition.
Rochelle Fine, Former MNLC Board Chair
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we sat down with MNLC’s Board Chair Rochelle Fine to discuss her involvement with the Centre. She spoke about how she first joined the Board and reflected on the journey we shared. She also highlighted the importance of providing newcomers with mental health support.
Miriam Reesor, Former MNLC Board Chair
Miriam Reesor, a long-time supporter of MNLC, sat down with us to talk about the work she did to contribute to our mission during her time as a board member. Miriam served as Board Chair for seven years and participated in the planning and launch of MNLC’s bridging programs.
Bruce Burgetz, MNLC Board Chair for 22 years
Bruce Burgetz was the chair of the MNLC board for 22 years before stepping down in 2008. We interviewed Bruce about the early beginnings of MNLC and the memories he made serving the community.
Beatrice Traub-Werner, Academic Director of Bridge Program for Mental Health Professionals (now BREM)
In celebration for our 40th anniversary, we talked to Beatrice Traub-Werner, who joined the MNLC in the 2000s and became an active member of our organization. Her expertise in social work and her exemplary work ethic earned her the title of BREM’s first Academic Director.
Listen to Beatrice speak about her journey, and what she wishes for the future of MNLC.
Partners
Cindy Lee, the child protection supervisor from the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto
MNLC has enjoyed partnerships with various community organizations since our inception. In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we sat down with Cindy Lee, the child protection supervisor from the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto to discuss “Supporting Family Connections.”
This admission-prevention program was started in 2014 with the goal of keeping children in the Latin-speaking community with their families. Almost a decade later, both the program and partnership remain strong in serving the members of our communities.
Laura Monastero, the program manager at the Canadian Mental Health Association
Laura Monastero, the program manager at the Canadian Mental Health Association, shares the history behind the longtime partnership between CMHA and MNLC.
The partnership, which focuses on providing certain communities with mental health resources and leadership skills, has been running for about 12 years.
From the beginnings of supporting the Spanish-speaking community to now providing placement opportunities to MNLC students, this partnership has had its ups and downs.
Reminisce with Laura as she shares her fondest memories in celebration of our 40th anniversary.
Maryann Istiloglu, the ED of Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals
MNLC and the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals have a long standing collaboration on the Bridge to Registration & Employment in Mental Health (BREM) program.
We sat down with OAMHP Executive Director Maryann Istiloglu to discuss how BREM supports newcomer professionals in celebration of our 40th anniversary.
Gerard Keledjian, New Horizons Media's Founder
Gerard Keledjian, the founder and managing director of New Horizons Media, stumbled upon MNLC when he first came to Canada. Through various networking sessions and collaborations with MNLC, Gerard assisted in creating MNLC’s Bridge to Employment in Media and Communications (BEMC) program.
Staff
Tracy Docheff, Bridging Programs Director
As part of our 40th anniversary series, MNLC’s Bridging Program Director Tracy Docheff, who also served as Communications Manager, talks about the various programs MNLC has produced over the years. From the bridging programs to the collaborative initiatives with different organizations, Tracy discussed the ways in which MNLC has evolved.
Jorge Silvestri, LINC Program Director
As part of our 40th anniversary series, we spoke to Jorge Silvestri, MNLC’s LINC program manager.
Jorge first joined MNLC in 1989. After various volunteering positions and joining the team as a staff member, he became part of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program as the program manager in 1995.
We took a trip down memory lane with Jorge as he recounts his early days at MNLC, how his role expanded and the what the future looks like for the Centre, especially its LINC program.
Teresa Wiens, LINC Head Teacher
Teresa Wiens has been teaching English to newcomers at MNLC for 23 years now. Throughout this time, Teresa has met and helped immigrants from several backgrounds improve their English language skills.
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, Teresa recounts her dynamic journey with MNLC, contributing to easier settlement experiences for newcomers.
Watch Teresa’s story of growth, joys, challenges, and everything in between.
Clients
Juan Carlos, MNLC's former client
Juan Carlos was born with a disability. When Carlos and his mom moved to Canada in 2005, MNLC helped secure his first wheel chair. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we bring you the story of one of our former clients – Carlos – whose life was forever impacted by one act of kindness from MNLC.
Shahrzad Hazrati, Better Life Counselling Centre Clinical Director, BTMH (now BREM) Alumni
Shahrzad Hazrati, an alumni of our BREM program, is the clinical director of Better Life Counselling Center. For our 40th anniversary, we wanted to share how our bridging programs set clients up for success.
Shahrzad sat down with us and spoke about how the BREM program supported her when she was making the early steps into her career in Canada.
Mirna Chacin and Maria McCormick
Mirna Chacin and Maria McCormick, longtime supporters and volunteers at MNLC, came to Canada in 2011. When they found out about MNLC, they quickly settled into this community, volunteering whenever possible. They brought their respective passions, photography and corporate leadership, into their volunteering and have contributed greatly to MNLC.
Watch this video to learn more about their journey!
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Milestones
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 25th 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.
Thanks to Our Generous Community Members
The growth and success of the MNLCT community is possible thanks to the generous support of our Matching Partner and Caring Circle donors.
- In honour of Afzal Un Nessa Begum and Munni Subhani
- Alfred and Elizabeth Koop
- Jamie Dempster, Broker
RE/MAX HALLMARK REALTY INC - Stéphane Levac and Sabina Sormova
- Michael Pezzack, Accredited Mortgage Professional
All Toronto Mortgages - Scott Harnett
Sable Metal Fabrication - Steve Diakanastasis
Evelko Designs - Toronto United Mennonite Church
Our History
The story of the Mennonites is marked by forced migration from central Europe to Russia, and later on to North and South America. Over the centuries, many Mennonites were brutally persecuted for their open opposition to violence and affirmation of the separation of church and state.
This experience has inspired a special concern for service and solidarity with refugees from around the world. Heavily involved in sponsoring Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s, Ontario Mennonites later began to look for opportunities to support a new wave of refugees coming from Latin America.
After an initial period of research and needs assessment with the Latin American community, the Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto was founded in 1983.
Over the years, the founding vision of service and solidarity with refugees and displaced peoples has led MNLC to reach out to new refugee and immigrant communities, adapting and expanding our programs to respond to diverse needs and aspirations.
At each step of the way, MNLC has worked to build a caring and inclusive community, where the ideas and contributions of newcomers are respected and valued. Together, newcomers and neighbours, we support each other, learn from each other, and take action together for a more just and compassionate society.
Drawing on the inspiration of our Mennonite heritage, MNLC seeks to be a place of community and mutual support for newcomers of a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds.
25th Anniversary: “Walking Together“
by Luis Alberto Mata
Originally written in Spanish by Colombian journalist and then, MNLC volunteer, Luis Mata, Walking Together is an account of the institutional history of MNLC for its 25th Anniversary in 2008.
Aquí puede leer el documento Caminando Juntos en español.
30th Anniversary: Benefit Concert and Spaghetti Dinner
“Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto has a lot of angels. Thank you all for helping me to be myself again.”
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