Executive Director Dwayne O’Connor’s ED Corner | Raffle: Building Better Futures | Program Updates: Aurora House, BEAR Hikes, Community Health Services, BREM Program and Client Story | Project Highlights: Community Kitchen Project, Employment Networking Event | Fall Special Events: Orange Shirt Day, Halloween, Remembrance Day
The Season of Giving and the Journey of Newcomers
The season of giving is upon us once again. During these times, families gather to strengthen their bonds—and we remain committed to supporting you as you work toward building a new life in Canada.
To illustrate why we do what we do, let me share two real stories of newcomers:
Story 1: A Family’s Unexpected Struggle
A family man of African heritage, living in France, agreed to move his family to Canada at his wife’s request to care for an ailing relative. Confident in his bilingual skills and professional experience—he held a senior position at an airline—he anticipated a smooth transition.
However, the reality was starkly different. Without “Canadian experience,” he faced insurmountable barriers to employment. Survival jobs replaced his former career, and his wife, a trained nurse, could only find work as a PSW despite additional training.
The financial strain and loss of professional identity led to severe depression, poor physical health, and hospitalization. Ultimately, the family broke apart—the wife stayed in Canada working as a PSW, while the husband returned to France alone to rebuild his life.
(Have you heard this story before?)
Story 2: Dreams Deferred
Another family man, also of African heritage, left Nigeria with his wife to give their children better opportunities in Canada. A practicing surgeon back home, he discovered that continuing his profession here required full re-education—costing over $100,000, far beyond their means.
His wife, previously a stay-at-home mom, became a cleaner, while he drove a taxi. Despite their resilience, they could never reclaim their former lifestyle. Canadian requirements for foreign-trained professionals proved too rigid, leaving the family in poverty—but they struggled and remained together.
Why We Exist
Settlement is complex and challenging. Employment, housing, and mental health remain persistent hurdles—even for those with professional careers and language skills. Imagine facing these challenges while also learning a new language and lacking Canadian experience.
This is why we do what we do.
Our focus is on deepening support for those most in need—newcomers navigating their first years in Canada under difficult circumstances. At the heart of our work is the belief that every newcomer deserves dignity, opportunity, and community.
We look to the future with optimism, knowing the next chapter will bring even greater opportunities to serve. Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Help us Build Brighter Futures For Newcomers
Your support goes directly into MNLC programs that provide essential services for newcomers. Every fundraiser helps us remove barriers and opens doors for individuals and families building new lives in Canada.
Here’s your chance to win money and support a great cause! When you buy tickets for MNLC’s Make the Holidays Magical 50/50 Raffle,
50% of total sales goes to one lucky winner.
Our first ever 50/50 raffle draw was a big success. The Dreams & Dollars 50/50 draw raised $1850 with half of that total going to the grand prize winner.
We had one Early Bird Prize winner and a Grand Draw winner! Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who participated in the raffle draw.
Meet the lucky winners
Congratulations
to Bruce Pope!
Bruce Pope won $925, the grand prize winner of our Dreams & Dollars 50/50 Raffle Draw.
Bruce, an active community member and change advocate, generously split his win, donating half of it to MNLC and the other half to other local non-profits.
Congratulations to The Galeano Ortiz Family
The Galeano Ortiz family won the Early Bird Prize of the raffle! Congratulations to the family on winning a $150 cash prize!
Thanks to everyone who participated in the raffle! You helped us raise funds to offer essential newcomer services.
Program Updates
Aurora House
Safe Shelter | Hopeful Futures | Lasting Change
Support Aurora House - Small Gifts, Life-Changing Impact
For the price of five coffees a month ($25), you can help Aurora House provide the essentials that keep women and children safe as they rebuild their lives after violence and exploitation.
Your monthly gift helps cover things like TTC fare to legal appointments, fresh groceries for newly arrived families, or replacing clothing for women fleeing with nothing. These small, steady contributions are what allow us to say “yes” the moment someone needs us. No waitlists, no delays.
And it matters. When Cassandra arrived with her two young kids, she had a single backpack and nowhere to go. Today she’s safely housed, working, and her children are thriving, made possible by donors who gave a little each month so we could give her everything she needed in a difficult time.
Your past support has already made a real difference. If you’re able, becoming a monthly donor helps us show up for the next family with the same care and urgency.
Sip & Support Fundraiser for Aurora House
In August, together with our friends and well wishers, we gathered for a social evening – Sip & Support – to raise funds for Aurora House.
We had a beautiful coming together of community, drinks, bites, and meaningful conversations! We appreciate everyone who attended the event and gave toward the good cause.
Together we continue to give hope to survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence. Take a look at the event in pictures
Cassandra's Story of Survival, Strength, and Hope
Cassandra Harvey, a survivor of human trafficking and former resident of Aurora House shared her inspirational story at our Sip & Support fundraiser for Aurora House in August 2025. The event raised funds to support programs to help survivors at the house restart their lives.
BEAR Hikes for Newcomers
MNLC’s mental health initiative, Building Empowerment and Resilience (BEAR) Hikes, returned this year – bigger and better.
This October, we hosted a couple of hikes to different parks in and around Toronto. This year, we introduced a guided birdwatching hike, with the support of our friends from Urban Nature Store, who taught us about; bird migration, Toronto wildlife, safe habits around wildlife and what to avoid around wildlife.
We also started city hikes, allowing newcomers to feel connected to their immediate surroundings and get to know each other in smaller groups.
BEAR Hikes is an initiative that offers newcomers a chance to step out of their daily challenges and connect with the beauty of Canada, helping them overcome isolation, support their mental health, and connect with others.
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Community Health Services
Helping our community prepare for Canadian winter
As we stepped into the colder months of the year, MNLC, through our Community Health Services hosted a workshop to teach newcomers and other community members about preparing for Canadian Winter.
The Preparing for Canadian Winter workshop was organized and delivered by nursing students from Humber College, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), and MNLC staff and volunteers.
It was a day of learning and connection where participants were equipped with practical tips on staying warm, staying healthy, and accessing community resources during the upcoming colder months.
Beyond the informative presentations, participants received winter clothing donations – coats, scarves, boots and essential winter accessories, for themselves and their families.
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Contact Community Health Services
- Phone: 647-812-1332 ext. 4400
- Email: chs@mnlct.org
- Address: 1122 Finch Ave West, Unit 23
North York, ON
M3J 3J5
Check the directions to the Finch Office
Please note: The Health for All Partnership (HAP) Clinic will close for the winter on December 4, 2025.
The Clinic will reopen in mid-January, 2026.
BREM is registering now for new cohorts!
Registration is underway for two new cohorts of the Bridge to Employment and Registration in Mental Health (BREM) Program starting in January, 2026.
One cohort will run full-time, Monday through Friday, for 12 months. The second one – the first of its kind – will run part-time, on evenings and Saturdays for 15 months.
Two more full-time cohorts are expected to start in March, 2026. Click here to sign up for one of the upcoming information sessions.
BREM supports immigrants with a background in psychotherapy who wish to register with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
Both the full-time and part-time options will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining asynchronous online learning with in-class instruction. This flexible model is intended to accommodate the varying participant schedules and learning preferences, making the program more accessible than ever.
Client Testimonial: How BREM helped Arkadiy restart his career in Canada
As an internationally trained psychotherapist, when Arkadiy Volkov immigrated to Canada, he required licensing to rejoin his field. After researching several options, Arkadiy enrolled in MNLC’s Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health (BREM) program.
Through our partnership with the licensing body – the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) – Arkadiy completed the requirements and was fully registered as a psychotherapist in Canada. He is the proprietor of Feel Your Way Therapy, working with a host of other professionals and supervising students.
We celebrate a great partnership with CRPO, for recognizing BREM as the only non-academic program through which internationally trained psychotherapists can bridge their careers in Canada.
Project Highlights
This November, we celebrated the successful completion of the first cohort of our MNLC’s Community Kitchen Project. Participants gained valuable skills in launching a business in the food industry. Some participants are now employed, while others are in the process of opening their own business.
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This fall, we held employment networking events to create a space where participants (job seekers) could connect, learn from industry HR experts, ask questions, and receive tips and recommendations to support their job search process in Canada.
The events were designed in Spanish and English for newcomers and internationally trained professionals. Over 50 participants actively engaged in the two events, asking questions and sharing experiences, and left equipped with job search success tips.
The events featured inspirational talks on self-confidence and mindset during the job search process, as well as the importance of networking for professional development in Canada.
Take a look at some of the moments from the events.
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Fall Special Events
On September 30, 2025, in commemoration of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, our staff, volunteers and English language students donned their orange shirts to honour the residential school survivors and show solidarity and a commitment to reconciliation.
Throughout the day, vibrant orange shirts filled our spaces both in-person and online. The highlight of the day was each staff capturing moments in their orange shirts, showing a collective spirit of our Centre toward Truth and Reconciliation. Check out the day in the pictures below!
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Our Language Instruction for Newcomers in Canada (LINC) classes are always fun-filled. This Halloween, the LINC class transformed into a hub of creativity and even more fun! Students and their teachers embraced the halloween season with excitement, showcasing their costumes in style.
Students engaged in a variety of activities including pumpkin curving, spooky crafts and parading their unique costumes. It was a sight of joy and excitement and we took a lot of photos to highlight the memorable day. Take a look at the snapshots below.
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In commemoration of Remembrance Day on November 11, our lower level English language class worked on something beautiful.
Guided by their teacher, the students created poppy mandalas to practice mindfulness and reflection, while paying homage to the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. Here is some of the wonderfully crafted mandalas by the students
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Get Involved with our Community
Your generosity is truly appreciated. With your support, we provide vital programs helping newcomers build a better future in Canada. Every donation brings hope, confidence, and opportunities to those starting over. Resettlement can be challenging, but your kindness ensures no one faces it alone. Your support empowers individuals and families to grow, succeed, and contribute to their communities.
$8.50 a month provides one session of settlement support to a newcomer, connecting them with vital resources for housing, healthcare, and community integration.
$39 a month provides professional interpretation services, ensuring newcomers can fully understand and access healthcare, legal, and social supports.
$300 one-time donation provides supplies for digital tools and technology for high-needs clients, helping them access employment coaching, virtual classes, and language training from anywhere in Ontario.
$800 yearly donation provides supports for programming activities and rental overhead for resident services at Aurora House, helping women and children recovering from human trafficking access safe housing, trauma-informed care, and the stability to rebuild their lives.
Together, we are not only helping
newcomers settle—we are helping them
grow and succeed.
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