Community in Focus: Immigrant Centre

Roselyn Advincula, Director of Settlement Services, and Gennica Luce, client, intern and temporary front desk staff at the Immigrant Centre Manitoba, explain how the Immigrant centre helps newcomers reach their potential. Immigrant Centre Manitoba in Winnipeg has been serving Manitoba’s newcomer community since 1948. Their mission is to help newcomers succeed through personalized settlement plans and community partnerships. Programs for newcomers include:

• Settlement and employment services.
• Verification of translations.
• Coordinating the ZONAL Outreach Newcomer Engagement program.

Newcomers can also register for English conversation circles, nutrition classes, citizenship classes, workshops to prepare for the driver’s knowledge test, and the Language Partner Program to learn English one-on-one. Immigrant Centre Manitoba provides volunteering opportunities for newcomers so they can connect with others.

Immigrant Centre of Manitoba takes pride in its ability to serve all newcomers who come through its doors and ensures that all newcomers, no matter their immigration status, can be directed to resources to be found elsewhere such as school districts or other organizations that can help them - this, in addition to all of the settlement support that they provide internally.  “The better the start, the better the future is our motto at the Immigrant Centre," says Advincula. "By helping newcomers before they arrive in Manitoba and supporting them once they do arrive, we ensure that they have the tools to settle and integrate successfully into our community."

The Manitoba Immigrant Centre also advocates for policies and initiatives that promote the rights and well-being of immigrants and refugees. Through its advocacy efforts, the centre seeks to address systemic barriers and promote inclusivity, diversity, and social justice in Manitoba and beyond.

Overall, the Manitoba Immigrant Centre serves as a vital lifeline for newcomers embarking on their journey to a new life in Canada. With its unwavering commitment to empowerment, inclusion, and advocacy, the centre plays a crucial role in helping immigrants and refugees thrive and contribute to the rich tapestry of Manitoba's cultural landscape.