John Satsatin: Welcome to the Community! A Day with Organizations at the Forefront of Providing Support to New Winnipeggers

Despite the cold and snowy weather, our day started off on a warm note at the Immigrant Centre, located in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. Alejandro Strange, the Immigrant Centre’s Executive Assistant, began our tour by giving us a historical overview of the Immigrant Centre. He explained that the Immigrant Centre rose in response to the increasing support needed for the immigrants that came to our city in the 1940s. He walked us through the evolution of the centre and how they responded to the various immigration waves and changes our city has gone through since their inception. The 1990s were when the centre saw significant changes in their leadership and structure. As of today, about 85% of their staff, at all levels, were either previous newcomer clients and/or volunteers of the centre. Many that used the Immigrant Centre’s services and sought support when they were newcomers to our city came back years later to either work or volunteer in the variety of programs that they offer at the centre. 

These programs include, but are not limited to, language tutoring services, document translation services, nutrition programs, and employment programs. Recently, they have focused on integrating more Indigenous understanding and conveying the importance of understanding Indigenous history through reconciliation-focused initiatives. They specify that each newcomer has “individualized needs,” and the services that are provided to them are tailored specifically for each newcomer client, with the ultimate goal of helping them move forward. Gil Garcia, Immigrant Centre Board Member, explains that there are “endless needs” that they are fulfilling for the newcomers that come to the centre, but they understand that they “cannot do it alone,” as there are multiple roadblocks that they face, particularly limitations in funding and resources, so they work and network with other organizations in the city to achieve their mission of “changing life for the better one newcomer at a time.”

Our second stop for the day was at The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc. (IRCOM), located in the diverse neighbourhood of Central Winnipeg. IRCOM’s Executive Director, Shereen Denetto, received us with a warm welcome, and she commenced our visit by providing us with a historical overview of IRCOM and explaining its main purpose. IRCOM is an organization that started in the 1970s by Southeast Asian refugees, and they integrate newcomer families into the community through affordable housing. IRCOM stems from seeing a need in the community, specifically by refugees who face a variety of challenges, such as affordable housing when arriving in Canada. Their founders believed in the importance of affordable housing and how it is vital to a refugee’s overall integration into a new country. Most importantly, at the core of IRCOM’s mission is to provide safety and support, heavily considering the traumatic backgrounds of their refugee tenants. They provide a wide variety of support programs and initiatives for their tenants, ranging from English classes, financial support programs, childcare services, tax preparation classes, after-school programs, mental health support groups, and many more. Each program is designed to help their tenants integrate better in Canada, with the goal that, by the time that their lease is up with IRCOM, they are able to use what they learned in the programs and workshops to be able to thrive and stand on their own, as they navigate their new life in Canada.

One of the highlights of the day for me was when Fitsum Getahun, Director of Programming at IRCOM, educated us and explained to us in great detail what constitutes a refugee. She also delved into the refugee experience in Canada. As the only G7 country that charges refugees’ interest on transportation loans for their travel to the country, Fitsum explains how many refugees are “scared” to not pay that back right away and will put almost all their income toward repaying it. This fear then causes a great deal of stress, but when settling and adjusting into a new country, this is only one of the plethora of challenges that they face as refugees in Canada. However, despite these challenges, Fitsum exclaims that what she learned from their perspective is that they are “just happy to be here and wanted to leave [their pasts] behind.” Their disposition is mostly positive because their focus shifts from survival to settlement once they come to Canada. In this country, they are finally given the chance to go after their dreams and live their lives without fear of persecution.

Our third and final stop was at Holy Names House of Peace; a peaceful sanctuary located in the centre of downtown Winnipeg. Rosalinda Amato, Director of the Holy Names House of Peace, shared that Holy Names House of Peace was founded in 2004. They work with and supports marginalized refugee women and have created a safe space for these brave women to heal and start anew. They support and empower them by not only providing them with safe shelter but also by setting them up to be the “best versions of themselves” through a variety of activities, programs, and initiatives throughout their stay at House of Peace. At House of Peace, the residents, or “neighbours/sisters,” as they like to refer to them, are encouraged to community build, and they are made to be part of a community. During our tour, we were able to hear from two of the remarkable “sisters” of the Holy Names House of Peace, and they shared their stories and the journey of how they got to Canada. It was heavy to hear, but through their words and the heaviness of their stories, their strength, their perseverance, and the tenacity of their spirit cut through. It was especially striking to learn that the House of Peace is entirely privately funded, sustained by their donors, who believe deeply in supporting the important work that the House of Peace does for their sisters. Rosalinda’s words stayed with me: our neighbours are the ones who “lift us.”

The day cemented within me the importance and necessity of community and community building. It is the foundation. With our shared strength and resources, we can be innovative, forge forward, and evolve together, as greatly exemplified by the organizations that we visited that day. Great things can be achieved, and many lives can be changed and influenced for the better when we work together, especially toward a common goal. In a collaborative and welcoming system, everybody benefits. Helping newcomers does not just strengthen those individuals; it strengthens the city itself.

To learn more about these wonderful organizations and how you can extend your support, visit their websites below:

Immigrant Centre Manitoba Inc.: Volunteer | Immigrant Centre Manitoba
IRCOM: Take Action – IRCOM Inc.
Holy Names House of Peace: https://houseofpeacewinnipeg.ca/donate-1