York Region, September 16, 2010 – Four new Welcome Centres in York Region have officially opened their doors to help newcomers and their families get the services they need to build a better life for themselves in their new communities.

Each Welcome Centre offers a one-stop shop approach to services by pooling the resources of community-based agencies under one roof. The Centres are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, and managed by community organizations. Citizenship and Immigration Canada is also funding a mobile unit to provide settlement services to newcomers located in smaller communities throughout York Region.

In addition to interpretation and referral services, language assessment and classes, job search workshops and occasional childminding, the new Welcome Centres offer specific programs for newcomer youth and seniors. The Centres also host a variety of organizations that offer such services as:

• Family counselling
• Public health information and services
• Legal services
   

“Newcomer families in York Region now have a local Welcome Centre they can go to for all their settlement related needs,” said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. “As a result, newcomers in York Region can now integrate into their communities more quickly and have increased opportunities to find jobs.”

The first Welcome Centre in York Region funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada opened in Vaughan, Ont., in 2007. That Centre has now helped more than 6,000 immigrants since June 2007.

“Welcome Centres are a great way to ensure that we are meeting the local needs of newcomers,” said the Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. “These new Welcome Centres will help York Region's newcomers get settled in Ontario, giving them access to the agencies that will help them succeed.”

“As one of the most ethnically diverse municipalities in Canada, Markham has opened its doors to new Canadians and experienced the resulting social, cultural and economic benefits to our community,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham and Co-chair of the Community Partnership Council. “These new Welcome Centres will play a critical role in ensuring newcomers who have chosen York Region as their home will be provided with the opportunity to contribute to our continuing success.”

The following official openings will take place this week:

Date/Time: September 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Welcome Centre – Newmarket
16655 Yonge Street, Unit #26
Newmarket, ON
L3X 1V6
(South of Mulock Drive)
Special guests: Lois Brown, MP for Newmarket-Aurora and John Taylor, Regional Councillor for Newmarket
Managed by: Social Enterprise for Canada

Date/Time: September 16, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Welcome Centre – Richmond Hill
South Hill Shopping Centre
9325 Yonge Street
Richmond Hill, ON
L4C 0A8
(East of Yonge Street)
Special guests: Lois Brown, MP for Newmarket-Aurora and Dave Barrow, Mayor of Richmond Hill
Managed by: Catholic Community Services of York Region

Date/Time: September 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Welcome Centre – Markham North
8400 Woodbine Ave, Suite 102-103
Markham, ON
L3R 4N7
(South of Highway 7)
Special guests: Paul Calandra, MP for Oak Ridges-Markham and Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham
Managed by: Job Skills - Employment and Business Programs and Supports
 

Date/Time: September 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Welcome Centre – Markham South
7220 Kennedy Road (Kennedy Fields Plaza)
Markham, ON
L3R 7P2
(South of 14th Avenue)
Special guests: Paul Calandra, MP for Oak Ridges-Markham and Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham
Managed by: Centre for Information and Community Services

Funding of more than $24.73 million for the Welcome Centres is being provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement.