Investing in new beginnings

Canada is a safe haven for newcomers feeling persecution. For others our country provides opportunities for education and a better family life. No matter the reason, adjusting to a new culture, learning a new language, finding housing, employment and daycare can be challenging. Research indicates that the settlement process for newcomers and immigrants can take as long as 10 years.

Peel has the largest and fastest growing immigrant population in Canada. In 2010 your donations to United Way of Peel Region assisted 44,649 newcomers and immigrants by supporting vital settlement and other social programs and services for adults, youth and seniors. United Way invests in agencies that not only help newcomers settle but also provide ongoing programs and services to assist immigrants with issues such as intergenerational conflicts, adjusting to different roles for men and women, as well as maintaining employment and coping with financial difficulties. United Way funds English classes, translation and assessment of foreign credentials, job training through volunteer opportunities, mentorship programs, recreational and social activities for seniors, and culturally appropriate counselling and crisis intervention for youth and their families.

United Way partners with local agencies and collaboratives such as the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group to ensure newcomers and immigrants of all ages and ethnicities are able to fully participate in our society. United Way believes everyone plays a role in creating resilient individuals, strong families and a thriving community.

A new beginning for Shirley and Chan

When Shirley, 60 and her husband Chan, 74, moved to Peel to be closer to their grandchildren, it was a new beginning. They were excited to share in their grandchildrens' lives but they had no friends or social activities outside of the family.

“We enjoyed spending time with our children and grandchildren but we also wanted to meet and socialize with people our own age,” says Shirley.

The couple reached out to CareFirst, a United Way funded agency that assists seniors in living healthy, active, independent lives. At CareFirst the couple enjoy educational workshops, Karaoake and Tai Chi.

“If we didn’t have these activities to look forward to, life would be boring,” says Shirley. “Now we have new friends, and we are continuing to learn and grow as people.”

Volunteering led to fulltime work

Milena Ruiz knows what it is like to leave everything familiar behind and start over. She and her husband were forced to flee their birth country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In 2009 the couple arrived in Peel with their two young children. They were eager to build a new life for their family.

Milena’s husband was able to start a business. Milena’s lack of Canadian job experience made it difficult for her to find employment. She began volunteering with Catholic Cross Cultural Services, a United Way funded agency that assists newcomers and immigrants to settle successfully in Peel.

"As a newcomer I needed to volunteer in order to gain work experience," says Milena. " I volunteered to help other newcomers who were going through the same challenges and issues I went through. I wanted to let them know that they were not alone and that things would be okay.”

As a volunteer with Catholic Cross Cultural Services, Milena was a friendly face and confidant for other newcomers who wanted to share their feelings. Milena also translated legal documents and provided administrate support. Eventually her hard work paid off and she got a job as a receptionist with a multinational company.

“Being able to volunteer was very rewarding for me. I enjoyed helping people and it gave me the Canadian work experience I needed to find a job,“ she says. "Now I am contributing to my family and setting a good example for my children.”

United Way and the Region of Peel invest in neighbourhoods

The Palgrave Community Kitchen (PCK) in the town of Caledon recently received $26,500 to develop a community garden and an herb garden, purchase a commercial stove and hire a community engagement worker. PCK aims to be a social hub and learning space that will teach the value of local foods and contribute to the health and nutrition of local residents.

It is one of 13 projects that received a Neighbourhood Development grant from United Way and the Region of Peel. The project grants, totalling $272,000, will fund resident-led projects across Peel including a community festival, a block party, a neighbourhood council, a seniors’ exercise program and youth leadership activities.

“Neigbourhood Development grants are part of United Way’s Neighbourhood Development strategy which launched in 2007,” explains United Way President and CEO Shelley White. “The grants fund projects that provide opportunities for residents to work with community agencies to improve the quality of life in their neighbourhoods. Research shows that when residents are invested in their communities, neighbourhoods are safer, healthier and more productive.”

In addition to the Palgrave Community Kitchen, the following projects are receiving Neighbourhood Development grants for the first time: The Malton Film & Digital Media Community Engagement Project, The Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel, The University of Toronto Mississauga.

The following projects are receiving a renewal of their Neighbourhood Development grant: Caledon Seniors Group, The Boys and Girls Club of Peel, Clarkson Community at Peace The Malton Community Festival and The Village Keepers, Volunteer MBC.

To read our full news release, click here.

Chinese Advisory Council Assists the Community

United Way’s Chinese Advisory Council (CAC) in collaboration with Mississauga Legal Services, the Peel Chinese Community Service Hub and its partners, recently organized a free legal clinic in English and Mandarin. The clinic featured educational seminars on issues such as tenant law, immigration law, consumer rights and legal aid services in Peel.

The Chinese Advisory Council is comprised of volunteers from local agencies, business and the Chinese community who help create a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges of Peel’s Chinese community and make recommendations to address these needs. The CAC is one of three councils established by United Way to strengthen the voice of diverse communities and promote inclusion in Peel Region.

Since its launch in 2006, the CAC has provided greater access to programs and services for Peel’s Chinese community, which numbers more than 40,000. In 2008, the Council released a report, The Needs and Challenges of the Chinese Community in Peel Region. The Peel Chinese Community Service Hub, which opened in 2010, was a direct result of one of the recommendations from the report.

To join or learn more about the CAC contact Community Outreach Coordinator Jenny Qin at 905-602-3628 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Partnering to Create a Welcoming Community

Did you know? Recent immigrants in Peel Region are two-and-a-half times more likely to live in poverty than their Canadian-born counterparts.

Employment, poverty, social inclusion, housing and health are some of the major hurdles facing new immigrants. In 2006, United Way and the Region of Peel established the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group (PNSG) to develop a collaborative and comprehensive strategy for the successful integration of newcomers in Peel.

To develop a coordinated strategy, PNSG conducted research, consultation and analysis to produce a report titled, Newcomer Settlement and Inclusion in Peel: Building on Existing Assets. The report, released June 2010 outlines key challenges and recommendations for enhanced services.

Recommendations include increased access to settlement and social programs and services; and the establishment of an Employer leadership or advisory council to promote newcomer and immigrant job skills.

United Way and PNSG are committed to enhancing settlement and social programs and services to ensure successful inclusion of all newcomers and immigrants into all aspects of our community.

Here are some examples of the difference your donation to the Community Fund makes to newcomers in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga:

$5 per pay ($130 per year) will provide 90 new immigrants with group orientation information on Canadian laws concerning housing, employment and parenting.

$10 per pay ($260 per year) provides support counseling to 26 immigrant families to help them overcome barriers to effective integration into Canadian society.

$14 per pay ($364 per year) provides a newcomer with job search workshops so that he or she can secure the gainful employment necessary to support their family.

$20 per pay ($520 per year) provides 52 families with vital information on community services to help them with their initial settlement in Brampton.

$25 per pay ($650 per year) will enable over 200 unemployed newcomers to participate in the in a Job Search Program.

$30 per pay ($780 per year) provides materials for a weekly volunteer facilitated English conversation group so that newcomer seniors can practice speaking English in day-to-day situations.

$40 per pay ($1,040 per year) will provide one-time assistance to over 100 immigrant families to help them settle and begin productive lives in Canada.

$56 per pay ($1,456 per year) provides monthly information sessions for one year to newcomers on important topics that will help them make informed decisions about their settlement.

June 2 - Day of Caring sponsored by

June 14 - Building Bridges across Neighbourhoods

June 15 - Employee Campaign Chair Workshop

June 24 - United Way of Peel Region's Annual General Meeting sponsored by

June 29 - Employee Campaign Chair Workshop

Sept. 13 - Employee Campaign Chair Workshop

Sept. 20 - Employee Campaign Chair Workshop for Non-profit organizations

Oct. 29 - Region of Peel's Run, Walk and Roll 5K