Centre for Newcomer Integration

Events for CNI Students

January English Seminars: Learning and Having Fun!

December 18, 2025

January 12 to January 30.

Speak to your instructor to register for these seminars

CLB 1 and CLB 2
Games and Conversations


Practice English and play games. Learn how to give instructions, laugh, and have fun!

Every Monday and Thursday 12:00 to 1:00 PM  


CLB 3 and CLB 4
Writing Your Story

Become an author and write your story! Make new friends and learn about their story.  

Every Wednesday and Friday 12:00 to 1:00 PM


CLB 3 and CLB 4
Games and Conversation

Practice English and play games at the same time!  You’ll make new friends and laugh together. You’ll learn Canadian games, while developing your English listening and speaking skills  

Every Tuesday and Thursday 5:00 to 6:00 PM

CLB 3 and CLB 4
Crafts and Conversations

Listen, interact and create in English!  Each class will give you an opportunity to follow instructions and create a craft in English, while enjoying interactive time with classmates and your teacher.  

Every Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 to 1:00 PM


CLB 3 and CLB 4
Red River Readers Club  

Join the book club and read classic, level appropriate English books. You’ll read many interesting stories. You’ll make new friends and have interesting conversations.  

Every Monday and Wednesday 5:00 to 6:00 PM

Red Talks: An Evening of Inspiration, Strength and Shared Stories 

December 9, 2025

Red Talks took place on November 19 at the Exchange District Campus and brought CNI students together for an evening of learning, conversation and inspiration. The atmosphere was positive and welcoming, and many students said the event helped them feel more confident.  

The evening opened with remarks from event organizer Jesse Friesen, who encouraged students to see Red Talks as a chance to learn with and from one another while strengthening real-world communication skills. After that, three 20-minute presentations were delivered by inspirational speakers. They spoke on a range of topics including personal stories, career journeys, honest reflections about the challenges and successes they experienced as newcomers or professionals working with newcomers and artificial intelligence. 

Read More →

First Fridays at the Manitoba Museum

November 4, 2025

The Manitoba Museum is excited to offer free general admission to its three main attractions – the Museum Galleries, Planetarium, and Science Gallery on the First Friday of every month!

When: Friday, Oct. 7, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Where: Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Ave.

Visit the Manitoba Museum website for more information.

More Than a Week: CNI’s Everyday Culture of Welcoming 

September 15, 2025

Welcoming Week is here, and as part of the celebration, we are reflecting on some of the ways that CNI creates meaningful experiences that help newcomers feel welcome in Manitoba. At RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI), welcoming newcomers is about more than starting classes. It is about creating meaningful experiences that help students build connections, settle into the community, and feel supported in their new lives in Manitoba. 

Throughout the year, CNI organizes and participates in events that reflect this commitment. The Book Exchange, for example, invites students to share and discover books in English and other languages. This activity not only encourages learning, it also highlights the diverse backgrounds and stories that make up the CNI community. 

Read More →

We Are All Connected: Learning to Live as Relatives Through Water, Land, and Kinship 

September 12, 2025

A personal reflection by Craig Fisher, Indigenous Education, RRC Polytech 

The knowledge I carry came not from studying connection 
but from living as the hyphen between worlds— 
from understanding that relation survives every attempt at division. 

Here, together, we make these relations visible again. 

As Welcome Week begins, I want to share a story about what it means to live as relatives—not just with each other, but with the land and water that sustain us all. 

Left: Craig Fisher, Indigenous Education, RRC Polytech. Right Scott Browlee, Centre for Newcomer Integration, RRC Polytech.
Left: Craig Fisher, Indigenous Education, RRC Polytech. Right Scott Brownlee, Centre for Newcomer Integration, RRC Polytech.
Read More →

Celebrate Welcoming Week 2025 with RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration 

September 3, 2025

Each September, RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI) joins communities across Canada in celebrating Welcoming Week — a time to recognize the contributions of newcomers and to build meaningful connections across cultures. 
 
We’re starting a little early this year, with activities beginning September 11. From September 11 to 19, CNI will host events designed to bring students, staff and community partners together, creating opportunities for reflection, connection and celebration. 
 
Welcoming Week is part of a global movement led in Canada by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The week provides a chance for newcomers, longtime residents and Indigenous communities to come together and celebrate the diversity that strengthens our province and our country 

Welcoming Week 2025 programming at RRC Polytech 

Thursday, Sept. 11 
“We Are All Connected” beading activity | 6:00pm until 9:00pm | Roundhouse (E240) 
Students and staff are invited to take part in a beading activity inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Together, participants will create a lasting visual legacy reflecting shared experiences.  

Friday, Sept. 12 
“We Are All Connected” beading activity | 9:00am until 12:00pm | Roundhouse (E240) 
A second session of the beading activity, offering more students and staff the opportunity to participate and reflect. 

Monday, Sept. 15 
Community Resource Fair | 10:00am until 1:00pm and 6:00pm until 8:30pm | Roundhouse (E240)  
Newcomers are invited to connect with community organizations and RRC Polytech departments to learn about available programs and services. 

During Welcoming Week  
My Canadian Experiences  
Students are encouraged to complete the My Canadian Experiences activity and submit it for a chance to win a prize.  
 
Building a welcoming community 

RRC Polytech’s CNI is proud to contribute to Welcoming Week 2025, recognizing the diverse backgrounds, stories and strengths newcomers bring. By participating in activities on campus, students and staff help build stronger connections and celebrate inclusion—within our college and across the wider community. 

Free Summer Fun in Winnipeg for CNI Students and Families

June 11, 2025

Summer is here! The CNI Student Support Services team hopes you enjoy a safe, relaxing, and fun summer break. To help you to make the most of it, we’ve put together a list of free summer activities in Winnipeg and across Manitoba.

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day
Join in the celebration of Indigenous cultures, music, and traditions on Sunday, June 22 at The Leaf’s Outdoor Gardens in Assiniboine Park.

Visit the full schedule at assiniboinepark.ca

Canada Day at Princess Auto Stadium
Celebrate Canada Day with family-friendly activities from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and a free concert in the evening from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium, located at the University of Manitoba.

Learn more about the event by visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers website.

Cool Off with Free Water Fun

  • Spray Pads: Now open and free for everyone.
  • Wading Pools: Open on a staggered schedule starting July 1. Free for children 12 and under and their parent(s)/guardian(s).
  • Unheated Outdoor Pools: Open June 27 and always free.
  • Heated Pools: Swim for free during special times at select indoor and heated outdoor pools.

    Find locations and hours on the City of Winnipeg website.

Visit a Provincial Park for Free
Entry to all Manitoba provincial parks is free all summer—no park permit needed! Beaches, walking trails, and playgrounds are open to enjoy. (Camping fees still apply.)

Learn more about Manitoba provincial park beaches.

Learn more about Manitoba provincial park maps and locations.

Ballet in the Park
Enjoy a beautiful outdoor performance by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
📅 July 23–25 | 🕡 Activities at 6:30 p.m. | 🎭 Show at 7:30 p.m.
📍 Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park
More info: rwb.org/performance/ballet-in-the-park

Assiniboine Park Summer Entertainment Series
Enjoy live music and entertainment outdoors at Assiniboine Park all summer long.

  • Thursday and Sunday Evenings: Free concerts at the Lyric Theatre, July 4 to August 29
  • Wellness Wednesdays: Free fitness classes in the park every Wednesday, July 3 to August 28
  • Movies in the Park: Outdoor movies every Friday evening in August (bring a blanket!)

Visit the full schedule at assiniboinepark.ca

More Free Music Events

  • Winnipeg Jazz Festival: June 17–22 (free concerts at Old Market Square)
    Learn more by visting the Jazz Winnipeg wesbite
  • Corydon Avenue Concert Series: Fridays and Saturdays, June 20–August 30
    Learn more about the concert series by visiting the Corydon Avenue Biz website
  • Lyric Theatre Concerts: Thursdays and Sundays, part of the Summer Entertainment Series

Stay Connected
Want more updates about free events and activities at CNI and in the community? Subscribe to the CNI News.

Have a great summer and enjoy all the city has to offer!

Webinar: What do I need to know about filing an Income Tax Return?

March 3, 2025

Ready to learn what you need for your income tax return?

Join this free webinar on March 12, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and get essential insights on:

✅ What documents you need for your income tax return
✅ CRA guidelines for filing your taxes
✅ Tips for a smooth tax process

Important: This event is exclusive to Immigrant Centre clients.
Not a client yet? No problem! Register here: https://www.icmanitoba.com/get-started/.

Platform: Online via Zoom

Secure your spot now and get ready for tax season with confidence!

Spooky Second Saturday at Dalnavert Museum 

October 10, 2024

Halloween and Culture Days collide for this special edition of Dalnavert’s free Second Saturdays, a free program inviting families to explore the past! On this Spooky Second Saturday, explore the historic house at your own pace with a self-guided tour and get into the Halloween spirit with a craft and game sure to scare you. Guests are encouraged to come in costume!

  • Saturday, October 12, 2024, 12:00 PM  4:00 PM
    • Drop in any time from 12 – 4 PM, no registration required!
  • Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre
    • 61 Carlton Street

Visit the following website for more information: Spooky Second Saturday — Dalnavert Museum (friendsofdalnavert.ca)

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota Oyate, and Denésuline, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.