As Welcoming Week 2025 draws to a close, I want to pause and reflect on the connections made, the stories shared, and the sense of community built over this past week. Community is not just a place, it is people caring for each other. It has been inspiring and humbling to meet new students and learn about their journeys and plans for the future. The courage, determination, and openness of newcomers remind us all why welcoming matters. 

Welcoming Week is a time to recognize the important role newcomers play in building stronger communities. Powerland Computers and RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI) have developed a strong partnership rooted in a shared commitment to supporting newcomers as they transition into the Canadian workforce. By welcoming newcomers and creating opportunities to put their skills and talents to use, both organizations are helping to build a stronger Manitoba. What began as a mutual interest in creating meaningful opportunities has grown into a multifaceted collaboration.

Welcoming Week is a time to celebrate the resilience and achievements of newcomers in our community, and the story of CNI student Suman Rajput is a perfect example. Her journey reflects the determination, courage and support that make it possible for newcomers to build confidence and pursue their goals in Canada. 

Suman Rajput, a student at RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI), was recently recognized with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Assistive Technology Award. The annual award provides $1,000 to a student registered with Student Accessibility Services or Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services to support their academic success through technology. 

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. 

Welcoming Week is a time to celebrate the contributions newcomers make to our communities and to highlight the ways organizations across Manitoba work together to build inclusive spaces. At RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI), this commitment extends beyond the classroom and into workplaces across the province. One example is CNI’s recent collaboration with Shared Health Diagnostic Services, where tailored workshops helped healthcare employees strengthen communication skills, build confidence, and support diverse teams. 

In response to rising demands and staffing pressures, Shared Health Diagnostic Services partnered with RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI) to enhance communication skills among frontline staff. Since fall 2023, more than 140 employees have participated in a customized workshop series designed to address real communication needs in Manitoba’s healthcare environments. 

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. 

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. 

The Center for Newcomer Integration (CNI) Student Support Team would like to welcome all new and returning students. Please visit our website to learn more about the ways that we support students. Have a great term!

RRC Polytech in collaboration with the Manitoba Immigrant Employment Council (MBIEC) are presenting the Manitoba Immigrant Business Expo on Saturday, September 6, from 10:00am – 3:00pm at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus in Winnipeg.

Location: South Gym @ 2055 Notre Dame Ave. (campus map)

Parking: Free

Attendance: Free

This one-day exhibition is designed to help immigrants navigate the often complex requirements of starting or growing a small business in Canada. It will connect participants with government-funded and community services, and provide an excellent opportunity to:

• Provide immigrants with resources to start, buy, or expand a business
• Network with peers and industry leaders
• Promote your organization and show your support for newcomer entrepreneurs
• Hear from special speakers on key topics for immigrant business owners
• Attend small business clinics and workshops

We hope to see you there!

Register at Eventbrite.

RRC Polytech’s Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI) hosted a two-day Book Exchange event on March 24 and 25, 2025, at the Round House Auditorium. The event invited students, staff, and community members to donate and exchange books of all types, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds through the shared love of reading. 

From March 3 to March 21, donations poured in. People contributed gently used books across genres and languages, from cookbooks and ESL resources to romance novels and children’s stories. Thanks to these donations, attendees were able to browse a wide selection of literature, create or expand their home libraries, and take part in a meaningful cultural exchange.