ST. JOHN’S, NL, June 2026 — When Amina Rahman arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador with her husband and two children, she thought finding a job would be her biggest challenge. Instead, it was the loneliness.
Back home, Amina was surrounded by family, friends, and neighbours who knew her well. In Canada, everything was different. Her husband worked long hours, her children quickly adapted to school life, but Amina spent most days alone at home. She wanted to meet people, improve her English, and become more involved in the community, but she did not know where to start.
“I felt like I was watching life happen around me instead of being part of it,” she recalled. “Everyone was friendly, but I didn’t have the opportunity to build real friendships.”
Things began to change when she joined a local community cooking group. Through shared meals and conversations, she met people from different cultures, learned about Canadian traditions, and gained confidence speaking English. Those new friendships eventually led her to volunteer opportunities and part-time employment.
Stories like Amina’s are common among newcomers across Canada. According to settlement organizations, many new immigrants face challenges beyond employment and housing. Social isolation, lack of community connections, cultural adjustment, and limited access to recreational opportunities can significantly affect a newcomer’s well-being and sense of belonging.
Recognizing these challenges, Tombolo Multicultural Festival NL has launched its new Economic and Social Empowerment Program for Newcomers and New Immigrants, an initiative designed to help individuals and families build meaningful connections while developing practical skills in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The program will provide a wide range of educational, cultural, recreational, and wellness activities that encourage participants to engage with fellow newcomers and local Canadians alike.
“Our communities become stronger when newcomers feel connected, valued, and empowered,” program organizers said. “The goal is not only to provide activities but to create opportunities for friendships, confidence-building, cultural exchange, and community participation.”
Activities planned under the program include:
- Sewing Classes
- Cooking Classes
- Group Hiking
- Zumba Sessions
- Multicultural Singing and Dance Lessons
- Acting Classes
- Yoga Classes
- Community Gardening
- Group Picnics and Potlucks
Organizers believe that simple community activities can have a profound impact. A cooking class can become a place where friendships begin. A hiking group can help newcomers discover their new surroundings while building social networks. Community gardens can connect people from different cultures through a shared love of growing food.
For many newcomers, these experiences can be the first step toward feeling truly at home.
The program also reflects Tombolo’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity, and community engagement throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Individuals interested in participating are encouraged to register through the program’s online registration form. Registration will ensure participants receive updates about upcoming activities, schedules, and opportunities to get involved.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/tYQQp3ZCm3zwheTg6
For additional information, please contact aliciamujica@tombolomulticulturalfestivalnl.ca.
As Newfoundland and Labrador continues to welcome newcomers from around the world, initiatives such as the Economic and Social Empowerment Program aim to ensure that every newcomer has the opportunity not only to settle, but to thrive.
Organized by Tombolo Multicultural Festival NL, the event reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and cultural understanding throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Tombolo Multicultural Festival NL regularly organizes community events, cultural celebrations, markets, and festivals that create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect, learn from one another, and build stronger communities.
The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 1 Prince Philip Drive, St. John’s, and promises an exciting day filled with multicultural experiences, community connection, music, stories, traditions, and international flavors.
Many newcomers unknowingly become victims of online scams because they are still learning how different systems work in Canada. For example, some people receive fake emails pretending to be from banks, immigration offices, delivery companies, or even the Canada Revenue Agency asking them to click suspicious links or provide personal information. Others may come across fake job postings on Facebook or WhatsApp promising easy work permits or high-paying jobs, only to later realize they were scams asking for money or sensitive documents. There are also incidents where people use unsecured public WiFi at airports, shopping malls, coffee shops, or libraries, allowing hackers to access personal information, passwords, or banking details. Through this training session, participants will learn how to identify these common online threats, avoid phishing emails, recognize fake websites, and protect their personal data while using the internet.
The training will also focus on practical digital privacy skills such as creating strong passwords, using two-factor authentication (2FA), securing social media accounts, safely browsing online, and understanding how cybercriminals manipulate people using fear, urgency, or false promises.
This initiative reflects the continued commitment of Tombolo Multicultural Festival and We Care Foundation to support newcomers through education, community empowerment, and practical settlement resources. Community members are strongly encouraged to attend this valuable session on May 25, register for free using the QR code provided on the event poster, and take advantage of this important opportunity to learn how to better protect themselves and their families in today’s rapidly changing digital world.
The event, organized by Tombolo Multicultural Festival NL with the support of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, brought together a remarkable cross-section of employers spanning healthcare, education, finance, defence, and community services, creating an environment that organizers described as “positive and welcoming for everyone.”
Participants arrived throughout the day to meet directly with employer representatives, submit résumés, and learn about job openings across a wide range of sectors. For many newcomers toCanada, the event offered a rare and invaluable chance to navigate the local labour market with direct, face-to-face ac
The energy inside Bennet Hall reflected the significance of the occasion. Conversations between job seekers and hiring managers flowed freely, résumés changed hands, and networking continued well beyond the formal booths.
Participating Organisations
The diversity of participating organizations from major financial institutions like RBC and Scotiabank, to public health and defence underscored the breadth of employment pathways available to residents and newcomers alike in Corner Brook.
To celebrate the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, the Tombolo Multicultural Festival is organizing the “FIFA World Cup 2026 Multicultural Friendly Soccer Match” in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The free Soccer event will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Fortis Canada Games Complex, located next to the Aquarena in St. John’s.
Organizers say the initiative reflects the true spirit of multiculturalism and demonstrates how sports can unite communities, celebrate diversity, and strengthen social connections among people from different cultural backgrounds across Newfoundland and Labrador.
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ve felt heavy, but instead felt liberating. She drew on her own real-life experiences to illustrate the subtle ways racism operates from microaggressions in the workplace to systemic barriers in education and housing. Her storytelling was honest, generous, and deeply humanizing.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a historic moment as Canada joins the United States and Mexico as host nations for the world’s biggest Soccer tournament. Inspired by this global celebration, Tombolo plans to create two friendly teams made up of community members and Soccer enthusiasts for an exciting and entertaining match.