A message from Carl Nicholson
August 3, 2022  Thank you for 28 wonderful years! Last week marked my final week at the Catholic Centre for Immigrants. I want to thank you for the support you have provided to newcomers and to me during my time as executive director. There are no words to describe how humbling this experience has been. I have had the honour of meeting so many of you and have been in awe of your commitment to help newcomers settle in our community. Many times I have been asked what the community should know about newcomers. There are many things. Their resilience and determination to do what it takes to thrive in their new community is at the top of that list. There are so many reasons to support immigration. It comes down to this. Helping people in need is the right thing to do. My life and career have followed the simple philosophy that we need to do good in our community. I could not have embarked on this journey without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have one final request. With the support of the CCI Board of Directors, we have created the Carl Nicholson Youth Fund. I see so much potential in newcomer youth. The problems we face today, such as climate change and inequality, will be mostly theirs to solve. Please consider making a donation. Let’s continue to build a more welcoming community together. Kindest regards, Carl Nicholson Executive Director P.S. Below are a couple of youth programs that help young newcomers make friends and adjust to living in a new community.  Sports 4 WomenThe idea behind Sports 4 Women is to introduce young newcomer women to activities they traditionally have not been a part of. In some cultures, sports participation is discouraged. Last Saturday, we set out to change that with our first edition of Sports 4 Women. We had 25 young women take to the fields at the RA Centre. They tried out baseball, badminton, volleyball and baseball. At the end of the event, every young woman said they wanted the program to continue. Our goal is to make this a weekly program but we need money for sports gear for women. You can help newcomer women participate in sports by making a donation today.  Leadership through artsThis year we introduced a new program — Leadership Through Art. A dozen lucky young newcomers got a chance to learn about art and to make their own thanks to the Ottawa Art Gallery. During the sessions, they also learned leadership skills, made friends, and practised their English. When you make a donation, you are supporting programs like these.DONATE NOW |