This year, the business portion of our AGM was held in September, and in October we’ve had the pleasure of hosting the celebration part!
All the remarkable progress we have made as an organization in the last fiscal year gave us reason to celebrate. Seeing the ballroom at the Lithuanian House filled with our staff, board members, volunteers, funders, clients and community partners was a reminder of the many people and organizations that share our passion to make a difference. Thank you for supporting our mission and the work we do each day!
Celebrating with our supporters gave use the chance to connect with our clients, their stories, and each other. Most of us can relate to the feeling of being new and very much wanting to feel at home. That is what CultureLink does for newcomers, it provides opportunities to connect with others and the larger community.
Inspiring newcomers and their communities
CultureLink is very fortunate to have such a rich and committed team. From long-serving employees that have dedicated a great portion of their professional lives to serve newcomers, to a new generation of employees with fresh ideas on how to make Canada a welcoming place for all communities. Together, we work towards inspiring newcomers through programs that promote wellbeing, elevate skills, and foster a feeling of belonging. Here are a few of those programs:
Made by Youth
All of our programs have a component of connection, but Made by Youth is also about making contributions. Born from the feedback of our young clients, hungry for inventive ways to get volunteer hours, this initiative provides opportunities for youth to volunteer while making friends, gaining new skills, having fun, and supporting their community. A dedicated group of Made by Youth volunteers created beautiful handmade centerpieces that adorned our tables for the event.
Innovative Arts Programming
Launched in 2023, our Innovative Arts Programing included arts-based activities for children and youth, and was also a research project that explored the use of integrated technology to support and enhance programming and participation. Among other things, the results showed the importance of programming that involves parents and children, as it provides a unique opportunity to relax, bond, and temporarily forget about the struggles of immigration.
ON Indigenous Land
Inspired by the success of previous projects, we continue amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities through ON Indigenous Land. This project recruited racialized youth to develop leadership skills, build bridges with the Indigenous community, and make positive change in their community. Participants Brian and Diana shared how much they have learned about Indigenous history and culture, and how it relates to their own experiences as newcomer youth in Canada.
CultureLink Awards
Last year we established a new tradition called the CultureLink Awards, which continued this year to honour the people and organizations that help us make a meaningful impact on our clients and community.
2024 Client of the Year Award
Working with newcomers, we are continuously inspired by their strength, perseverance, ability to adapt, and especially their willingness to take a step further to support other newcomers. The nominees for Staff of the Year showed incredible determination not only to make Canada their home – but also to help others, give back, and become leaders in their community.
The winner of this category transitioned from a participant in our workshops to an educator, returning to our program as a teacher and mentor after gaining extensive real-world experience in the field of Cybersecurity: Khalid Saeed.
When I started my cybersecurity journey, I was enthusiastic but didn’t know where to begin. CultureLink stepped in. Their support has been a cornerstone of my career growth. A few years ago, I came to this very building as a student, and now I stand here as an instructor and mentor, which is a truly humbling experience. Thank you to CultureLink for making this possible. And to my wonderful wife and daughters, who have been my greatest motivation. I look forward to continuing this journey and giving back to the community that has given so much to me.
2024 Client of the Year Award
CultureLink has been in operation for 36 years – and throughout our history, Volunteers have been a big piece of the puzzle that makes us who we are. Our mentors provide invaluable support to our clients at crucial times during their settlement journey, showing exceptional dedication and commitment to their success. The nominees for Mentor of the Year supported programs such as English Conversation Circles, Citizenship Education Circles, Career Mentorship, Cybersecurity Training, and Canada Connects.
This year’s winner has mentored hundreds of newcomers in her 12 years collaborating with us, and never fails to show kindness and willingness to go the extra mile for her mentees: Julianna Drexler.
Upon retiring, I was looking for something challenging, motivating and perhaps even useful to do. I no longer remember what brought me to CultureLink, but I must say that it was one of the best decisions I could have made. I’m told I have mentored over 100 newcomers from all over the world these past 12 years. That is a lot of interested and interesting, motivated and bright people who have already or will soon become the newest Canadian citizens. It brings me joy to see them learn and find out that Canada is a country that welcomes them and wants above all to help them settle and integrate into their new environment.
2024 Employer of the Year Award
This award recognizes the partnerships built to provide information, training and in some cases even job opportunities for new Canadians. This year’s nominees have participated in Job Fairs, networking events, career information sessions, and other workshops and have hired our clients.
The winning organization was open to and appreciates the opportunity to engage with our newcomer clients and value applicants from different backgrounds: Toronto Fire Services.
Over the last year, my staff and I have had the pleasure of working with the dedicated CultureLink team, and gained a deep understanding of the extraordinary impact they have for newcomers, offering meaningful employment information and opportunities to diverse and qualified applicants. We very much understand the challenges for newcomers establishing themselves in this city. We appreciate the work that this organization engages in every day to make an impact, and hope to continue to work together even more in 2025. – Ricky Brooks
2024 Staff of the Year Award
Nominees for the Staff Award of Excellence is a peer recognition of a fellow staff member who – in the opinion of their co-workers – acts as a mentor for others, shows professionalism, displays excellent quality of service, shares best practices, demonstrates positive team work, exceptional compassion, respect and cooperation.
This year’s winner’s nomination was accompanied by a long list of reasons as to why she deserves this recognition. She has been working at CultureLink for over 20 years. That’s 20 years helping her clients, her colleagues, and CultureLink! She is well known by all of us for her kindness and good spirit. She’s the type of person that works in the background, trying not to be noticed. We know she doesn’t like being in the spotlight, but her hard work and dedication have long deserved public recognition. She is willing to help everyone and does not hesitate to advocate for her clients. She is honest, respectful and a great problem solver in crisis situations. She is open to new ideas, eager to learn and support the organization in any way she can. She is Rubina Afsar.
I have been working at CultureLink for 20 years, and during my time here, I’ve had the privilege of growing not just professionally but personally as well. The opportunities I’ve been given to work in different teams have allowed me to learn from my talented coworkers and, most importantly, from our clients. This journey has given me the chance to help newcomers in various ways and to be inspired by their remarkable stories. Each individual I’ve worked with has taught me something new, and their resilience continues to motivate me every day. Working at CultureLink means being part of a community that values diversity, inclusivity, and compassion. It’s about creating a safe space where everyone can feel supported and empowered to thrive. I am grateful to be part of a team that shares this vision and works tirelessly to make a difference. Thank you once again for this honor, and for all the support I’ve received from my colleagues and clients. I look forward to continuing this journey together.
It was an incredible evening filled with achievements, stories, and memories that remind us of the strength and impact we make in our community. Thank you again to our funders, donors, Board of Directors, volunteers, and community partners for your ongoing support. And to our team: each of us plays a vital role in our success as an organization. As we look ahead to the coming year, let’s carry the spirit of collaboration and innovation!