Newcomers And The Challenge Of “Feeling At Home”

Some immigrants come voluntarily to Canada to reunite their families or to seek a better future. Others come involuntarily as refugees, forced to leave their home from war or persecution. Either way, immigrants’ families are separated, their community ties cut, their social networks lost. A permanent move from one country to another is a stressful and life-altering event. All newcomers begin to rebuild their life, and many succeed. But some, especially refugees, find it particularly challenging to adapt to their new community. Meeting new people and participating in the community makes it easier to “feel at home”.

What Is The Welcoming Community For Newcomer (WCN)?

The program assists newcomer individuals or families to become familiar with their community and establish supportive social networks. The aim of the program is to help newcomers become thriving members of his or her community.

What Would I Do As A Volunteer?

Volunteers are matched with a newcomer and participate in social activities together, such as conversation circles, informal ESL tutoring, cooking classes, doing homework together, attending sports events, going on community tours, meeting for coffee, and attending a community or cultural events. You and the newcomer will mutually decide on the nature of the activity, and when, where and how frequently to meet.

How Do Newcomers Benefits?

With the support, a newcomer will feel more welcomed, improve their language skills, experience less stress and adapt more easily to their new life in Regina and Canada.

How Much Time Does It Take?

Volunteers commit to regular meetings with the newcomer during a one year period. You and the newcomer will mutually decide on the frequency of the meetings.

Who Can Be A Volunteer In This Program?

To be a volunteer with the RODS WCN program, you need to get a Police Criminal Record Check from the Regina Police Services.

To obtain a Criminal Record Check, please request a volunteer letter from the RODS WCN program at volunteer@rods.sk.ca. Once acquired, please go to the Regina Police Service at 1717 Osler Street. As of March 19, 2018, the fee for volunteer criminal record checks will be $10.00 (ten dollars). The Regina Police Service policy states that record checks are valid for 30 days and can be reprinted at any time within 30 days.

How Long Will It Take To Process My Application?

Once we receive your completed application (including the Criminal Record Check) we try to process it within a month. However, sometimes the reference check process can take longer. You can help us speed up the process by forwarding this Reference Check Questionnaire to your references; ask them to fill and send to volunteer@rods.sk.ca. We will only accept forms sent directly from your reference’s email address, and we will follow up with a phone call to make sure is genuine. For faster identification, please save the form with your name before sending it to your references.

How Do I Register To Be A Volunteer?

Please fill out the Volunteer Application and email it to volunteer@rods.sk.ca or drop it off to main floor 2314 – 11th Ave, Regina, Sask., S4P 0K1, attention Volunteer Program.

For more information about the Welcoming Community for Newcomers (WCN) Program, please contact:

Main floor 2314 – 11th Ave,
Regina, Sask., S4P 0K1
Tel: (306) 352-3500
Email: volunteer@rods.sk.ca