Presenting the second Settlement Agency Award winner: Brampton Multicultural Community Centre
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or the second year, Canadian Immigrant and RBC wanted to recognize the amazing work immigrant settlement agencies are doing to help newcomers integrate and succeed in Canada with the Settlement Agency Award. Readers nominated settlement agencies from across the country for this national award concurrent with the RBC Top 25 awards, and, after an online voting process, one agency received the votes to rise to the top — Brampton Multicultural Community Centre (BMC). “We are so excited about this award,” says Dima Amad, director of programs and services at BMC. “This is a recognition of all our work all these years and, most importantly, it is a vote of confidence from the community we serve.” Established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to aid newcomers in Canada with their settlement process, BMC offers a wide range of services, often partnering with other service providers and like-minded organizations, especially in the Peel Region of the Greater Toronto Area. “We don’t claim to know everything about everything. We realize the importance of strategic tie-ups with other organizations in the newcomer space who bring their own expertise to the table. They make us stronger as a service provider and we are able to create some very effective programming in the community,” says Amad.
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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 16 Issue 3 | 2019
The organization, known for its work with newcomer youth, recently organized a hackathon in partnership with the faculty of engineering at McMaster University. Another significant project that’s underway is the Youth Leadership Project, Volunteer for Change (V4C), which aims to enhance the participation of immigrant and visible minority youth in social action. BMC also offers a range of programs and services including their employment services, which assist internationally trained newcomers with the job search process. Their Mind Your Health program, a culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate
program for those experiencing mental health challenges, is as timely as it is relevant. With such diverse programming and accessibility (they are in almost every corner of Peel, in community centres, schools and libraries), it’s no surprise that BMC is taking the Settlement Agency Award home this year. “I think our values are reflected in the culture of our organization. From the senior management to the front office staff, we are all empathetic to the immigrant experience. In fact, 99 per cent of our staff came to Canada as immigrants, so we know their pain and hopes, and understand their journey,” says Amad. “We feel that so many of our stakeholders voted for us for this award because they know we go above and beyond.” Amad encourages newcomers to take advantage of the free services offered by BMC that will make their process of establishing themselves in Canada easier. “Make sure you meet new people, immerse yourselves in your communities, engage in your children’s schooling and make your voice heard. You have a lot to offer, so offer it with confidence,” she says.