Join Maple Welcome Circle!
Welcome to Maple Welcome Circle
Helping Newcomers Feel at Home in Canada
Moving to a new country is exciting but it can also be overwhelming. That’s why Maple Welcome Circle, a student-led nonprofit initiative, was created: to support immigrants and refugees in Canada during one of the most difficult times of their journey the very beginning.
Whether it’s language struggles, housing stress, or culture shock, we’re working to make the transition smoother, kinder, and more human.
The Challenges Newcomers Face
Newcomers to Canada face a wide range of challenges. These are the three we focus on most:
- Language Barriers
- Difficulty Finding Jobs & Housing
- Cultural Adjustment & Emotional Stress
Our Mission
To empower immigrants and refugees by breaking language barriers, supporting access to jobs and housing, challenging cultural bias, and promoting both mental and emotional well-being—so that everyone can feel at home in Canada.
We believe in practical, people-centered support and building a community that feels like a circle of care.
Our Goal
Our goal is simple but powerful:
To help immigrants and refugees not just survive, but thrive.
We focus on the first year, because that’s when the need is greatest. By combining practical tools with emotional and cultural support, we aim to build a real sense of safety and belonging.
How We Work Toward That Goal
Here’s how Maple Welcome Circle is putting our mission into action:
Creating a Practical Resource Website
We’re building a website that offers essential tips and tools for newcomers, including:
- How to write a resume in Canadian style
- How to find a job and where to look
- How to rent an apartment and understand lease terms
- Insights into Canadian customer service and work culture
- Recommended job boards and rental sites
Volunteer-Led Language & Culture Support
We connect local volunteers with newcomers to provide:
- Basic English lessons
- Help understanding local customs and systems
- Informal cultural exchange and conversation practice
It’s not just about language.it’s about confidence, community, and connection.
What Makes Us Different
Other amazing NGOs are doing important work:
- Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR)
- Focuses on refugee rights, law, and policy advocacy at the national level.
- COSTI Immigrant Services (Toronto)
- Offers job training, housing help, and English classes—often after newcomers are somewhat settled.
Maple Welcome Circle is different.We focus on the very beginning, when life is most confusing and support is most urgently needed. We provide immediate, human help, combining:
- Practical tools
- Emotional support
- Cultural understanding
- A peer-based, volunteer-driven model
We don’t wait for people to be “ready.” We meet them where they are.
Our Network & Community Partners
We believe in working together. Our group networks with trusted organizations like:
- Centre for Newcomers (Calgary)
- Provides settlement services, job support, and cultural programs.
- Immigrant Services Calgary
- Offers career guidance, language help, and counseling services.
Partnering with others helps us give newcomers more complete and accessible support.
Sharing Stories Through Media
To spread awareness and inspire action, we’re using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to share real immigrant stories. Each short video highlights:
- Why someone came to Canada
- What challenges they faced
- How our support helped
- What gave them hope
These stories build empathy and show the real human side of immigration.
Funding Our Mission
We’re currently raising money through:
- Online crowdfunding (e.g., GoFundMe, donation links on our website)
- Social media campaigns that spread awareness and encourage support
- Community events like cultural nights, charity walks, and language cafés
Every donation helps provide more direct support to those who need it most.
How We Recruit New Members
We actively recruit volunteers and team members through both student and public outreach:
Student-Focused Recruitment
- Immigrant storytelling events on campus
- University partnership through the Volunteer in Canada Program
- Social impact and cross-cultural exchange initiatives
General Community Engagement
- Joint events with other NGOs
- Online webinars and volunteer info sessions
- Cross-border networking (especially between Japan and Canada)
We welcome anyone who believes in inclusion and wants to help someone feel at home.
Join the Circle
Whether you’re a newcomer, a student, or a longtime Canadian resident, there’s a place for you in the Maple Welcome Circle. Together, we can create a more compassionate, inclusive Canadaone welcome at a time.
👉 Follow us online, join an event, or share your story. Let’s build something better.
Feed back
Many classmates said that the goal of our NPO was clear—to help immigrants and refugees in Canada not only survive but build a better life. They especially appreciated our focus on practical support like language lessons, job and housing help, and cultural adjustment. Some classmates also said they liked that we included health and well-being as part of our mission, since that’s not always talked about in immigration support.
The idea of creating a website and working with local volunteers was well received, and most people felt that our survey results were meaningful and clearly connected to our purpose. A few classmates also mentioned that they would be interested in joining or supporting this NPO, which was really encouraging to hear.
At the same time, we received some helpful suggestions. A few people pointed out that some of our slides had too much text, which made them a little hard to follow. Others asked why we chose Canada specifically, and how we would manage this kind of NPO from Japan. One classmate suggested using personal stories from immigrants, which we thought was a great idea.
In response to this feedback,
we plan to:
- Simplify our slides by using shorter text and more visuals
- Make our reason for choosing Canada clearer (because it’s a multicultural, immigrant-friendly country)
- Add more emotional or personal examples, possibly by including real immigrant stories
- Think more about how to partner with Canadian organizations or manage activities online
Overall, we’re very grateful for the comments we received. They helped us understand our strengths and gave us clear ideas for improvement. We’re excited to keep developing our NPO plan and make it even better.
(Emika)
Thank you for presenting such a compassionate and well-structured approach to supporting newcomers in Canada. I really appreciate how your organization focuses on the crucial first year, which can be the most challenging time for immigrants and refugees. Your blend of practical tools and emotional support seems very effective in building a sense of belonging. For further research, it might be interesting to explore how digital platforms, like your website and social media, compare with in-person support in terms of effectiveness. Also, how can technology be better leveraged to reach newcomers in remote or underserved areas? This could strengthen your outreach strategy even more.
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