New to Canada

On May 25, all are invited to join in celebrating Toronto’s diverse communities at the eighth annual Toronto Newcomer Day. This event held every May welcomes newcomers to Toronto and celebrates their many contributions to the city. This year’s event includes an information fair, interactive activities, food fair, HistoricTO Neighbourhood Walking Tour, mock voting exercise, prizes and giveaways, and entertaining performances. After last year’s online celebration, we look forward to welcoming you back safely to this year’s outdoor event!

Take a moment to visit the Toronto Public Library (TPL) information table at this year’s Toronto Newcomer Day celebration at Nathan Phillips Square. Sign up for a free library card, and learn more about TPL’s programs and services, including Library Settlement Partnerships (LSP), a longstanding partnership between TPL and seven local settlement agencies, which is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 

With LSP, knowledgeable and multilingual settlement workers assist newcomers as they move through the various stages of their settlement journey. One-on-one appointment-based service is available over the phone, online, and in-person. If you are new to Canada, LSP Workers can help you access the information you need, and provide referrals to relevant organizations.

In addition to the one-on-one service, group programs are continuing to take place online. Connect directly with an LSP Worker to learn more or to sign up for an online program. These programs are taking place on a third-party online platform. The settlement workers can help walk you through the steps of using their selected platform carefully. Here are some upcoming LSP programs.

Language Support

English Conversation Circle

Hosted by LSP partner YMCA Newcomer Information Centre
Wednesdays, May 4, 18 & June 1, 15, 29, 2022; 3-4 pm
For full details or to register, visit the YMCA Newcomer Information Centre page

IELTS Preparation Series

Hosted by LSP partner CICS
Fridays May 6, 13, 20, & 27, 2022; 7-8 pm
For full details or to register, contact Zarmeena at [email protected]

English Conversation Circle

Hosted by LSP partner TNO
Tuesdays, May 10 to July 5, 2022; 2-3:30 pm
For full details or to register, contact Enas at [email protected]

French Conversation Circle

Hosted by LSP partner CICS
Wednesdays May 11, 18, 25 & June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2022; 6:30-7:30 pm
For full details or to register, contact Zarmeena at [email protected]

Cultural

Discover Canada: A Virtual Road Trip to Northern Ontario (in Mandarin)

Hosted by LSP partner CultureLink
Fridays, May 6, 13, 20, 27, 2022; 3-5 pm
For full details or to register, contact Stanley at [email protected]

South Asian Cultural Event

Hosted by LSP partner CICS
Wednesday, May 25, 2022; 10-11 am
For full details or to register, contact Zarmeena at [email protected]

Health & Wellness

Managing Back Pain (in Mandarin)

Hosted by LSP partner CultureLink
Friday, May 6, 2022; 11 am - 12 pm
For full details or to register, contact Stanley at [email protected]

Museum + Arts Pass (MAP) Program

One of the ways newcomers can access museums and cultural venues in Toronto is through the Museum + Arts Pass (MAP) program. This program allows families to borrow a free pass to local museums, art galleries and similar venues with an Adult library card. All open library branches participate in the MAP program. Please note that passes for some venues are only available through a limited number of library locations.

To learn more about MAP Pass, check out the list of locations and the Frequently Asked Questions page. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve ever borrowed a MAP Pass, and if so, where did you visit? How was your experience?

Edited April 26, 5:30 pm: Added An Introduction to Toronto Archives and History of Toronto's Chinatown.

Edited May 11, 4:30 pm: Removed An Introduction to Toronto Archives and History of Toronto's Chinatown.