2017 Embracing Diversity Full Report

Local Organization Funding
The United Way of Perth-Huron is the most well-known local organization that has funded
service providers. The Centre for Employment & Learning (CEL) received funding in 2016 for
their newcomer initiative through the United Way’s
Community Impact and Allocation Contingency Funds.
With CEL’s proximity to high school and daycare
services and their ability to draw newcomers into its’
ESL program it serves as an opportunity for them to
become a lead agency in the push toward referring
newcomer services and promoting integration. As was
reported in the 2015 NONA Report, CEL has several
different geographic locations that allow its reach to
extend further than most organizations in the area. 37
With CEL’s ever-increasing role, newcomer support and
integration in the region is strengthened.
Funding agencies have made it possible for organizations within Perth and Huron Counties to
create initiatives to foster a more inclusive and supportive society for newcomers. However, more
still needs to be done. Many newcomers are leaving the area due to feelings of social isolation
or lack of job opportunities, among other things. To retain these newcomers there needs to
be a consistent effort to support agencies and initiatives through funding. The shift toward a
comprehensive strategic plan needs to be realized to fund large scale initiatives that seek to
integrate newcomers within the society and to have a lasting impact.
37 (2015). The Newcomer Outreach and Needs Assessment (NONA) Project.
30 Service Providers and Supporting Organizations