WELCOMING WEEK: Walking Beside Newcomers on Their Settlement Journey
The Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE) is once again joining organizations across the country in recognizing Welcoming Week, which takes place from September 10 to 19, 2026. During this time, we will celebrate newcomers to Canada and raise awareness of the campaign’s importance.
Inspired by Welcoming Week, CWICE is presenting a reflective series that celebrates the people, places, and values that help everyone feel welcome. The series also reminds us that newcomers belong in their communities and that each of us has a role to play in fostering that sense of belonging.
In the first instalment of our series, please meet Gillian Tennyson. Gillian has worked within the intersection of child welfare and immigration since its inception in 1999/2000 and in CWICE since its launch in 2018. In her reflection, she shares how she was welcomed after immigrating to Canada and how she now helps others feel welcome through her work.
Gillian’s reflection:
After arriving in Canada as a teenager, I remember the uncertainty of settling in a new country without family or friends nearby. That experience has stayed with me, and I carry it into every meeting with newcomers who arrive with many of the same concerns.
Turning experience into support
I also remember the many challenges my parents navigated as we settled into our new life. Today, those memories help me anticipate the questions and difficulties newcomer families may face. I strive to provide clear, practical information that reduces stress and helps clients make informed decisions as they begin building their lives in Canada, a diverse country rich in culture and opportunity.
Creating connections and a sense of belonging
Settlement is more than finding housing, employment, or services; it is also about belonging. Connecting families with culturally specific agencies and introducing them to neighbourhoods where they can experience familiar traditions, foods, languages, and community networks can make the transition feel less isolating.
At the same time, moving to Canada, although often a long-awaited goal, can bring a profound sense of loss. Newcomers may leave behind their homeland, homes, extended families, friends, and everything familiar. I often see that loss in their eyes, even as they look ahead with hope.
Honouring culture along the way
I encourage families to bring their traditions, music, and food with them. These are not things to set aside; they are sources of strength, identity, and connection. Our conversations sometimes end with a new recipe for me to try at home, a small but meaningful exchange that reminds me how much newcomers contribute to the communities they join.
Adapting to a new country is a journey, and no one should have to travel alone. My role is not simply to provide information, but also to listen, connect, encourage, and walk beside each family as they find their place in Canada. To every newcomer beginning this journey: you are welcome, your culture matters, and I am honoured to walk beside you, my new friend.
This article was written by Celistine Frampton and Gillian Tennyson. Please be on the lookout for the next article in our series as we continue celebrating what it means to welcome newcomers.
If you would like to contribute, please email CwiceEvents@peelcas.org
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About the authors:
Gillian Tennyson is a child protection worker at Peel Children’s Aid Society’s Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE). A graduate of York University’s Social Work program, she has served with Peel CAS since 1999. Gillian is known for going the extra mile to support her clients and for bringing diligence, compassion, and dedication to her work.
Celistine Frampton is a Registered Social Worker and Immigration Specialist at Peel Children’s Aid Society’s Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE). She plays an integral role in ensuring that children, youth, and families with immigration- or citizenship-related needs are connected to the appropriate support and services. Celistine is dedicated to advancing equitable outcomes within the child welfare sector.
