“Hi! I am your neighbour”
“Our Neighbourhood” introduces the community to the compelling stories of six newcomers who have made Nogojiwanong-Peterborough their home and neighbourhood.
The videos delve into the unique stories and journeys of newcomers, shedding light on their varied experiences. At the heart of them all is the search for belonging and the success that can be achieved through community – and a good neighbourly welcome.
But the series goes beyond just celebrating the successes. “We’re also addressing the challenges and barriers that exist in our society. We are diving deeper, confronting and shedding light on discrimination and racism. We can’t ignore these issues. We have to work together to make our neighbourhood a better place for all,” says Mauricio Interiano, Community Engagement Officer at the New Canadians Centre.
The six participants of the video series share experiences of discrimination, micro-aggressions, and systemic challenges that serve as barriers in their settlement journey, and how they have navigated these challenges. After watching these videos, viewers are asked to reflect on what it means to be a good neighbour, to welcome people who are new to Canada, and to build a more diverse and just society for everyone.
The participants in this video series include:
- Tim Nguyen, a high school student from Vietnam, a musician, and a young leader
who explores the challenges of starting over in a new country with an accent. - Tashvi Menghi, a teenager from India who settled in Canada one year ago. An
artist and youth activist, they want to be a support for others struggling in their
settlement. - Miguel Hernandez, a Venezuelan artist who has called Canada home for nearly 10
years, and who says that art was the bright light through the challenges of
immigration and settlement. - Fatma Al Ahmed, a high-school student from Syria who explores the challenges
and barriers that exist for young Muslim hijabi girls like herself. - Bhisham K. Ramoutar, a newcomer from Trinidad & Tobago who highlights the
value of representation in traditionally-marginalized fields and spaces. - Samantha Banton, a Jamaican poet and entrepreneur who wants to see more
diverse spaces and representation, and who has taken steps to fill those gaps.
Share your feedback at bit.ly/OurNeighbourhood_Feedback
The “Our Neighbourhood” video series is presented by the New Canadians Centre with
support from the City of Peterborough. Funding for this project was made possible through
the Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) grant from
the Department of Canadian Heritage.