Municipal newcomer strategy
Kitchener is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, and newcomers are central to that growth. Newcomer populations enrich the cultural, social, and economic fabric of Kitchener. Our Municipal Newcomer Strategy provides a coordinated approach to help newcomers access the information, services, and opportunities they need to thrive and participate fully in our community.
On this page:
About the strategy
The strategy aims to support newcomers to:
- access and navigate City services
- participate more in civic, cultural, and economic life
- contribute their skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial capacity to Kitchener’s prosperity
Ultimately, this strategy positions Kitchener as a city where newcomers are welcomed, informed, and empowered to succeed, benefiting not only newcomer families but also the long-term economic and cultural vitality of the entire community.
How the strategy was developed
The strategy is grounded in extensive engagement and collaboration:
- over 1,000 newcomer voices engaged
- 25+ engagement activities and community-led events
- 25+ newcomer-serving community organizations involved
- six Municipal Newcomer Strategy Working Group meetings
- 60+ internal staff consultations and committee presentations
Engagement methods included surveys, community conversations, focus groups, targeted sessions for internationally trained professionals and entrepreneurs and pop-up booths at community centres and cultural festivals. A Municipal Newcomer Strategy Working Group, comprising newcomers, service providers and City staff helped review data, refine priorities and shape the final actions.
Who is considered a newcomer?
Newcomers in Kitchener are not a single group, they represent a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and immigration pathways. For this strategy, newcomers are defined as individuals who have arrived in Canada within the past 10 years, including:
- Economic immigrants (skilled workers, entrepreneurs, etc.)
- Refugees and protected persons
- Family-sponsored immigrants
- Temporary residents, including:
- International students
- Work permit holders
- Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CIAET) visa holders
- Other temporary categories
This broader definition ensures the strategy reflects the realities of Kitchener’s newcomer population and the unique challenges each group may face accessing services, supports, and community life.
Strategies, themes and actions
The Municipal Newcomer Strategy is organized around five themes and 19 actions, phased over three years.
Theme 1: Boosting awareness of City services
Objective: Deliver an innovative, inclusive, and user-focused experience that makes it simple for newcomers to find information and access services.
Key actions:
- central online information hub for newcomers
- ongoing, comprehensive newcomer-specific communications strategy
- deepen newcomer engagement through trusted channels
Theme 2: Small business and employment supports
Objective: Support newcomer economic integration through job access, entrepreneurship capacity building, streamlined business processes and opportunities to engage with the City.
Key actions:
- increased City participation in job fairs
- City partnership with Workplace and Immigrant Network (WIN) for targeted employment outreach
Theme 3: Community belonging and connections
Objective: Build a welcoming and connected community by fostering opportunities for engagement, advancing outreach efforts and ensuring full implementation of supportive policies.
Key actions:
- increased City participation in Immigration Partnership’s “Welcoming Week” for newcomers
- consistent City representation on Immigration Partnership Steering Groups
- targeted information and awareness of the City’s Access Without Fear policy for newcomers
- increased community centre signage targeting newcomers
Theme 4: Targeted supports for newcomers
Objective: Expand targeted newcomer supports by fostering civic engagement, facilitating mentorship, and delivering tailored education programs for varied newcomer groups.
Key actions:
- annual funding for Immigration Partnership Waterloo Region to support Kitchener newcomers
- continued proactive housing and bylaws education program, mainly targeted to diverse newcomer groups including international students
- youth leadership and civic engagement opportunities for newcomer youth
- city participation in Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre’s mentorship program connecting City staff with newcomer women professionals
Theme 5: Equipping Team Kitchener
Objective: Equip Team Kitchener to better support newcomers through staff training, an internal knowledge base, and consistent communications.
Key actions:
- newcomer-focused information package for internal teams to use when developing strategies and action plans
- build awareness with staff on engaging newcomer businesses for small procurements
- monitoring and reporting on implementation of all actions of the Newcomer Strategy
Monitoring and evaluation
The Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Division will oversee and track implementation of the Municipal Newcomer Strategy. While individual divisions will lead specific actions, REDI will provide accountability, oversight, and support. Staff will report back to Council at the end of the strategy’s implementation cycle to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion division.
Land acknowledgement
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to act as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples who live in Kitchener today.