Durham Newcomer Day

Celebrate diversity. Build connections. Discover opportunities.

Join the Region of Durham and the Durham Employment and Newcomer Centre for the first-ever Durham Newcomer Day, presented by Team Kartik. This free, family-friendly event that brings together newcomers and long-time residents to celebrate the diversity that makes Durham Region a great place to live, work and grow.

Whether you are new to Durham Region or have called it home for years, this event is an opportunity to connect with others, learn about local programs and services, and discover the many opportunities available in our community.

Event details

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Region of Durham Headquarters (605 Rossland Road East, Whitby)
Admission: Free
Event Format: Rain or shine. Activities will take place both indoors and outdoors.

What to expect

Durham Newcomer Day offers something for everyone:

Cultural performances that celebrate the diversity of our community.
Community exhibits and information booths.
Opportunities to connect with local organizations and service providers.
A vendor marketplace featuring local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Children’s activities.
Special activities and community celebrations throughout the day.

Vendor and community organization directory

Employment and education services

Booth location	Organization name
PL31	META Employment Services
PL32	Windfields Mechanical Group Inc
PL33	Latin Business Network Durham
PL34	Contact North \| Contact Nord
PL45	Vibrant Cultural Heritage Association
PL46	Friends Restore25
PL47	ComUnity Canada
PL37	YMCA Employment & Community
PL38	Ontario Provincial Police
PL30	Scarborough Health Network
PL43	Durham College Community Employment Services
PL40	Trent Durham-GTA
PL41-42	BLACK LAB, Trent University - Durham Campus
PL44	Ignite Durham Learning Foundation
PL35-36	RBC Royal Bank of Canada
PL48	Achev
PL49	Ally First Aid
PL39	New Canadians TV

Settlement and Support Services

Booth location	Organization name
PL17	John Howard Society of Durham Region
PL21	Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
PL12	CDCD
PL20	CFOC-Doors of Compassion
PL13	Community Development Council Durham, CDCD
PL23	Women's Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham (WMRCC)
PL19	Durham Community Legal Clinic
PL29	Durham Family and Cultural Centre
PL18	Muslim Legal Support Centre
PL28	GPS Health Navigators
PL27	Durham Ontario Health Team
PL26	Canadian Mental Health Association Durham X
PL25	Lakeridge Health
PL22	Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
PL14	OCASI
PL24	IDA Faith Pharmacy
PL15-16	Canadian Race-Relations Foundation

Francophone services

Booth location	Organization name
PL52	Centre de santé communautaire TAIBU
PL50	COFRD
PL51	COFRD
PL53	Collège Boréal
PL56	Francophones Pour Un Environnement Durable Inc.
PL57	Up with Women
PL55	CS Viamonde
PL58	YAPE SERVICES
PL54	Collège La Cité

Children and family services

Booth location	Organization name
PL84	Ajax Public Library
PL83	Clarington Library, Museums & Archives
PL82	Pickering Public Library
PL85	Oshawa Public Libraries
PL80-81	City of Oshawa
PL76	EarlyON Whitby
PL74	FCAP-YMCA
PL75	Grandview Kids
PL86	Oshawa Kicks Soccer Club
PL88	Durham Region Transit
PL87	Region of Durham Paramedic Services
PL73	Just4U Events (face painters)
PL78	Ajax Fire and Emergency Services
PL77	Trent University - Children and Youth
PL79	DRPS Youth in Policing

Marketplace vendors

Booth location	Organization name
PL71	Artesanías Calli
PL63	Beadsforbeauty
PL64	Cheryl’s Signature Getaways
PL65	Divinely Poetic/Jean Clarke-Gillespie
PL66	Fehrish Boutique
PL62	Forever In Bloom
PL70	Kenyan Women in Canada Association
PL72	Le Beau Bees
PL67	OutNo.d Curly Hair Care
PL68	Serenity Art Therapy
PL69	VaChikepe: The Poet
PL59	Éditions Terre d'Accueil

Food vendors

Booth location	Organization name
PL5	Brown Sugar Cakes by Clariss Sarao
PL4	Yummilicious
PL3	Ma Yve Grill
PL8	Caribbean Breeze
PL60-61	Heavenly Dreams Ice Cream Inc
PL7	One More Cocoa Inc

Regional exhibitors

Booth location	Organization name
UG8	Emergency Social Services
UG7	Durham Emergency Management
LL14	Durham 311
UG9	IESD (Ontario Works)
UG6	Tourism EC/DEV
LL15	Street Outreach and PCOP
UG10	Health
LL12-13	Works - Water
LL11	Works - Waste
UG5	BACD - Invest Durham
UG2	Communications & Engagement

Hunger Action Month - collecting donations at Newcomer Day

Donations of non-perishable food items for Feed the Need Durham are being collected during Newcomer Day, as part of the Region of Durham's support of Hunger Action Month. Give back and help address food insecurity in our communities.

Learn more about Hunger Action Month online.

Connect and learn

Newcomer Day is more than a celebration of cultures. It is an opportunity to build relationships, share experiences and learn from one another.

By bringing together people from different backgrounds and experiences, Durham Newcomer Day helps foster understanding, respect and a stronger sense of belonging. It creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and community connections that help make Durham Region a welcoming place for everyone.

Whether you are looking to access services, meet new people, grow your network or learn more about the community, Newcomer Day is the perfect place to start.

Supporting newcomers in Durham Region

Newcomers play an important role in the strength and growth of Durham Region. Durham Newcomer Day highlights the contributions of newcomers, while connecting residents with programs, services and resources that support successful settlement and community participation.

Together, we can help create a region where everyone feels welcomed, valued and included.

Thank you to our sponsors...

Title sponsor

Gold sponsors

In-kind sponsors

Contact us

Contact ImmigrationPortal@durham.ca if you have questions or would like to get involved in the event.