Welcome Home

In the 1980’s North Americans were welcoming a whole new culture of people – the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian refugees.

In the 1980’s North Americans were welcoming a whole new culture of people – the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian refugees.

A Vietnamese family sponsored to Canada through the MCC in the early 1980s

Hans and Frieda Claassen host a Vietnamese family who had recently arrived in Canada after been sponsored by MCC Alberta under the sponsorship holder agreement with the federal government.

Mennonite Church members and Anne Falk, who understood the Vietnamese, culture and language through her charity work in Vietnam provided immediate support for the early refugees who arrived Canada.

Anne Falk, a nurse, was a founder and original staff member in 1981. She devoted her life to the service of God by serving fellow human beings. She had a particular love for the Vietnamese people, with whom she worked closely for many years.

Anne Falk and some early Vietnamese immigrants

Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN) started in 1981 under the direction of a Board consisting of appointees from the First Mennonite, Holyrood Mennonite, Faith Mennonite and Lendrum Mennonites Churches

We officially opened our doors at the Spruce Avenue School (114 Ave – 102 Street) May 5th, 1981.

First Office Manager (Don Baergen) at a job search for the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian refugees in the 1980s.

Operating on an annual budget of $15,000.00, volunteers – mostly from the Mennonite community were assisting newcomers.

Logo History - Growth in programming, staff, funding, and organizational structure. • Increased numbers of professional skilled immigrants coming for services. • Increased awareness of EMCN locally and nationally. 2000 • Working in Canada (WIC) program included a resource centre.

Logo History - Expanded community programs, such as: • Civic Engagement by Newcomer Youth (CENY) • Global Girls • Global Garden • Immigrant Women’s Integration Network (I-WIN) • Putting Down Roots • SAFE Families • Seniors’ Conversation Circles • Support for Kids and Youth (SKY) Club • Wintergration

Logo History

Establishment of Welcome Centre for Immigrants (WCI) partnership in 1997.

Twenty years ago, in the wake of rising xenophobia post-9/11, RISE Awards was launched in 2002 to recognize immigrants' success in Edmonton and to celebrate our diversity while building strong communities through social, cultural and economic development. Today, this tradition continues.

In 2018 we purchased the facility at 11713 82 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5B 2V9 and renamed it Gupta Newcomer Resource Centre following a generous donation from the after Rohit Group to support newcomers to Canada.

In 2019 we moved into our downtown location.

We changed our name from EMCN Edmonton Newcomer Centre on May 6, 2024.