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Welcome to the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre
The Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre (FAC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1970, having the mandate to support and assist the ethno-cultural and newcomer community in Niagara through a broad range of programs and services.
Our Mission- Who we are today: Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre is a community based non-profit charitable organization whose team of professional staff and volunteers provide vital settlement services to newcomers as they strive to create a rewarding life in Canada.
Our Vision- Our desired future: Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre will be a pivotal resource in welcoming newcomers to our community and will be valued as one of the finest settlement agencies in Ontario
Our centre assists ethno-cultural groups in our community to organize and undertake cultural activities, including the annual Niagara Folk Arts Festival. Addressing the needs of newcomers has always been a priority for the Centre and we have been active in facilitating and supporting the successful settlement and integration of newcomers since 1970. The clients of the Centre come from all parts of the world and include Landed Immigrants, Canadian Citizens, Convention Refugees and Refugee Claimants.
We have provided settlement services for newcomers at the Centre since 1970. English as a Second Language instruction has been offered since 1976 and the Job Search Workshop Program has been available to assist newcomers to find employment since 1998. The Host program, a program facilitating friendships between newcomers and Canadians, has been offered since 1996. In 2008, the Host program added a similar program which is dedicated to youth age 13-24.
Our services are funded by various sources such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Region, City of St. Catharines and United Way. All of the services of Centre are offered at no cost to eligible clients.
The operation of the Centre is overseen by a Board of Directors elected from/by the general membership that consists of approximately 35 ethno-cultural associations, community organizations and individuals.
Chair’s Message,
At the centre our mission statement is executed as part of our daily routine in serving clients and the community. We are dedicated to tenets of pluralism, transparency, accountability, responsibility, community involvement and commitment to all we serve. We support and participate in numerous community and multicultural events within the St. Catharines/Niagara Region.
Our centre is minutes away from Canada’s largest Port of Entry. We serve newcomers, refugees and all who wish to come to St.Catharines/Niagara as mandated by the Federal Government of Canada. We offer many services to our clients. We hope they will make Niagara their new home.
We are deeply grateful to our funders without whom our program services would not exist. We enjoy strategic partnerships with a number of community stakeholders such as the United Way, The DSBN and YMCA among others. I am grateful to our board members, clients, staff, community, stakeholders, volunteers, supporters/friends, past and present. We believe in our ethnic club members and community.
We have recently undergone exciting, positive changes in key leadership positions. We are a proactive, inclusive, dynamic, flexible organization responding to the needs of our clients, geopolitical events and funders. Our ethnically diverse staff and board members are dedicated to providing quality services to those we serve. It is our privilege to serve them and our community.
Part of our great history includes The Niagara Folk Arts Festival which is considered to be Canada’s oldest- continuously running Heritage Festival. We owe our club members, staff, volunteers, funders, sponsors and all involved an enormous debt of gratitude for this great Canadian honour!
We consider our Centre to be the “go to organization” for all things multicultural. To this end we shall continue to work tirelessly. We encourage, promote, live, respect, celebrate and love multiculturalism.
Sincerely,
Sal Sorrento
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85 Church Street - St. Catharines, Ontario - L2R 3C7 - Canada
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