Exploring Summer in Canada: A Newcomers Day Trip
In early August, English Café and Living Hope Community Church members hopped on a bus to visit several sights in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The bus stopped at the Steinbach Mennonite Heritage Village, featured a potluck lunch at Falcon Lake, and visited the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre before ending at Anicinabe Park and Beach in Kenora.
The English Café is a weekly English conversation group held at Living Hope where newcomers and other non-English speakers can practice in a friendly and welcoming environment.
“It was essential to have the bus tour because I believed that it would create cohesion within the group. It allowed the participants to meet each other outside of the classroom setting, allowing them to develop friendships and build networks. In addition, the visits to the various locations made the classroom come alive, giving visuals to Canada’s local culture, history, and customs, helping them to better understand and integrate into their new environment,” explains Lieutenant Krishna McFarlane.
High school students and volunteers Mykola and Volodymyr, both from Ukraine, said they enjoyed everything about the trip. Mykola especially enjoyed the museum visit at the Heritage Village, and Volodymyr enjoyed the town of Kenora, making connections with people, taking in nature and, of course, the food.
Cindy, a newcomer from China who has only been in Canada since May, said sharing a meal at Falcon Lake was special because the variety of delicious food, with flavours from different countries, offered a unique culinary experience.
“My favourite part was our stop on the lake beach. At sunset, the lake shimmered, and the aroma of grilled food filled the air. We all sat together, sharing laughter and the joy of the day. During this bus tour, I truly felt the warmth and friendliness of Canadians. As a newcomer, this welcoming atmosphere made me feel incredibly comfortable and happy,” she adds.
Zhaz Chen and her son, also originally from China, have been coming to the English Café and attending Living Hope since March 2024.
“We think the English Café is very helpful in improving newcomers’ English and plays an important role in developing mutual understanding in this diverse culture. We all look forward to Tuesday each week. We can meet new people and make friends.”
“Being a member of a church is a new experience for us. My family comes to church each Sunday. Listening to the songs and religious stories relieves the pressure of being in a new country.”
When the Chens heard about the bus tour, they registered right away.
“It was great fun. We enjoyed the beautiful natural scenery and delicious food during the journey. I loved Kenora, the Heritage Village and the lakes, which are breathtaking. We hope we can visit again,” Zhaz said.
