Northwest Regional Welcoming Communities -(NWRWC)
The Northwest Regional Welcoming Communities initiative (NWRWC) is a Zonal Immigration Partnership connecting Swan Valley, The Pas, Thompson, and Flin Flon. Since launching in 2024, we have been building the structures, relationships, and tools that make our region a stronger destination for newcomers.See what we have built
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Who We Are
The Northwest Regional Welcoming Communities (NWRWC) is a Zonal Immigration Partnership (ZIP) hosted by North West Regional Immigrant Services (NWRIS) and funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
A ZIP is a community-driven partnership model that brings together local organizations, governments, employers, and residents to make a region more welcoming and supportive for newcomers. Rather than working in silos, ZIP communities build shared strategies, remove barriers together, and strengthen the conditions that allow newcomers to thrive and to stay.
NWRWC serves Swan Valley, The Pas, Thompson, Flin Flon, and the broader corridor in between — a vast, resource-rich, and culturally diverse region that depends on newcomers as part of its economic and social future.
OUR VISION
To see Northwest Manitoba recognized as a collection of welcoming and inclusive communities for newcomers, where the host community actively participates in ensuring successful settlement and integration.
OUR MISSION
To facilitate opportunities for the successful long-term settlement and integration of immigrants and newcomers within the Northwest Manitoba region through coordination, collaboration, and community engagement.
Our Structure
Partnership Council
The NWRWC Partnership Council is the regional governance body that guides the ZIP's strategic direction. Council members represent the communities, institutions, and sectors that shape life for newcomers across Northwest Manitoba.
| Member / Role | Geography / Sector |
|---|---|
| ZIP Coordinator | NWRWC / Regional |
| Newcomer Representative (2 seats) | Regional – Lived Experience |
| Town of The Pas Representative | The Pas |
| City of Flin Flon Representative | Flin Flon |
| Town of Swan River Representative | Swan Valley |
| City of Thompson Representative | Thompson |
| Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Representative | The Pas region |
| Swan Valley Chamber of Commerce | Swan Valley – Business and Industry |
| The Pas and OCN Chamber of Commerce | The Pas – Business and Industry |
| Thompson Chamber of Commerce | Thompson – Business and Industry |
| Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce | Flin Flon – Business and Industry |
| School Division Representative | Regional – Education |
| Northern Regional Health Authority | Regional – Health |
| IRCC Representative (Observer) | Federal – Funder |
| Foreign-born Community Representative | Regional – Newcomer Communities |
Immigrant Advisory Table (IAT)
The IAT brings together newcomers and immigrants with lived experience to ensure that community voices shape the ZIP's priorities. Current representation includes:
India
(3 representatives)
West Africa
(5 representatives)
Philippines
Ukraine
China
Southeast Asia
Europe
North America / Caribbean
MENA Region
International Students
OUR IMPACT AT A GLANCE
Since its launch, NWRWC has been building the foundation for long-term regional change - one partnership, one event, and one community conversation at a time. Here is what the numbers tell us so far.16
Partnership Council Members4
Core Communities Represented650+
Attendees — Culturama 202571
Strategic Planning Survey Responses400+
Attendees - Multicultural Night15
Cultures at Culturama 202525
Volunteers - Culturama 20254.4/5
Avg. Community Welcoming ScoreEvents & Highlights
NWRWC has been actively present in communities across Northwest Manitoba — here is a record of what we have built together.Culturama 2025
Date:
October 4, 2025Location:
OCN Veterans Hall, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, ManitobaAttendance:
Approximately 650 participantsVolunteers Contribution:
25 community volunteersCultural Communities:
15 cultures represented through performance and food exhibitionKey Partners:
The Pas Arts Council, OCN Chief's Office, Town of The Pas, RM of Kelsey, Aurora House, UCN, and 10+ local business sponsors.Culturama 2025 brought together Indigenous peoples, newcomers, and long-term residents of Northern Manitoba for a day of shared performance, food, and dialogue at the OCN Veterans Hall. The event featured performances by the MBCI High School Jazz Band, Pow Wow Dancers and First Nation Drummers, Metis Jiggers and Fiddlers, Nigerian cultural dance groups, Indian Gaba Dancers, Tinikling Dancers from the Philippines, and a Quebec folk performance. Cultural foods from 13 communities were shared throughout the day.
The choice of venue was meaningful. Hosting the event on Opaskwayak Cree Nation territory brought together communities that live side by side but seldom share the same cultural spaces. As the Mayor of The Pas remarked on the day: the room itself was a picture of what inclusive Northern Manitoba looks like.
This event marked the second year that NWRIS and NWRWC took full organizational leadership of Culturama, expanding its scope to include newcomer engagement, Indigenous participation, and intercultural dialogue as core programming pillars.
Multicultural Night - Swan Valley Stampeders, Swan River
Date:
Friday, October 17, 2025Location:
Swan River, Manitoba (Stampeders home game)Attendance:
Approximately 400 community members with immigrant backgroundsCultural Groups Featured:
India, Ukraine, Philippines, NigeriaTickets Distributed:
50 free tickets (fully distributed)In collaboration with the Swan Valley Stampeders, NWRWC participated in organizing a Multicultural Night during a home game in Swan River. Four cultural groups represented India, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Nigeria, each presenting traditional clothing, national currency, photographs, and cultural artifacts at display tables.
A highlight of the evening was the performance of the Canadian national anthem, sung by a representative of the Ukrainian community. The combination of sport, culture, and community pride demonstrated how welcoming initiatives can be embedded naturally into events that people already attend and love.
What Our Communities Are Saying
2026 Strategic Planning Survey
In early 2026, NWRWC launched a regional strategic planning survey to hear directly from community members, employers, service providers, and newcomers about what matters most for the future of the ZIP. Responses were collected across Swan Valley, The Pas, and Thompson through KoboToolbox.
71
Total Submissions66
Substantive Responses34
Want to Stay Involved4.4/5
Average Community Welcoming ScoreRespondents by Community: Swan Valley: 32 (48%) | The Pas: 30 (45%) | Thompson: 3 (5%) | Other: 1 (2%)
Respondents by Sector: Residents, newcomers, employers, health, education, settlement organizations, non-profits, and government.
Top Challenges Identified by Respondents
When asked what most impacts newcomer settlement and retention in the region, respondents highlighted:Affordable and suitable housing (identified by 63% of respondents)
Employment and workplace integration
Health care and mental health supports
Transportation
Childcare
Language learning opportunities
What Respondents Want NWRWC to Prioritize
When asked what the ZIP should focus on over the next three to five years, the most frequently mentioned priorities were:Strengthening newcomer voice and representation
Supporting welcoming policies and practices
Convening and coordinating stakeholders
Research, data collection, and information sharing
Communications and community education
These findings are directly informing the NWRWC 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, currently in development.
Resources and Materials
NWRWC develops practical tools and resources to support employers, community partners, and the public. The following materials are available for download.Upcoming Event
Culturama Thompson - September 12, 2026
NWRWC is proud to be part of bringing Culturama to Thompson for the first time. This inaugural celebration of culture, diversity, and belonging will bring together newcomers, Indigenous peoples, and long-term residents for a full day of performances, cultural food, and community connection.Saturday, September 12, 2026
Location: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244, 101 Elizabeth Dr, Thompson, MB R8N 1S7
Morning
Elder opening, dignitary greetings, panel, music, food. Afternoon: music, food stations, anti-racism boothAfternoon
Music, food stations, anti-racism booth. Silent auction runs all day.Evening
Major performances, dance, talent show, silent auction announcements. Silent auction runs all day; raffle draws throughout.Get tickets
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Volunteer With NWRWC
Building welcoming communities takes collective effort. If you live or work in Northwest Manitoba and want to contribute to a region where newcomers thrive, we would love to hear from you. Volunteers support event delivery, community outreach, translation, and more. Your participation directly strengthens the welcome in your community.Apply Online