Hamilton Newcomer Day @ City Hall
Hamilton Newcomer Day took place on May 29, 2026
Hamilton Newcomer Day 2026 was a vibrant celebration of diversity, community, and connection.
Hosted by the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC), the event brought together more than 1,000 community members to celebrate belonging, cultural diversity, and the many people and organizations that make Hamilton home.
Thank you to our 40 volunteers, event sponsors, community partners, vendors, performers, and everyone who attended. Your support, and community spirit helped make Hamilton Newcomer Day 2026 a success and a welcoming celebration for newcomers and longtime residents alike.
We look forward to seeing you again in May 2027!
Photos by Testimony Olowode
Event Program
The event featured a full day of programming hosted by emcee Joëlle Kabisoso, with music by MauriiceTheDJ. From the vibrant Community Zone to the International Marketplace, there was a dynamic exchange of cultures, complimented by engaging, diverse stage performances.
Throughout the day, attendees connected with over 60 local service providers and community organizations, and 29 new Canadians took their citizenship oath during the Citizenship Ceremony, marking an important milestone that we were honoured to witness and celebrate alongside family, friends, and community members. A special highlight was the community mural led by local artist Karla Maria Creativo, which invited participants to be part of a collective artwork celebrating Hamilton For All.
The program below highlights the events and experiences that took place throughout the day.
Hamilton Newcomer Day festivities kicked off with a Canadian citizenship ceremony in Council Chambers, giving the public the opportunity to witness an important milestone as new Canadians took their citizenship oath. Attendees captured photos, enjoyed food and refreshments, and joined in the excitement as the day’s celebrations began.
We kicked off the event with a meaningful and vibrant opening ceremony that celebrated culture, community, and connection.
- Greetings and teachings by NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun (Lyndon George), Indigenous Elder & Knowledge Keeper
- Remarks from the Mayor of Hamilton
- Performance by AfroNation
Attendees connected with 70 organizations in the information and services fair and learned about various resources, programs, and support services.
Featured:
| ACTION Employment Service |
| Afro Canadian Caribbean Association |
| BREA |
| Canada Revenue Agency |
| Care 4 Nurses |
| Centre de sante communautaire Hamilton Niagara |
| Centre for Skills Development |
| Centre Francophone Hamilton |
| City of Hamilton – Recreation |
| City of Hamilton – Tenant Support Program |
| City of Hamilton – Vaccine Program. |
| City of Hamilton Elections Office and Elections Ontario |
| ClothingWorks by Goodwill |
| College Boreal |
| Communaute francophone accueillante Hamilton |
| Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (Csc MonAvenir) |
| Empowerment Squared |
| Engage Hamilton Pop-Up: HSR, Licensing & Bylaw, Zero Vision, Youth team, Early Years, Hamilton Food Strategy, Public Health Food Safety |
| Forge FC |
| Good Shepherd Reaching Home and Good Shepherd Bakhita House |
| Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes |
| Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre |
| Hamilton Business Centre |
| Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion |
| Hamilton Civic Museums |
| Hamilton Community Legal Clinic |
| Hamilton Health Sciences |
| Hamilton Police Service |
| Hamilton Public Library |
| Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre |
| Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board – HWCDSB |
| Hamilton Wentworth District School Board – Continuing Education |
| Hamilton Wentworth District School Board- Welcome Centre |
| Help A Girl Out |
| Immigrants Working Centre |
| Jamaica Foundation Hamilton |
| McMaster Continuing Education |
| Micah House |
| Mishka Social Services |
| Mohawk College |
| MPP Robin Lennox |
| Mujeres que inspiran Canada |
| Muslim Legal Support Centre |
| Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg |
| Ontario Structured Psychotherapy – West Region |
| Open Homes Hamilton |
| Paramedics |
| Positive Health Network |
| Rafiki Hamilton Centre |
| Sacha – Saxual Assault Centre |
| SCORE! Active |
| Send Relief Hamilton |
| Service Canada |
| Sisters in Sync |
| Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton |
| Solidarity Place |
| Sport for Life |
| Welcome Inn Community Centre |
| Wesley |
| YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford |
| Youth Wellness Centre- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton |
| YWCA Hamilton |
In addition to the other outdoor offerings, Hamilton Newcomer Day captivated the audience with live musical performances. Talented individuals showcased their skills and cultural backgrounds, highlighting the rich tapestry of cultures that make Hamilton a vibrant and inclusive community.
Featured:
| 3S Harmony Dance Group |
| Afro Nation |
| Joëlle Kabisoso (Emcee) |
| MauriiceTheDJ (DJ) |
| SalsaSoul Productions |
| Spitty (RBCxArtist) |
| Yalla Baladi Studio |
Thank you to Forge FC for providing Newcomer Day attendees with free tickets to the June 10 International Night game!
All-Day Activities (12-6 PM)
The community zone connected attendees with local ethnocultural organizations that provide community connections through various programs.
Featured:
| Afghan Association of Hamilton |
| Asociacion Fraternidad Hispana ( Fraternity Hispanic Association) AFH |
| Rwandan Canadian Community of Hamilton |
| Sahari Organization for Development |
| Somali Community in Hamilton |
| Templo Nueva Vida (Bilingual Protestant Pentecostal church) |
Food options and a local vendor marketplace was available on-site, offering a diverse selection of culinary delights and unique products that reflect Hamilton’s multicultural essence.
Food Vendors:
| Diddi Catering Services |
| Afrolicious |
| Butter & Creme Bakery and BBQ |
| Ice Cream Truck |
| Mesob Habesha Restaurant |
Marketplace Vendors:
| Gosdebbie |
| Amin Boutiqe |
| HennabyHilan |
| Keetup Publishing |
| Knoty An Dezigns |
| Oaesis Within |
| Orozmar Accesories |
| Reinders handmade |
Open Chair provided FREE barbering services to children and youth at Hamilton Newcomer Day!
ℹ️ The Open Chair is a community driven initiative focused on providing free barbering services to youth, primarily within local schools. Their goal is to help ease the financial burden on families, combat appearance based bullying, and contribute to a more confident, positive, and inclusive environment for young people.
Organized by the Immigrants Working Centre and YWCA Hamilton, the Kids Zone offered fun, family-friendly activities for children attending Newcomer Day.
Conveniently located behind the Hamilton sign, the Kids Zone was a welcoming space for kids to play, create, and enjoy the day.
Hosted by Karla-Maria Creativo, this interactive mural experience invited attendees to become part of the art. Located next to the Community Zone, participants can helped paint the mural throughout the day.
The completed piece will be displayed at City Hall and will travel across the city over the coming year.
The Community Mural was sponsored by the Good Shepherd.
Thank you to Karla-Maria Creativo for an engaging, interactive community mural experience!
Registered Activities
Newcomer Day also featured important workshops being facilitated by Solidarity Place Worker Education Centre and invited guest presenters.
This presentation provided a general overview of Spousal Sponsorship and Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) immigration applications in Canada. Participants learned about the basic requirements for each type of application.
Presented by Natalie Banka and Christopher Ciafro from Sanelli Law.
Location: Room 192/193 – First floor of City Hall
This workshop covered key workplace rights, including wages, hours of work, overtime pay, public holidays, leaves of absence, and termination rights.
Presented by Solidarity Place Worker Education Centre.
Location: Room 192/193 – First floor of City Hall
Spread the Word
Getting There
Please consider leaving your car at home when traveling to Newcomer Day as parking behind city hall is limited.
Public transit. Hamilton City Hall is easily accessible by HSR public transit. One block away, the Frank A. Cooke Transit Terminal is the hub for many HSR bus routes. Numerous buses stop even closer to city hall on Main Street and Hunter Street.
Bicycle. Hamilton Bike Share is very affordable and has several hubs adjacent to city hall. If bringing your own bike, parking racks are located behind city hall between the two lower parking lots.
Motor vehicle. Limited paid parking is available behind city hall, accepting payment by debit and credit card or with the Passport Parking App. Enter the lower parking lot from Jackson Street or Bay Street, and the upper parking deck from Hunter Street. Underground parking is also available in the municipal lot on Summers Lane (Hamilton Convention Centre) and Jackson Square.
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