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The evening opened with remarks from event organizer Jesse Friesen, who encouraged students to see Red Talks as a chance to learn with and from one another while strengthening real-world communication skills. After that, three 20-minute presentations were delivered by inspirational speakers. They spoke on a range of topics including personal stories, career journeys, honest reflections about the challenges and successes they experienced as newcomers or professionals working with newcomers and artificial intelligence.┬а

The speakers for the evening were Jhocelin Gilbert, Juanita DeSouza-Huletey and Rebecca Molly Hiebert. Jhocelin began the night by sharing her story of coming to Canada, the challenges she faced and incredible lose she faced and then how she built a successful path by staying determined and helping other newcomers. Next, Juanita spoke about aligning passion with purpose. She encouraged students to recognize their strengths and use them to guide their career and life decisions. The final presentation was from Rebecca, who introduced ideas about artificial intelligence and how new technology may shape learning and work in the future. Their stories and insights set the tone for meaningful discussions throughout the event.┬а

After each presentation, students participated in small-group discussions guided by thought-provoking questions. These discussions were lively and supportive, with students sharing their own thoughts, experiences and ideas. It felt like a safe space to practice English and connect with classmates in a meaningful way. 

Once the group discussions were wrapped up, students were invited to share their reflections at the event. Several brave students stood at the front to present what they had discussed with their groups to the whole audience. They shared what stood out to them, what they learned, and how the messages connected to their own lives. Their comments added a strong sense of community and showed how willing students are to encourage one another.┬а

Throughout the evening, one message resonated: find the meaning within yourself. Students reflected on how their skills and perspectives can contribute meaningfully to their future and to Canada. They also mentioned how important it is to have purpose; that small daily actions and staying determined, even when life feels challenging, can bring you closer to achieving your dreams.   

Students were also interested in the discussion about AI. The topic raised important questions about privacy, learning, and how technology is changing the workplace. Many said they would like to learn more about this in the future. 

Another theme that resonated strongly was volunteering. Students talked about wanting to get more involved in their community, meeting new people, and taking small steps that can open new opportunities. 

Closing remarks were delivered by Dean Kerri Korabelnikov from the School of Education, Arts and Sciences. She thanked the speakers, students and staff for creating a meaningful evening, and encouraged students to continue their hard work. 

Many students shared ideas for future presentations, including more personal stories from immigrants, more information about AI, career and business guidance and details about academic pathways at RRC Polytech. 

Red Talks provided a space for students to learn, practice English, build confidence and strengthen connections with their peers. Thank you to everyone who attended, shared their voices and helped make the evening meaningful for our community. Thanks to BMO for their ongoing support of CNI. Their partnership helps us create opportunities like Red Talks that bring our community together. 

When: Friday, Oct. 7, 4:00 pm┬а–┬а9:00 pm

Where: Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Ave.

Visit the Manitoba Museum website for more information.

Throughout the year, CNI organizes and participates in events that reflect this commitment. The Book Exchange, for example, invites students to share and discover books in English and other languages. This activity not only encourages learning, it also highlights the diverse backgrounds and stories that make up the CNI community. 

Access to resources is another way CNI supports students. In partnership with Computers for Schools Manitoba, students received refurbished computers to help them complete assignments, access online resources, and stay connected with family and friends. By reducing barriers, CNI helps students focus on their learning and future goals. 

CNI also brings multiple community partners to campus. This past year, the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba offered a water safety presentation, introducing newcomers to safe swimming and boating practices while encouraging them to enjoy ManitobaтАЩs lakes and rivers. Another example, Volunteer Manitoba, visited to share how students can contribute their time and talents, offering them a way to build connections, gain experience, and give back to the community. 

While many activities happen on campus, CNI goes into the community and welcomes newcomers through events and trade fairs. At these events, CNI staff connect directly with newcomers and share information about the programs and services available. These events are an important way to meet people where they are, answer questions, and introduce CNI to the wider newcomer community. 

Students and their families also have opportunities to take part in cultural activities and outings. Over the past year, groups have attended Manitoba Moose and Winnipeg Goldeyes games and enjoyed a family event at the Manitoba Museum, known as Night at the Museum. These experiences give students and their families the chance to explore Manitoba together and build connections outside the classroom. 

Together, these events showcase some of the ways CNI creates an environment where students are welcomed, supported, and encouraged to thrive. As Welcoming Week begins, they also highlight the many ways CNI works to ensure newcomers feel at home in both the classroom and the community. 

The knowledge I carry came not from studying connection 
but from living as the hyphen between worldsтАФ 
from understanding that relation survives every attempt at division. 

Here, together, we make these relations visible again. 

As Welcome Week begins, I want to share a story about what it means to live as relativesтАФnot just with each other, but with the land and water that sustain us all. 

Learning to Forget, Learning to Remember 

I am status First Nations from Chippewas of the Thames First NationтАФDeshkan Ziibing, the Antler River. Growing up, my Elders taught me that we are all relatives, that every action ripples through relationship. 

At 18, I left home and moved west. Over the decade, I lived across five provinces, always moving, seeking. The more I moved, the more disconnected I became. I lived without reflecting on what I consumed, without considering where resources came from. 

Despite moving through different territories, I wasn’t truly connecting with the land anywhere. Then, land acknowledgements became more common, and I’ll be honestтАФI found them performative. I was living the very disconnect they were trying to address. 

An Awakening in Oaxacaa 

Under Oaxaca’s brilliant sun, I felt ancestral whispers 
Zapotec ceremonies that echoed my grandmother’s teachings, 
revealing a resonation within my soul: 

Indigeneity flows beneath the categories 
colonial knowledge requires to maintain itself. 

Two winters ago, I became a snowbird spending six months in Oaxaca de Ju├бrez, MexicoтАФhigh in the dry mountains where Indigenous culture pulses through everything. 

Something profound was happening. I began recognizing familiar teachings. Indigenous wisdom flowing beneath borders. This awakening made me more aware of everythingтАФincluding dynamics I was only beginning to understand. 

As my stay deepened, I noticed looks changing from locals. Curiosity to resentment. 

Then I learned why. 

There, water is mostly private, precious, transported by trucks. Households have water tanks they pay to refill. I was ignorant of this, showering daily, running taps freely. 

Until one day, I turned on the tap and nothing came out. The tank was empty.  

As a tourist, I got a refill truck within 24 hours, but what about the locals I’d been feeling judgment from? 

They had to wait up to 40 days for water. Forty days. 

While I showered daily, families rationed every drop. I finally understood those hard looks. I understood the real weight of consumption, of privilege, of what it means when resources that seem infinite to some are desperately scarce for others. 

My Return, Making Relations Visible Again 

Now, returning to Red River’s evolving halls, 
I witness how far we’ve comeтАФbuildings open to all, 
diverse programs flourishing under one institutional sky. 

Yet still I see us gathered in familiar circles, 
celebrating culture while dwelling in separate spacesтАФ 
progress and distance coexisting under the same roof. 

When I returned to Manitoba, every time I turned on a tapтАФwater flowing from Shoal Lake 40 First NationтАФI remembered those 40-day waits. Every time I flipped a switch, I remembered real scarcity.  

This is when land acknowledgements stopped being performative for me. They became reminders of relationships, of ongoing responsibility, of the web that sustains us all. 

This new awareness made me see our community differently. Yes, there’s remarkable progressтАФbuildings welcoming everyone, diverse programs flourishing. Yet we still tend to gather in familiar circles, dwelling in separate spaces. 

What connects us, though, is universal: no matter where you come from, Peoples made sacrifices so we could be here. When we see through this lens of kinship, we understand that our stories, though different, are intertwined.  

Connection isn’t something we study. It’s something we live, daily, through every choice we make about how we relate to each other and the world that sustains us.  
 
We are all Connected 

I invite you to a presentation, We Are All Connected, happening September 11 and 12. RRC PolytechтАЩs Indigenous Education department is welcoming newcomers from CNI to help create a collaborative beadwork installation inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings. 

As you begin your studies, I invite you to reflect on your own connections: 
Who sacrificed so you could be here? 
What resources sustain your daily life? 
How can we honour them with gratitude and respect? 

When we see the world this way, we begin to understand: 
beneath all our differences, a shared truth flowsтАФWe are all connected. 

Welcoming Week 2025 programming at RRC Polytech 

Thursday, Sept. 11 
тАЬWe Are All ConnectedтАЭ beading activityтАВ|тАВ6:00pm until 9:00pm | Roundhouse (E240) 
Students and staff are invited to take part in a beading activity inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Together, participants will create a lasting visual legacy reflecting shared experiences.  

Friday, Sept. 12 
тАЬWe Are All ConnectedтАЭ beading activityтАВ|тАВ9:00am until 12:00pm | Roundhouse (E240) 
A second session of the beading activity, offering more students and staff the opportunity to participate and reflect. 

Monday, Sept. 15 
Community Resource FairтАВ|тАВ10:00am until 1:00pm and 6:00pm until 8:30pm | Roundhouse (E240)  
Newcomers are invited to connect with community organizations and RRC Polytech departments to learn about available programs and services. 

During Welcoming Week  
My Canadian ExperiencesтАВ 
Students are encouraged to complete the My Canadian Experiences activity and submit it for a chance to win a prize.  
 
Building a welcoming community 

RRC PolytechтАЩs CNI is proud to contribute to Welcoming Week 2025, recognizing the diverse backgrounds, stories and strengths newcomers bring. By participating in activities on campus, students and staff help build stronger connections and celebrate inclusionтАФwithin our college and across the wider community. 

Join this free webinar on March 12, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and get essential insights on:

What documents you need for your income tax return
CRA guidelines for filing your taxes
Tips for a smooth tax process

Important: This event is exclusive to Immigrant Centre clients.
Not a client yet? No problem! Register here:┬аhttps://www.icmanitoba.com/get-started/.

Platform: Online via Zoom

Secure your spot now and get ready for tax season with confidence!

• Saturday, October 12, 2024, 12:00 PM  4:00 PM
  • Drop in any time from 12 – 4 PM, no registration required!
• Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre
  • 61 Carlton Street

Visit the following website for more information: Spooky Second Saturday тАФ Dalnavert Museum (friendsofdalnavert.ca)

• When: Thursday, October 10th, 10AM-4PM

• Where: St. Vital Centre

Free admission, all are welcome.

Visit the Sara Riel website for more information.