Global Gathering Place Scholarship Recipients of 2026
At our AGM in June, we were honoured to present our third round of Global Gathering Place Scholarships. This scholarship continues the legacy of New Community Credit Union with the support of Synergy Credit Union. Synergy Credit Union donated $50,000 to GGP as part of their commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for newcomers to Canada. In the years to come, GGP will disburse $5,000 in scholarships annually to help advance the careers of deserving refugees and immigrants.
From Santiago to Saskatoon: How Soccer Helped Our Client Connect to his New Home
In honour of Canada co-hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026, we’re happy to share a story from one of our clients on the power of soccer with its ability to unite people and offer a sense of belonging for those in new communities. Here, Victor reflects on the importance of soccer throughout his entire life and how that helped him adjust to life in Canada!
GGP Client Gives Back by Volunteering and Supporting Fellow Newcomers
Originally from Azerbaijan and also holding Turkish citizenship, Zulfiyya Jafarova first arrived in Canada in 2025. Her biggest challenge was adapting to a new system—particularly understanding the Canadian job market and professional requirements. She is a trained pharmacist with experience working in both Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Strong, Resilient, and Canadian: Khadija’s Journey to Citizenship
Originally from Syria, Khadija arrived in Canada in 2015 as a refugee alongside her mother. Like many newcomers, her biggest challenge first stepping into Canada was learning a new language, a barrier made greater by her visual impairment, which left her facing both a literacy challenge and a physical one. Khadija spent the first few years of her life in Saskatoon very isolated while living in an unfamiliar city that felt largely inaccessible, dependent on her elderly mother and disconnected from her community.
GGP Client Joins Our Group of Volunteers to Assist Other Newcomers
Mahlet came to Canada in 2023 from Ethiopia in search of a better life and further opportunities for her and her children. She initially arrived in Saskatoon on a closed work permit, working as a child caregiver in private homes.
Finding a True Sense of Belonging in a New Country
Bissan shares about her “beautiful experience in Canada—an experience that truly became beautiful only after joining Global Gathering Place.” Bissan arrived in Canada in September 2024 with her husband and […]
Staying Open-Minded and Resilient in a New Country
Umali was born in Sri Lanka, later moving to Doha in 2015, where she built a decade-long career with Qatar Airways. Recently, she relocated to Canada as a permanent resident, eager to bring her global experience into her new journey here.
Weaving Words: The Letter from Swift Current
Weaving Words is a creative writing workshop offered in partnership with the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild. Over four sessions, clients came together to learn, share, and explore their literary creativity.
Client Breaks Out of Shell at GGP
Rose immigrated to Saskatoon from Vietnam in 2023. She describes her life in her home country as very different from her life in Canada. “I had family and friends there, and I was used to my culture and language. When I came to Canada, everything was new—the weather, the language, and the way of life. It was not easy at first, but I came here for a better future for my family and myself.”
Global Gathering Place Scholarship Recipient One Year Later
Our client, Daryna, shares her journey as a newcomer after leaving her home in Ukraine along with her son. Last year, Daryna was one of the first recipients of the Global Gathering Place Scholarship, and here she discusses the impact this had on her life.