Portagers who work with newcomers to the country have a better understanding of the challenges facing new arrivals to Canada. The Portage Learning and Literacy Centre hosted a full-day event on Tuesday, which aimed to promote a better understanding of those who come to Canada. The Community Integration Volunteer Training event saw several presenters, ranging from those who work with immigrants and refugees, to those who've faced the challenges of refugees directly.

One of the presenters during the session was Mwumvaneza Azarias, fled the war in Rwanda in 1994, and spent several years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to Canada. He says finding out he'd be coming to Canada felt like he was going to Heaven, especially after living through the terrible challenges of the refugee camp.

"I remember, people fighting because of a jug of water, and to get water. The water, we'd line up and the tap would run dry before everyone got water. People we're fighting to fetch water first. I remember, some people would even kill each other because of a jug of water."

He describes his first month in Canada as a honeymoon period, with an optimistic outlook on the future ahead of him. However, that period came to an end when he began looking for work. Azarias says he couldn't find a job, couldn't find friends, and faced overall challenges integrating into Canadian Society. He eventually went back to school, attending Red River College for community economic development. Azarias shares his story in hopes to making the transition for future immigrants and refugees easier, by educating Canadians about what refugees may be facing.

"It's so they can know what's going on in the refugee camps so they're aware of what's going on in the refugee camps, how the life is in the refugee camp. That way, they can see them and understand where they're coming from and the problems they've had."

While educating the public is one aspect, Azarias notes another major support is the services provided to Canada's new arrivals. He says only with those types of programs can newcomers really begin to integrate into Canadian society.

"I appreciate the support and the services for the newcomers, but we need the provincial government to support those settlement agencies to really help the newcomers coming here. They will help them to stand on their feet."

Portage Learning and Literacy Centre Settlement Services Coordinator Don Boddy says it was a great event with no shortage of positive feedback. He hopes by continuing to educate the public, they'll be able to create a society that's more kind to those coming from other countries.

"Today was about getting people to think through a new lens. To understand that all of us come from different cultures and that our culture's not better than others, but different. So, don't assume that everything we think is right, is right."

Boddy notes it was interesting to see the crowd during the various presentations, as you could tell when many of them began to take a look at their own way of thinking.