THE GOOD PLACE
Home Sweet Home
The Saint John Newcomers Centre offers resources and a welcoming space for new New Brunswickers.
By Maureen Delaney
(From top) Staff at the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC) proudly display the “You Belong Here” sign, which now hangs on the wall to welcome visitors; Mohamed Bagha, the centre’s managing director. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SAINT JOHN NEWCOMERS CENTRE
WITH ITS “YOU BELONG HERE” SIGN and friendly staff, it’s clear that the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC) provides more than just settlement services. It’s also a welcoming community hub that helps newcomers make social connections and find their footing in the growing city of Saint John, N.B.
Founded in 2009 as a non-profit, the SJNC is dedicated to helping newcomers access vital resources and services, including pre-arrival information and legal, employment and language supports. Team members, who speak nearly 25 languages (including Arabic, Ukrainian and Mandarin), help newcomers find housing, identify mentorship and employment opportunities and more. “We work [on] financial literacy... starting a bank account, purchasing insurance, things like that. We work [on] legal literacy. We have mental health programs,” says Mohamed Bagha, the centre’s managing director. “We want to make sure our clients are getting the services they require, and that they have the essential information necessary to make good decisions.”
“We want to make sure our clients are getting the services they require, and that they have the essential information necessary to make good decisions.”
One thing Bagha has learned during his 12-year tenure at the SJNC: newcomers need to feel part of their new community in order to put down roots. To this end, the centre has created a program that invites both newcomers and locals to volunteer at spots including the Saint John Airport, the Saint John Food Basket and the Loch Lomond Villa Nursing Home. “Newcomers — and the people who support newcomers — are helping these organizations,” says Bagha. “You can see the friendships that have been created through the volunteering opportunity.” The SJNC also organizes weekly Saturday socials for English and French language learning and special events, such as the annual International Culture Fest, which attracted nearly 10,000 visitors in 2025. And the centre runs multicultural markets at other times of the year, including during Latin Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month, providing opportunities for newcomer entrepreneurs to showcase their wares. “At the end of the day,” Bagha says, “when a newcomer succeeds, a New Brunswicker succeeds — and when a New Brunswicker succeeds, a newcomer succeeds.” CAA
The International Culture Fest celebrates Saint John’s rich cultural diversity through music, dance, street foods and interactive activities. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAINT JOHN NEWCOMERS CENTRE
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(From left) Staff at the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC) proudly display the “You Belong Here” sign, which now hangs on the wall to welcome visitors; Mohamed Bagha, the centre’s managing director. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SAINT JOHN NEWCOMERS CENTRE
WITH ITS “YOU BELONG HERE” SIGN and friendly staff, it’s clear that the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC) provides more than just settlement services. It’s also a welcoming community hub that helps newcomers make social connections and find their footing in the growing city of Saint John, N.B.
Founded in 2009 as a non-profit, the SJNC is dedicated to helping newcomers access vital resources and services, including pre-arrival information and legal, employment and language supports. Team members, who speak nearly 25 languages (including Arabic, Ukrainian and Mandarin), help newcomers find housing, identify mentorship and employment opportunities and more. “We work [on] financial literacy... starting a bank account, purchasing insurance, things like that. We work [on] legal literacy. We have mental health programs,” says Mohamed Bagha, the centre’s managing director. “We want to make sure our clients are getting the services they require, and that they have the essential information necessary to make good decisions.”
“We want to make sure our clients are getting the services they require, and that they have the essential information necessary to make good decisions.”
One thing Bagha has learned during his 12-year tenure at the SJNC: newcomers need to feel part of their new community in order to put down roots. To this end, the centre has created a program that invites both newcomers and locals to volunteer at spots including the Saint John Airport, the Saint John Food Basket and the Loch Lomond Villa Nursing Home. “Newcomers — and the people who support newcomers — are helping these organizations,” says Bagha. “You can see the friendships that have been created through the volunteering opportunity.” The SJNC also organizes weekly Saturday socials for English and French language learning and special events, such as the annual International Culture Fest, which attracted nearly 10,000 visitors in 2025. And the centre runs multicultural markets at other times of the year, including during Latin Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month, providing opportunities for newcomer entrepreneurs to showcase their wares. “At the end of the day,” Bagha says, “when a newcomer succeeds, a New Brunswicker succeeds — and when a New Brunswicker succeeds, a newcomer succeeds.” CAA