Q&A: The Cross Cultural Learner Centre has been helping new Canadians for 55 years
CBC
The London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (CCLC) opened its doors in 1968 and has since become an institution. During those 55 years, the centre has welcomed thousands of new immigrants to the city.
The centre provides a variety of essential services for newcomers, including medical screening services, employment assistance and childcare.
The organization is looking to expand with plans for a new affordable housing project that will provide vital spaces for new immigrants in today's tight housing market.
CBC London Morning guest host Matt Allen took a tour of the Dundas Street facility with CCLC's Executive Director Valerian Marochko to see some of the spaces and find out why settlement services are so critical.
The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Matt Allen: What is the importance of the reception centre at the CCLC?
Valerian Marochko: The refugees that are resettled in Canada through the resettlement assistance program of the federal government would arrive and spend about five weeks on average at the reception centre.
It used to be about three weeks but because of the difficulty finding permanent housing, they would spend about five weeks on average in temporary accommodation. We provide the linen on their beds and we put their names on the door so they know which room is theirs. When they move to their permanent accommodation, they can take the linen with them. We have laundry where we wash the linen, and also during their stay, we have an additional house orientation. If they arrive at 2:00 a.m. from Pearson International Airport, there are staff who will welcome them and ensure that they know everything about the safety in the residence.
MA: You mentioned linen. There's Irish Spring here also, there is a toothbrush, you know, just the basics of life that you take for granted.
VM: Exactly. The basics of life and we also have to teach them some skills to use the appliances. And when we move people out to the new apartments, we have a program to teach them life skills like how to prepare lunch for their children who go to school, how to take children to school, where to do grocery shopping, everything. But it starts with the basic needs, as you said.
MA: There is also a dining room here. Could you describe what happens in this space?
VM: Each family receives as much as possible according to their ethnic preferences.
We have been cooking food, and more recently, we also have been using catered food from ethnic restaurants.
MA: Have you had any requests that you weren't prepared for and that you had to adjust to quickly?
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This First Person column is written by Melinda Maldonado, who lives in Toronto. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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