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Conveniently located between Canada’s capital, Ottawa, and Canada’s business centre, Toronto.

Immigration & Settlement Support 

Peterborough & the Kawarthas is a welcoming community, offering a number of resources for newcomers.

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New Canadian Centre Peterborough 

New Canadians Centre Peterborough Logo

Founded in 1979, The New Canadians Centre Peterborough (NCC) is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees and other newcomers in the Peterborough and Northumberland regions.

Services include, but are not limited to:

  • Immigration & Settlement Services
  • Employment Information & Referral Services
  • Community Connection Services
  • Interpretation, Translation & English as a Second Language Services
  • Home-Based Business Incubator program

Peterborough Immigration Partnership

Established in 2008, the Peterborough Immigration Partnership (PIP) is a community-based partnership of individuals and organizations (including the New Canadians Centre) which envisions a community where the meaningful economic, social and cultural integration of newcomers ensures a prosperous and inclusive community for all.

Services include, but are not limited to:

  • List of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion training opportunities offered by Peterborough Community Partners
  • Workplace integration opportunities
  • Student support & retention
  • Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program

Welcome Pass Program through the Peterborough Immigration Partnership

Get free access to local cultural activities to gain awareness of local Canadian heritage and culture. This is a one-year pass for free or discounted admission to cultural organizations in the City and County of Peterborough, for immigrants and refugees in Canada 5 or fewer years.

Welcome Peterborough Immigration Portal

WelcomePeterborough.ca, hosted and maintained by the New Canadians Centre, is a good source of information about various aspects of settling in Peterborough, whether one is looking to immigrate here, relocate from another community, or if you have arrived recently.

Start-Up Visa Program

The Innovation Cluster is one of about 35 designated business incubators in Canada approved to invest in or support possible start-ups through the Start-up Visa Program.

The Start-up Visa Program comes with many benefits including enabling immigrant entrepreneurs to launch innovative companies that will create jobs in the region while competing on a global scale. When participating in programming by a designated incubator, entrepreneurs are provided with valuable assistance in navigating the Canadian business environment which can often be challenging for newcomers. Not to mention, it brings some of the best and brightest minds from around the world providing private sector firms with access to a broader range of entrepreneurs.

aerial view of bridge, buildings and forest surrounding a river

See the Relocation Guide

Everything you need to set down roots in Peterborough & the Kawarthas from information on setting up house to accessing settlement support services and ways to get around.

Immigration profile: Peterborough, Ontario (Census Metropolitan Area)

Source: Canada.ca

8%
Immigrants in Peterborough represent over 8% of the population
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is the biggest source country of immigrants in Peterborough, followed by the United States and Germany.
47%
Nearly half of all immigrants who came to Peterborough between 1980 and 2016 were economic immigrants. More than a third (37%) were sponsored by family and 15% were refugee.

Did you know?

Other than English and French, the most common mother tongues in Peterborough are German, Dutch, and Polish.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas is in the process of undergoing significant changes to the economic development and tourism delivery model in the region. Community Futures Peterborough is now operating the regional Small Business Enterprise Centre (Business Advisory Centre).

Beginning in 2025, the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County will assume full responsibility for economic development and tourism services, and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development will cease operations at the end of 2024.

For economic development support please contact:

Peterborough County: www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdevtourism or contact Rhonda Keenan at 1-800-710-9586 ext. 2600

City of Peterborough: www.peterborough.ca or call 1-800-855-3755

For tourism and visitor services support please contact:

Peterborough County: www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdevtourism or contact Tracie Bertrand at 1-800-710-9586 ext. 2502

City of Peterborough: https://peterborough.ca/en/explore-and-play/explore-and-play.aspx or 1-800-855-3755

NOTE: investptbo.ca website will be decommissioned on November 20th, 2024