Newcomer families settle in Portage

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This article was published 28/08/2025 (212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — Portage la Prairie has become one of the newest Canadian hubs for resettling government-assisted refugees, with the Portage Learning and Literacy Centre (PLLC) already welcoming its first six families through the federal Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP).

The new designation makes the city a direct destination for newcomers fleeing conflict and persecution, a role typically held by larger urban centres like Winnipeg or Toronto. Since the first families arrived unexpectedly in June, the PLLC has been busy providing the immediate, intensive support needed to start a new life in Canada.

“When we get that notice of arrival, it’s their flight, the date and the time,” said Miriam Ghitale, Settlement Co-ordinator at PLLC. “Then we go and pick them up at the airport.”

From there, the centre’s RAP team places families in temporary local housing for up to three weeks. They provide comprehensive orientations that cover everything from using household appliances and calling 911 to navigating banking, shopping, and the broader community.

Ghitale said it’s important to differentiate these newcomers from other immigration streams. The individuals arriving through the RAP program are government-assisted refugees who have been fully vetted by Canadian officials overseas before their arrival.

“By the time they come, all of that has been done and they arrive as permanent residents,” Ghitale explained, adding this is a key difference from refugee claimants, who begin the vetting process after arriving in Canada. “Some people just use blanket terms for everybody and they don’t understand the system.”

The first six families have come from countries that include Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Colombia and Afghanistan. Despite diverse backgrounds and language barriers, Ghitale said the integration has been overwhelmingly positive.

“They’re super eager to get involved,” she said. “They want to get educated, they want to improve their lives, they just seem really motivated. It’s been super rewarding.”

The PLLC was initially approved to welcome 50 individuals in its first fiscal year, which started on April 1 and runs to March 31, 2026. That number is set to double to 100 individuals for each of the following two years. With six families already settled and more arriving in the coming weeks, the program is on a rapid trajectory.

To meet the growing need, the centre is calling for community support.

“We’re always looking for volunteers, and more so now than ever,” Ghitale said. “We need volunteers to help with helping people move into permanent housing, getting furniture in there and things like that.”

While the PLLC has limited space for donated items, it works closely with the Portage Evangelical Church, which co-ordinates furniture donations for anyone in need. Ghitale encourages those with furniture to donate to contact the church directly. Financial donations or donations of household goods to organizations like the MCC Thrift Shop also help support new arrivals.

For more information on the program or how to volunteer, visit pllc.ca.

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