Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.
Image for event: Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival and Panel Discussion

Registration now closed

Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival and Panel Discussion

in partnership with ELLA

2024-09-18 18:00:00 2024-09-18 19:30:00 America/New_York Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival and Panel Discussion Everyone Welcome Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium

Wednesday, September 18
6:00pm - 7:30pm

Add to Calendar 2024-09-18 18:00:00 2024-09-18 19:30:00 America/New_York Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival and Panel Discussion Everyone Welcome Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium

Main Library

James J. Brown Auditorium

Everyone Welcome

Join us for an inspiring evening featuring two powerful short films, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion with local leaders who have become part of our community through their unique and moving journeys.

This event is a chance for us to engage in meaningful dialogue and strengthen our community bonds. We look forward to sharing this experience with you and working together to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.

Welcoming Week, from September 13th to 22nd, celebrates the people, places, diversity, and values that make our community inclusive and welcoming, fostering a sense of belonging for everyone.

Successful integration is a two-way street: the more welcoming communities are, the more newcomers feel at home and contribute locally.

The Films

From Far Away - 6 mins - animation

This short animation tells the story of Saoussan, a young girl struggling to adjust to life in Canada after being uprooted from her wartorn homeland. She has come to seek a quieter and safer life, although memories of war and death linger, memories that are awakened when the children at her new school prepare for a scary Halloween. From Far Away speaks to the power within us all to adapt like Saoussan and to welcome a newcomer.

A Passage Beyond Fortune - 16 mins - live action

Through an intimate archive of the Chow’s family lineage, A Passage Beyond Fortune offers an homage to the culturally significant but buried history of Chinese-Canadian communities in Moose Jaw.

The Panelists

Yan Li

In 2002, Yan Li and her husband travelled over 5,000 miles from southwest China to Canada with four bags - bags full of memories and dreams for a new life.

Yan is very active with the local Chinese community. She volunteers with the Chinese Canadian Women's Federation and is the General Secretary of the Waterloo Chinese Community Association. She helped found the Waterloo Chinese Philharmonic Choir and supports the Waterloo Chinese Reading Club. Since 2010, Yan has hosted a Mandarin-language radio program on 98.5 CKWR where she shares music and information about what is happening in the community. She now works as a real estate agent with Peak Realty, helping many people find and establish a home in Waterloo Region.

Fadhwa Yusuf

Fadhwa is a Global Speaker, Transformational Life Coach, Talk Show Host. Fadhwa is also the recipient of 2023 The Torch Bearer Award and is launching her first book Going The Distance. Fadhwa’s mission is to empower others to live an authentic life, and manifest the life they envision and desire.

Immigration journey: I am from East Africa(Somaliland) Lived in Kenya, migrated to England, Migrated to Canada, Migrated to Wales, then back to Canada.

Fidelia Ukueje

In 2013, Fidelia Ukueje left her new husband and came to Canada five months pregnant and without knowing a soul to attend classes at Conestoga College.

Since then, she has become a seasoned, results-oriented project manager, with skills in leadership and marketing, customer relations, creative development, coaching and mentoring and vendor procurement. Currently, she is a social planner in children’s services for home childcare, Region of Waterloo. She also worked as a Program Assistant with Conestoga College and as a Social Planning Associate, Children and Youth Planning Table. She is also the founder and current President of NIROW Nigerians in The Region of Waterloo. Fidelia has made significant contributions to both her professional field and the community. Her story is truly remarkable, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and a passion for serving others.

AGE GROUP: | Everyone Welcome |

EVENT TYPE: | Special Events |

TAGS: | Adult learning |

Main Library

Phone: 519-886-1310

Hours
We're closed Wednesday January 01 due to New Year's Day
Mon, Dec 30 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Dec 31 9:30AM to 1:30PM
(New Year's Eve)
Wed, Jan 01 Closed
(New Year's Day)
Thu, Jan 02 9:30AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jan 03 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sat, Jan 04 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Sun, Jan 05 1:00PM to 4:00PM

About the branch

Located in the heart of Uptown Waterloo, the two-storey building features a separate children’s area, ample study space, the Ellis Little Local History Room and WPL’s largest collection of browsable materials.

Upcoming events

Mon, Dec 30, All day
All library locations
For Families

Mon, Dec 30, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Mon, Dec 30, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages 6 to 10 years old.
This event is full

Tue, Dec 31, All day
All library locations
For Families

Tue, Dec 31, 11:15am - 12:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Wed, Jan 01, All day
All library locations
All locations CLOSED for New Year's Day

Thu, Jan 02, All day
All library locations
For Families

Thu, Jan 02, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Online - Zoom
For kids ages 8 to 12 years old.
This event is full

Sat, Jan 04, 10:30am - 12:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Families

Sat, Jan 04, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Mon, Jan 06, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Older Adults
This event is full

Tue, Jan 07, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 07, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Jan 07, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Cancelled
Thu, Jan 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Jan 09, 10:45am - 11:45am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
Ages 12 to 23 months with a caregiver.

Sat, Jan 11, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Sat, Jan 11, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Main Library - Board Room
For Adults
This event is full

Mon, Jan 13, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Mon, Jan 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Adults and Older Adults

Mon, Jan 13, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 8 to 12 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Jan 13, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Cancelled
Tue, Jan 14, 10:30am - 11:15am
John M. Harper Branch
For children ages 2 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 14, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Jan 14, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 14, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Families

Tue, Jan 14, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Families

Wed, Jan 15, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For children ages 2 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Older Adults

Wed, Jan 15, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 15, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
McCormick Branch
For babies ages 4 to 12 months with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 15, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For tweens ages 10 to 13 years.

Wed, Jan 15, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years.

Thu, Jan 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Jan 16, 11:00am - 11:45am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For children ages 12 to 23 months with a caregiver.

Thu, Jan 16, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - Board Room
For ages 16 years and up.

Fri, Jan 17, All day
All library locations
For Families

Fri, Jan 17, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Families

Sat, Jan 18, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
For families

Sat, Jan 18, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Sat, Jan 18, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For tweens ages 8 to 12 years old.

Sat, Jan 18, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Sat, Jan 18, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For tweens ages 10 to 13 years.

Mon, Jan 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
McCormick Branch
For ones ages 11 to 23 months with a caregiver.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Mon, Jan 20, 10:30am - 11:15am
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Mon, Jan 20, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Mon, Jan 20, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For tweens ages 9 to 12 years.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Mon, Jan 20, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 8 to 12 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Jan 20, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 7 to 9 years old.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Tue, Jan 21, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Older Adults

Cancelled
Tue, Jan 21, 10:30am - 11:15am
John M. Harper Branch
For children ages 2 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 21, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 21, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For kids ages 8 to 12 years.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Tue, Jan 21, 6:45pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Wed, Jan 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For children ages 2 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 22, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 22, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
McCormick Branch
For babies ages 4 to 12 months with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 22, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Families

Wed, Jan 22, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For tweens ages 10 to 13 years old.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Wed, Jan 22, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Wed, Jan 22, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Thu, Jan 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
McCormick Branch
Ages 0 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Thu, Jan 23, 11:00am - 11:45am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For children ages 12 to 23 months with a caregiver.

Thu, Jan 23, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years.
Registration opens Thursday, January 2 2025 at 7:00pm

Thu, Jan 23, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - Board Room
For Adults
Registration opens Thursday, January 2 2025 at 7:00pm

Sat, Jan 25, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Families

Sat, Jan 25, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Families

Sat, Jan 25, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Main Library - Board Room
For Adults
This event is full

Sat, Jan 25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Families

Mon, Jan 27, 10:30am - 11:15am
John M. Harper Branch - Program Room
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Mon, Jan 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
McCormick Branch
For ones ages 11 to 23 months with a caregiver.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Mon, Jan 27, 10:30am - 11:15am
Eastside Branch - Program Room
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Mon, Jan 27, 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For kids ages 6 to 9 years.
Registration opens Monday, January 6 2025 at 7:00pm

Mon, Jan 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For tweens ages 8 to 12 years old.
This event is full

Mon, Jan 27, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids ages 7 to 9 years old.
Registration opens Monday, December 30 2024 at 7:00pm

Mon, Jan 27, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Adults

Cancelled
Tue, Jan 28, 10:30am - 11:15am
John M. Harper Branch
For children ages 2 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 28, 10:30am - 12:30pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Older Adults

Tue, Jan 28, 10:30am - 11:15am
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
Ages birth to 5 years with a caregiver.

Tue, Jan 28, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
John M. Harper Branch - Community Room
For Families

Tue, Jan 28, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Families

Tue, Jan 28, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For Adults
Registration opens Tuesday, January 7 2025 at 7:00pm

Wed, Jan 29, 10:30am - 11:15am
McCormick Branch
For children ages 2 to 5 years with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 29, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Main Library - James J. Brown Auditorium
For Older Adults

Wed, Jan 29, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For kids 2 to 5 years old with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 29, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
McCormick Branch
For babies ages 4 to 12 months with a caregiver.

Wed, Jan 29, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
McCormick Branch
For Adults

Wed, Jan 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Eastside Branch - Program Room
For teens ages 13 to 18 years.
Registration opens Wednesday, January 8 2025 at 7:00pm