Community Forum

Exploring Diverse Newcomer Experiences, Community Challenges and Collective Action

Join us for the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) Community Forum, a full-day event connecting diverse community voices in Hamilton to better understand newcomer experiences from an intersectional lens, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, and strengthen our collective response in a changing policy landscape.

Date: Tuesday December 1, 2026
Time: 9 AM – 3 PM
Location: David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main St. W. (downtown Hamilton)

This event is free and open to all. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Agenda

9:00 AM

Registration and Breakfast

9:30 AM

Welcome | Land Acknowledgement | Indigenous Opening

10:00 AM

Keynote

11:00 AM

Panel

The panel brings together local community partners who will offer diverse perspectives and help establish a common understanding of issues and opportunities facing newcomers in our community. The panelists will share their insights, expertise and potential solutions, helping set the stage for the breakout sessions that follow.

12:00 PM

Lunch and Networking

1:00 PM

Breakout Community Conversations

These breakout sessions are intended to provide space for participants to have the opportunity to reflect on the themes raised, identify local priorities, and contribute ideas for collective action. Topics include Anti-Discrimination, Employment, Health, and Housing.

2:30 PM

Report Back and Closing

Registration Opens on November 2, 2026

Who is this event for?

HIPC’s Community Forum is a free, annual event that is open to all. We encourage attendance and participation from:

Newcomers to Hamilton
Community members with lived experience of migration
Community members who care about newcomers
HIPC Members and community partners
Staff members of organizations that work with newcomers
Decision-makers who want to support newcomers

Will food be provided?

Yes! Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please make note of any allergies or dietary restrictions when registering for the event.

Do I need to select which community conversation I want to attend?

This event will feature four community conversations beginning at 1:00 PM on Anti-Discrimination, Employment, Health, and Housing. Please select the session you are most interested in attending when you register. This will help us plan for room capacity and facilitation in advance. You are welcome to switch sessions the day of the event.

Is parking available?

Paid parking is available at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre ($6/hr, or $20 daily max), and at Hamilton City Hall located across the street ($3.50/hr or $15 daily max). The venue is also accessible by HSR Bus Routes #1, 5, 10 and is a short walk from Frank A. Cooke Transit terminal.

Who is organizing this event?

HIPC is a local community planning table that brings together a diverse range of sectors and organizations to ensure Hamilton is a welcoming community where newcomers have positive settlement experiences and feel a sense of belonging. We are embedded in the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Department.

Read the 2025 Community Forum Report

This report brings together insights from newcomers, service providers, community leaders, and partners who participated in HIPC’s November 2025 Community Forum.

Guided by findings from the Hamilton Immigrant Survey 2025, the report highlights the interconnected challenges newcomers face in areas such as employment, housing, language training access, social inclusion, and system navigation. It also identifies opportunities for stronger collaboration, service coordination, and advocacy to improve settlement outcomes and foster belonging in Hamilton.