Local Immigration Partnership - Lanark & Renfrew

06/23/2026

DON'T MISS OUT!!!!

The 3rd Annual Multicultural Potluck on Mill Street happens on Friday June 26, 5pm-8pm! Presented by our friends at The Inclusion Project, the Town of Mississippi Mills and supported by several community groups.

For more information about this beautiful event, visit: https://www.inclusionmm.org/potluck2026

06/20/2026

Imagine having 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes to decide what matters most.

What would you grab?
Your passport? Your grandmother's photographs? Your child's favourite stuffed animal? Would you lock the door, knowing you might never return?

World Refugee Day asks us to imagine something most of us hope we never experience. Because becoming a refugee isn't a dream.

It isn't a plan. And it isn't something that only happens to "other people."
History has shown that war, persecution, political instability, and environmental disasters can change lives overnight.

And here's something we don't often think about: Nobody refers to themselves as a refugee when they're growing up. They're teachers. Dancers. Engineers. Mechanics. Parents. Business Owners. Students.

People with favourite songs and annoying siblings and dreams for the future.
Refugee is not who someone is. It's what happened to them.

And perhaps that's why World Refugee Day matters.

Labels can sometimes be easy. Stories are harder. Statistics are easy. Human beings are harder. It's easier to debate immigration than it is to imagine your own family searching for safety.

Safety shouldn't be controversial and dignity shouldn't depend on where someone was born. The truth is, welcoming people doesn't erase our own stories.

Communities don't become weaker because more people belong. They become richer. World Refugee Day isn't asking us to agree on everything.

It's asking us to remember something simple:
Every person deserves the chance to live without fear.

If our lives changed tomorrow, we'd hope someone, somewhere, would remember that about us too.

❤️ Today, we honour the courage, resilience, and humanity of refugees around the world and the communities that choose compassion over fear.

https://youtu.be/E_UDuRea0Po?si=9-Rp7LU-yQ4ODAVW

06/19/2026

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21!!!!

Communities across Lanark and Renfrew Counties are coming together to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day with music, teachings, food, dancing, and opportunities to learn and connect. Everyone is welcome!

📍Renfrew
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Ma-te-Way Park
Join the celebration with:
Men's and Women's Drumming
Indigenous dancers
Hands-on crafts
BBQ
Educational sessions highlighting different Indigenous dance styles and traditions
A great day for families and anyone wanting to celebrate and learn together.

📍Pembroke
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Pembroke Marina Amphitheatre
Hosted by Waka-Ehi Lodge, the day includes:
Opening ceremony and songs
Cultural teachings and speakers
Youth Spirit Spotlight
Men's Group Drum – Feast Song
Live music with Skye MacLeod
Community vendors and artists
Interactive crafts and activities for kids
Scavenger hunt
Free BBQ

Come spend the day enjoying music, stories, food, and community.

📍Perth
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Indigenous Healing Circle/Healing Garden, Last Duel Park
This welcoming community celebration features:
Traditional songs and drumming with the Lanark Drum Circle
Jingle dress and men's traditional dance demonstrations
Teaching circles
Hands-on crafts and activities
Round dance
A small feast and giveaway

There will even be extra drums and rattles available so everyone can join in and experience the music.

Whether you're in Renfrew, Pembroke, or Perth, June 21 is a chance to celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, and community. Bring your family, bring your curiosity, and come enjoy a day of connection, learning, and celebration. 🧡

06/18/2026

🧡 Sunday is National Indigenous Peoples Day!

And there is so many amazing things happening in the
Brought to you by the Waka-ehi Lodge!

📍 Pembroke Marina Amphitheatre
📅 Sunday, June 21 | 11 AM – 3 PM

Come share in the day, the stories and teachings.

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Send a message to learn more

06/16/2026

Threads tell stories, and we're so excited to learn more on June 20th.

Join us for Weaving Tradition: Portuguese Textiles Through Time, a special virtual Culture Connect event featuring Joana Sequeira, Assistant Researcher in History at the University of Minho in Portugal. With decades of research focused on textile production, clothing, and trade, Joana will guide us through the rich history and traditions woven into Portuguese textiles.

From the colours and craftsmanship of the past to the stories they continue to tell today, this promises to be a fascinating journey through culture, heritage, and history.

We are deeply grateful to the Mississippi Mills Textile Museum for helping make this event possible and for their continued commitment to preserving and sharing textile traditions from around the world.

We can't wait to gather virtually and learn together.

June 20, 2026
Weaving Tradition: Portuguese Textiles Through Time
Virtual Event

More spots have been opened register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1990519396097?aff=oddtdtcreator

Every thread carries a story and every story helps connect us

06/16/2026

TONIGHT!!!

6PM-7PM
What's better that doing hands-on crafting? Doing it with others! Chat away while you create something awesome (like painting, friendship bracelets, delicious treats, and collages!) every Tuesday night. For the grand finale of the Renfrew Public Library's Craft & Connect series, theyr'e bringing US IN!

We'll introduce us to the Portuguese art of mosaics and teach everyone a little something about the history of mosaic making. It's going to be extremely fun so come along and check it out.

06/16/2026

What a lovely event!!

Multicultural Bites was filled with delicious food, good people and tons of learning about different cultural foods, traditions and more.

The Table Community Food Centre really built something amazing that gave space to listen to some incredible stories that highlighted the diversity in several heritage events this month such as:

· Pride Season
· National Indigenous History Month
· Portuguese Heritage Month
· Filipino Heritage Month
· Italian Heritage Month

Were you in attendance? Let us know what you think?!

06/12/2026

🎨🏃 Renfrew Colour Run
Get ready to run, walk, stroll, laugh, and get colourful!

We move at dawn!
Actually 9am 😁