St. John's LIP September 2026 Newsletter

City Of St. John's Updates

Landmark Sign Public Engagement

It’s here! The St. John’s landmark sign is now in place near Mary Brown’s Centre, and now we want to hear what you think.

This temporary installation gives residents and visitors a chance to see the sign in person, experience its scale and design, and help us determine the best permanent location.

The sign is lit and can change to different colours to recognize social causes, special occasions and community events throughout the year. We are still fine-tuning the lighting, so for now, it will be lit in red and white while we make the final adjustments.

Public engagement is open until September 18.

Call For Members

Help shape the future of active transportation in St. John's!

The Office of the City Clerk is seeking community members to fill four positions on the Sustainable and Active Mobility Advisory Committee. Share your ideas, help inform local decisions, and make your voice heard.

Applications close Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.

Call for Members: Anti-Racism Working Group

Do you want to help combat racism while promoting diversity and inclusion?

If you have relevant lived experience and connections to diverse communities, join the Anti-Racism Working Group and help shape solution-based recommendations for Council and City staff.

Deadline to apply: Sunday, September 20, 2026

Call for Members: Seniors Advisory Committee

The Office of the City Clerk is seeking expressions of interest from a public representative (or their caregiver) to serve on the Seniors Advisory Committee.

The Seniors Advisory Committee provides advice to Council on issues that affect seniors and relate to City programs, services and policies. The Committee can bring forward topics that are important to seniors or provide advice on matters referred to it by other committees of Council.

Fall Recreation Registration

Registration for fall recreation programs begins Thursday, July 30 at 10 a.m. for St. John's residents. Register for children, youth, fitness outdoor, adult and seniors programs!

➡️To register and view programs visit StJohns.ca/RECconnect

📅Save the date!

Registration for Swimming and Aquatic Leadership programs begins Tuesday, August 25.

Partner and Community: News and Updates

Applications Are Now Open

Are you a final-year international student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador or the College of the North Atlantic? This competitive 9-month program gives you the tools, connections, and confidence you need to build your career and your future here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Join one of our upcoming info sessions to learn more:

• Monday, August 18, 12:00 PM (NT)
• Friday, August 28, 12:00 PM (NT)
• Tuesday, September 1, 11:00 AM (NT)
• Thursday, September 4, 1:00 PM (NT)

Application Deadline: September 14, 2026

ReLaunch Employment Program

YWCA's ReLaunch Employment Program is now accepting applicants for our next cohort, starting in late September

ReLaunch is a 19-week employment program for women and gender diverse folks (ages 30+) experiencing barriers to employment. This program is funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

This program includes:

A paid 7-week employment skills development group program.

A paid 12-week placement in a job of interest.

Circle of Distinction Awards

Get your tickets for the Circle of Distinction Awards now! Join us on 21st September and help us honour women and gender-diverse leaders in our community

When: September 21, 2026 (Monday); 8:30-11:30am.

Where: Signal Hill Campus, Memorial University

What's happening this year?

🏆 8 awards presented

🍳 Delicious breakfast

🎤 Emceed by Laurabel Mba

📚 Discussion with best-selling author of Good Guys and The Boat People Sharon Bala and Indigenous Advocate and Lawyer Lisa J. Smith

🎟️ Raffle with a chance to win roundtrip flights for 2!

Indigenous and Newcomer Storytelling Circle

Join us for our Indigenous and Newcomers Storytelling Circle session on Saturday, September 5th from 2pm - 4pm at the Tombolo office on the 2nd floor of 25 Kenmount Road (Suite 207).

This activity will feature storytelling from both an Indigenous elder and a newcomer elder, games, and a drum circle. 

Note: This activity has limited capacity, if you are planning to attend with family members or friends, please be sure to register individually for each family member! 

Blueberry Picking

Join us on Saturday, September 12th for our blueberry picking activity for newcomers!

Whether it's your first time picking berries or you're a seasoned berry-picker, you are welcome to join our group. Participants should meet us at the Tombolo Office on the 2nd floor of 25 Kenmount Road (Suite 207) by 1:45pm. Transportation from our office to the berry picking site will be provided! 

Note: This activity has limited capacity. If you plan to attend with family members or friends, please register each person attending with you individually!

BLOOM Paint & Sip: Rock Painting & Mocktail Night 

Date & Day: September 12^th / Saturday

Time: 6:00PM – 8:00 PM

Location: 7 Ricketts Rd St. John's, NL

Paint a rock, sip a mocktail, and get creative with BLOOM! A casual afternoon of painting, relaxing, and connecting with community.

BLOOM Coffee + Canva

Date & Day: September 17^th / Thursday

Time: 6:30PM – 8:30 PM

Location: 7 Ricketts Rd St. John's, NL

Create, Learn & Connect with Coffee, Creativity, Practical skills and Good company.

BLOOM Group Hike - Cape Spear & North Head

Date & Day: September 19^th /Saturday

Time: 1:00PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Cape Spear - Main Parking Lot – Information Centre St. John's, NL

Join BLOOM for a scenic Cape Spear group hike! Explore coastal trails, enjoy ocean views, connect with others, and spend time outdoors.

Free Evening English Classes Starting Sept. 14th!

The Association for New Canadians (ANC) is excited to announce free evening classes designed to help newcomers gain confidence in everyday communication, work, and life in Canada.

These classes are open to all newcomers and cover Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.

Details:

When: Every Monday and Tuesday

Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Location: ANC ESL Language School, 148 Elizabeth Ave.

Spaces are limited!

Contact us to register:

Phone: 709-726-6848

Email: linc@ancnl.ca

Website: www.ancnl.ca

Newcomer Seniors YMCA Wellness Discovery

Join us for a welcoming session designed to introduce newcomer seniors to gentle exercise, wellness activities, and the YMCA. 

Participants can move at their own pace, explore healthy ways to stay active, and connect with others in a friendly and supportive environment.

📅 Date: September 9, 2026

🕚 Time: 12:00 p.m.

📍 Location: YMCA of Newfoundland and Labrador, 35 Ridge Road, St. John’s, NL A1A 5G6

Participation is FREE!

Connections for Seniors & Senior Scholars – Health Series Registration

Join Connections for Seniors and Senior Scholars for a free 8-week Health Series designed for newcomer seniors.

📅 Date: Sessions take place on Tuesdays from September 15th

🕚 Time: 2:00 p.m.

📍 Location: 30 Harvey Road, St. John's

You are welcome to attend one, several, or all of the sessions. Please complete this form to register and select the sessions you would like to attend.

Participation is FREE!

Stories Across Time - Then & Now: Growing Up in Different Generations!

✨ Join us for an evening of stories, conversation, and fun as we explore how people grew up in different times and cultures.

💭 Share memories, discover similarities and differences, and connect across generations!

📅 Date: September 19, 2026

🕚 Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

📍 Location: 30 Harvey Road, St. John's

☕ Refreshments provided

All ages are welcome!

Participation is FREE!

Submit Your Events and Get Involved

Do you have an upcoming event the community should know about? Would

you like us to highlight a successful program or initiative? Get in touch.

The St. John’s LIP also has many opportunities for you to get involved.

Contact immigration@stjohns.ca for more information or to get involved.