HMC Connections was founded in 1978 by volunteers from a number of local cultural groups who wanted to create a welcoming community for newcomers and refugees.
The idea that our community needed an advocate for newcomers arose out of a community concern of the treatment of the Vietnamese Boat People in the mid 1970s. In 1978 a group of concerned citizens met and started to HMC began as a pilot under the Oakville Social Planning Council (which is Community Development Halton today) with a mission to help newcomers and refugees. HMC became incorporated in June 1980 under the name Oakville Multicultural Council and started working with government and foundation grants with the mandate of making our community more welcoming and inclusive. In 1998 we changed our name to the Halton Multicultural Council as we were serving the whole of Halton. We now brand as HMC Connections with offices across Halton.
A deep and heartfelt thank you to those original founding members. Your community minded idea in 1978 has meant that HMC has been able to serve over 250,000 people over its history. We connect people to needed services and information, provide critical resources to families in need, and support the integration of refugees in our community. You can be so proud that your work has had such a dramatic impact on peoples’ lives.
HMC currently has more than 80 staff and serves over 11,000 people per year. We offer settlement, employment, language classes and social connection programs for youth and families. We are here to make sure you have the right information at the right time in your settlement process to help you make the best decisions for yourself and your family in Canada.
Introducing the HMC Podcast
HMC Connections helps newcomers settle and integrate into a more welcoming and inclusive community.
One Community For All
HMC’s mandate is to enable all individuals, regardless of race or ethnic origin, to participate as full and active members of the community while fostering mutual respect and understanding. The objectives of the organization are:
To provide services and programs to facilitate and assist the settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees to the community.
To develop community education programs to increase the general awareness of the needs of immigrants and refugees and to facilitate cross-cultural communication and understanding.
To create and provide opportunities for members of various ethno-cultural groups/organizations to discuss common interests and to develop cooperative undertaking.
To encourage and promote dialogue and co-operation between members and representatives of service organizations and public officials.
To encourage and facilitate the development of support groups and community organizations for immigrants and refugees when possible and required.
To provide cultural activities and special events designed to foster the representation of cultural heritage and to improve and develop intercultural understanding.
Fostering mutual respect and understanding of each other.
Building awareness and understanding regarding cultural communications and differences.
Supporting the community to be inclusive, diverse, supportive and respectful.
Empowering newcomers to live work and belong while helping to preserve their own culture and uniqueness.
Advocating for newcomers’ rights and services.
Establishing strong accountability to all of our stakeholders
Whether you’re new to Canada, exploring career options, or looking to get involved in your community, we’re here to help.
380 Dundas St. E. Unit D-11
Oakville, ON L6H 6Z9
777 Guelph Line,
Unit 204
Burlington, ON L7R 3N2
55 Ontario St. S. Unit C-11
Milton, ON L9T 2M3
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