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Read our territorial acknowledgment | Telephone: 226.779.9695 |  email us

Check out our calendar of Spectrum Events here!

2SLGBTQIA+ Immigrant and Refugee Services

Spectrum welcomes our region's 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers and immigrants! Rainbow newcomers who are new to Canada and looking for support may be interested in our Rainbow New Canadians Peer Support Group social which meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month in the Spectrum space from 4-6pm. Check our calendar for details. 

Spectrum is occasionally able to provide a letter of support for refugees applying for landed immigrant status on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. We do not guarantee a letter of support to any individual.

In order to be considered for a letter of support, you need to have at least attended several Spectrum events or group meetings. To ensure your attendance is tracked, please complete the Attendee Sign In form advertised in the space with a QR code. Attending Spectrum programming is crucial in order for us to provide a clear, strong letter of support. 

Once you have attended multiple Spectrum events or group meetings, you can complete the Request for Letter of Support form. Please ensure the e-mail you used in your Attendee Sign In forms matches the e-mail you provide in the Request for a Letter of Support form so we can effectively match your Spectrum attendance in writing the letter.

Download our Toolkit for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers

New Canadians Group:

The New Canadians Group (formerly Rainbow Newcomers Connect) is a gathering hosted by Spectrum on the 2nd Sunday afternoon (4-6pm) of the month. The main purpose of these social gatherings is for us to learn from each other as a diverse community. We are not only 2SLGBTQ+ people but we also come from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

We have activities and discussions that allow us to get to know one another, learn from each another and share about our experiences. It is our hope that this time will not only be educational, but that it will also build friendships and connections within the community.

Visit the Calendar for Details
Spectrum does not offer legal advice and doesn't work in immigration or with refugee sponsorship. 

If an individual is overseas and looking for a way to get here they need to get in touch with an organization that works with sponsorship or visa applications. One useful organization is Rainbow Refugee. 

These other resources might be helpful for you as well:

You might also connect with the Solidarity Alliance, a working subgroup of the Rainbow Community Council (RCC) that formed in recognition of gaps in services and essential resources for 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers/refugees/immigrants to Waterloo Region.