Successfully settling into life in a new city, in a new country, can be challenging. But you don’t have to navigate the process alone. If you need support, there are community resources that can help you with every part of what it takes to settle in Saint John. Find the exact community supports you need below. For a customized list of available services visit the Saint John Services Navigator.
Saint John Region public schools offer education in English and French Immersion through Anglophone South School District, and French education through District Scolaire Francophone Sud. There are also private school options available within the Greater Saint John region. The Anglophone South School District has a Newcomer and International Student Welcome Centre to provide support for those registering their children to attend school in Canada. Students in elementary and middle school who are learning English as an Additional Language will receive support through English as an Additional Language programming as required. Support is determined following intake assessments within the first week of school.
The ARCf contributes to the well-being and quality of life of Francophones in the greater Saint John Region. They collaborate with all organizations in the region with the aim of improving services in French as well as ensuring the vitality of the French-speaking community.
Anchored in the Acadian and French-speaking community of New Brunswick, CAFi assists with the full integration of immigrants. CAFi supports newcomers in finding temporary or permanent housing, helps with administrative procedures, deliverables free workshops and tax clinics, arrival support to find language courses, validate a driving license, sporting or cultural activities, and network building.
ConnexionWorks is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2015 with the focus of providing an inclusive and collaborative environment to support the success of entrepreneurs and businesses in the Greater Saint John Region. In addition to programming, ConnexionWorks supports entrepreneurs and remote workers with temporary or permanent desks to work from, meeting and event space hosting, connection opportunities, and much more. ConnexionWorks is also home to Brilliant Labs, a maker space for individuals looking to get their hands on innovative technology such as 3D printers, robots, shirt printing machines, and more.
Saint John Region public schools offer education in English and French Immersion through Anglophone South School District, and French education through District Scolaire Francophone Sud. There are also private school options available within the Greater Saint John region. The Francophone South School District covers a vast territory in the south-central part of the province of New Brunswick and is the largest French-speaking district in New Brunswick. There are more than 17,000 students, including more than 2,600 from diverse backgrounds.
Envision Saint John is the regional economic development agency representing the City of Saint John, Quispamsis, Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton, Fundy-St. Martins, and Fundy Rural District. Their role is to attract people, visitors, business, and investment to the Saint John Region. They also provide navigation support for those looking to open and operate a business, and new residents settling within the community. Be sure to visit their Service Navigation portal to find the right services for you.
FACE, or Family and Child Education, is a non-profit organization that works with 'young families' in southern New Brunswick with financial support from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. They offer support to families and caregivers with children aged 0-8 years. The services are for parents/caregivers facing challenges in raising their child, people concerned about their child's development or transition to school or those looking to be less overwhelmed.
If you're a volunteer looking to connect with peers, support a cause you believe in, meet new people, or grow your experience, the Greater Saint John Volunteer Connector database of volunteer positions and organizations can help you find the perfect fit. Volunteers are matched to volunteer positions based on their skills and interests, and can submit applications to any volunteer position available on their website.
The Horizon Health Network (Horizon) is proud of its dedicated team of health care professionals who are focused on delivering safe and quality care to patients, clients, families and communities. Horizon operates 12 hospitals and more than 100 medical facilities, clinics, and offices throughout New Brunswick. with several community health centres in the area, as well as Horizon’s Charlotte County Hospital, Grand Manan Hospital, Saint John Regional Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Sussex Health Centre. NB Health Link is a new service that provides New Brunswickers with access to health care, while they wait for a permanent provider such as a family physician or nurse practitioner. For more information about the program, please visit the NB Health Link website NB Health Link website.
The New Brunswick Multicultural Council is working to enrich and grow our communities and enhance life in our province by enabling newcomers and members of the multicultural community to fully participate in society. They offer a number of programs such as The Bridge for newcomer youth, Represent NB, a bilingual program that equips individuals with the skills, training, and opportunities to meaningfully participate in decision-making tables, and Imagine NB, an intensive, bilingual intercultural leadership accelerator to support ideas, talents, passion of immigrant youth.
Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) is accelerating growth by attracting global business, strengthening exports, and empowering local companies and entrepreneurs. A nimble, results-driven and client-centric organization, ONB is a Crown Corporation, strategically led by a private sector Board of Directors, made up of business leaders from New Brunswick companies and academia.
PRUDE Inc. is a charitable organization that focuses on the education of both newcomers and Canadian-born individuals, youth, communities, and businesses to foster welcoming and wonderful experiences for all by fostering community connections designed to welcome landed immigrants with the Canadian Way programs and workshops, community outreach to bridge cultural diversity through anti-racism programs, and training in-school education to enrich our regional cultures.
The Saint John Free Public Library offers welcoming spaces for everyone. Their sites include access to computers, free internet, photocopier and scanning services, a study room, meeting room rentals, family play arears, daily programming, and book rentals. With several locations throughout Saint John, the public library is open to all.
The Saint John Newcomers Centre settlement advisors guide individuals and families through the process of creating a settlement plan. Each customized plan is built according to the newcomer’s specific needs and immigration status. Their advisors will also recommend attending one of the Centre’s many programs and events that connect newcomers to the local community and foster positive integration into their new home.
Through various offerings, programs, and membership opportunities, the Saint John Region Chamber supports local businesses looking to grow and expand. Joining your local Chamber of Commerce can increase your business potential by helping you establish valuable contacts, build your network, gain valuable promotional exposure, stay better informed of new opportunities, and save money with member-to-member benefits.
The Saint John Region New Resident Guide is available for download and print. It is a valuable resource that you can bring with you as you settling into your new community. This guide includes information on settling in the Saint John Region and is available at several locations throughout the community. From housing and transportation, language services, education, employment, and even the weather and special events, we hope this guide will help you find what you are looking for.
Service New Brunswick (SNB) is the Government of New Brunswick’s chief provider of front-line services to the public, delivering more than 300 services to the public through a network of office locations, online services, and Service New Brunswick contact centres. They provide access and navigation support on many federal, provincial and municipal government services. They also assist with obtaining a driver's license, medicare inquiries, tenant and landlord relations, property assessments and much more.
WorkingNB employment counsellors assist individuals with career decision-making, skills development, and job searches. They can help you explore your interests and skills to determine which career option is the best match for you, and identify the right training options for pursuing your career goal. They also provide job search assistance, and retirees secure short-term employment.
The YMCA of Southwest New Brunswick provides language assistance, information sessions to get to know your new community better, settlement advice and assistance, employment support, and an opportunity to build new connections.