Diaspora North
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park rising from Lake Superior, Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario

Diaspora North · Northern Ontario

A welcoming, well-resourced community for newcomers and neighbours across the North.

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First week essentials

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A snowy street at evening — the kind of quiet that defines a Northern Ontario winter

Featured story

“Thunder Bay was cold. The neighbours weren't.”

Aisha arrived from Mogadishu in February 2024. A year later, she runs a Somali kitchen on Bay Street and serves city councillors lamb sambusas on Tuesdays.

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Why Diaspora North

Four ways we help.

Settlement Resources

Plain-language guides for housing, healthcare, schools, banking, and the everyday details that don't make it into the official handbooks.

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Local Life

Festivals, free things to do in your city, library passes, public swims, and the community gatherings that no one tells you about until you've been here for years.

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Local Business Directory

Diaspora-owned and newcomer-friendly businesses across Northern Ontario — restaurants, services, shops, and trades.

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Community Stories

Profiles, guides, and news from across our communities. The best information comes from neighbours.

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For local businesses

Diaspora-owned? Newcomer-friendly? Get listed.

The directory is curated to help newcomers find businesses where they feel at home — restaurants serving foods from home, salons that know their hair, accountants who speak their language, and trades they can trust. Listings are free for diaspora-owned and newcomer-friendly businesses across Northern Ontario.

Get listed (free)

What we look for

  • Owned or operated in Northern Ontario
  • Welcoming to newcomers (in spirit, language, or service)
  • A working website or active social presence
  • Real photos of the business, team, or product

From the blog

Recent stories & guides

April 27, 2026

From Mogadishu to Bay Street: Aisha's Thunder Bay

Aisha arrived from Mogadishu in February 2024. A year later, she runs a Somali kitchen on Bay Street and serves city councillors lamb sambusas on Tuesdays.

Read →

April 27, 2026

IRCC Settlement Service Eligibility Changes: What Northern Ontario Newcomers Need to Know

As of April 1, 2026, economic-class permanent residents have a 6-year cap on free IRCC settlement services. Refugees and family-class immigrants are not affected.

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April 26, 2026

Welcome to Diaspora North

We're building a community hub for newcomers, neighbours and local business across Northern Ontario. Here's what's coming.

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