NAC started in 2017 as a social group to engage and empower immigrants, refugees and newly-arrived individuals (IRNs) with validated information on Canadian immigration process, legal, settlement and social services to their mental well-being. In 2018, a volunteer advisory committee was formed which led to a WhatsApp group known “NEW CANADIANS 2018”on July 9, 2018. In 2019, through consultations with stakeholders, the group became “New African Canadians” to be inclusive of different beneficiaries especially of East African descent. In November 2020, New African Canadians (NAC) was federally incorporated as a not-for-profit in Canada (No. 1253517-3) with a mandate to provide community based mental health, immigration and settlement support to individuals and families.
