MOOSE JAW — A driver’s education and funding program offered by the Newcomer Welcome Centre concluded its once-yearly intake this spring. This program helped 12 new residents afford the required testing to attain their Class 5 Saskatchewan driver’s license, and the program’s success – and high demand – underscores the vital role it plays for Moose Jaw’s newcomer community.
While the next round of the driver’s program is set to take place in spring 2025, Moose Jaw’s newest community members still have options and may be able to find answers to some of their road test-related questions.
“(Any newcomers with questions) are welcome to come to our office or call and make an appointment to discuss any… questions they may have,” explained Melissa Mitchell, manager of the Newcomer Welcome Centre.
Mitchell said anyone with road-related questions is asked to make an appointment in advance to ensure their questions can be answered properly.
As well, the Newcomer Welcome Centre maintains a Community Café workshop that takes place on every third Thursday, and newcomers are invited to bring up any questions or concerns they might have at these meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 20 at the Newcomer Welcome Centre.
The Community Café workshops hosted by the Newcomer Welcome Centre – itself a subsidiary of the Moose Jaw Multicultural Centre – aim to give new residents a platform to meet new people, talk openly about anything on their mind, and to share their stories in an informal and free-flowing discussion.
Each café meeting begins at 7 p.m., runs for a maximum of two hours, and is free to join.
“They (newcomers) can meet new people, network, learn new things from the other people in the group… and Canadians can come and learn about different cultures too, and make new friends,” Mitchell said earlier.
The concluded driver’s education and funding program accepts 12 candidates each spring with the goal of helping newcomers to Canada obtain a Class 5 driver’s license.
“Basically, we know that the six hours in class and six hours in car can be very expensive,” Mitchell said. “When you’re coming to a new country to go to work or go to school… you do sometimes need that transportation.”
She recognized the cost to attain a Class 5 license, which is usually around $150 for the class and $90 or so for each of the six required in-car lessons, is financially prohibitive for many newcomers who can’t work in Canada yet. The catch, she added, is that these new citizens generally need reliable transportation to secure a job.
The reason for the limited intake – including only one available course each year – isn’t by choice. Mitchell said the centre relies on Immigration and Career Training grants through the provincial government and SGI funding to operate.
It’s because of this limited access to funds that the centre must turn down several newcomers, and anyone with concerns such as winter driving can’t enrol until the following March.
Still, Mitchell said, individuals can book an appointment or ask questions at the monthly Community Cafés. Without additional funding, this is the best option for the 30-or-so applicants Mitchell formally receives each year.
Mitchell said she’d love to expand the program in the future if the funding situation improves.
The Newcomer Welcome Centre is located at 432 Main Street North. For more information, visit or follow ‘’ on Facebook for updated program information.
To arrange a meeting for any road-related questions, please contact the Newcomer Welcome Centre in advance at 306-692-6892.
