FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 6, 2025
The Saint John Newcomers Centre Wins National Honors at the 2025 MAPLE Award
Saint John, November 2025 – The Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC) is proud to announce it has been awarded the prestigious 2025 MAPLE Award in the Collaboration Catalyst category. This national recognition celebrates outstanding organizations making a real impact in Canada’s workforce development ecosystem, from changemakers and innovators to collaborative trailblazers.
SJNC was honored alongside esteemed nominees including the Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre (NLWIC) and Civiconnect. This award highlights SJNC’s forward-thinking approach and dedication to fostering robust partnerships and innovative solutions that support diverse workforce needs.
Mark Patterson, Executive Director of Magnet, emphasized the importance of SJNC’s forward-thinking leadership: “The Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC) is a model for the kind of forward-thinking approach needed in Canada’s workforce development sector. Mohamed and his team have never hesitated to experiment with new technology or connect with new partners to improve outcomes for the people served by the SJNC. We hope this recognition can further the impact of the SJNC, and pave the way for more organizations to adopt an approach that emphasizes collaboration across regions and sectors.”
Mohamed Bagha, Managing Director of SJNC, stated:
“This award celebrates the power of partnership, and I want to be absolutely clear: this recognition belongs to our partners. Canada faces a pivotal moment in workforce development, with productivity challenges and demographic shifts pressing us to innovate. Our collaboration with Magnet, leveraging next-generation AI tools, fuels our commitment to radically improve the labour market ecosystem, ensuring newcomer talent moves seamlessly to where its needed. When you apply innovation to inclusion, the future of work in Canada is not just equitable, it is brilliant.”
SJNC extends sincere thanks to the Magnet Network Live organizers, fellow nominees, invaluable partners, and the Saint John community for their support. We also want to celebrate our team at the Saint John Newcomers Centre and the teams of many other organizations driving change across Canada. Together, your dedication turns local initiatives into national impact, advancing a more inclusive and innovative workforce that is transforming lives and communities nationwide.
For more information, visit sjnewcomers.ca.
Contact:
Sochi Azuh
Communications Specialist
Saint John Newcomers Centre
Sochi.azuh@sjnewcomers.ca
(506) 642-7265
