Meet Effat Ghassemi, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Social Change — Regional Impact Finalist

Effat Ghassemi is a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist and longtime advocate for immigrant and refugee communities in Canada. As the Executive Director of the Newcomer Centre of Peel, she has spent decades developing inclusive programs that extend beyond settlement services, opening doors to education, employment, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.

Her leadership combines lived experience, academic expertise, and a deep commitment to equity, championing access, gender equality, and systemic inclusion at every level. Through her work with local, regional, and national advisory boards, Effat has influenced policies and practices that continue to transform newcomer integration across the country.

Meet Effat and discover how she is building communities where newcomers are not only welcomed but also empowered to thrive.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when…

I saw immigrant communities in Peel being underserved and unheard, and felt a deep responsibility to create a space where they could belong, thrive, and lead. For me, entrepreneurship means fully giving myself to the community and using my voice to uplift others.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because…

It allows me to build with purpose, lead with heart, and empower others to rise beyond barriers.

The impact I hope to make through my work is…

To create a future where newcomers, refugees, and marginalized women are not just integrated into society, but are central to shaping it. For over three decades, I’ve been committed to providing compassionate settlement services that bring hope, equality, and opportunity to tens of thousands each year.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is…

That there is no difference between people. We all belong, and we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. If I want something for myself, I also want it for others, because equity must be practiced, not just promised. Resilience, for me, means rising each time with greater clarity, compassion, and courage.  

My proudest accomplishment is…

Transforming the Newcomer Centre of Peel into a nationally respected hub for inclusion, advocacy, and newcomer success. What began as a small organization has grown into a team of over 130 staff members who reflect the diversity of the clients we serve. Programs like SWIS (Settlement Workers in Schools) now support students in 42 schools across the Peel Region.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was…

Investing in programs and people during times of funding uncertainty, because I believe human potential is worth the leap. Launching the Rural Employment Initiative to extend our services beyond Peel into rural Ontario opened opportunities for newcomers and helped drive population growth in smaller communities.

My biggest setback has been…

Facing systemic resistance to equitable change and navigating institutional apathy toward vulnerable communities.

I overcame it by…

Building strong alliances, telling the stories that matter, and never compromising on the dignity of those we serve. I dedicated more of my time to protecting what we had and secured alternative funding. I found creative ways to integrate essential supports into other programs, allowing us to continue serving our clients effectively.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was…

Lead with values, not ego. The rest will follow.

I surprise people when I tell them…

I’ve travelled across five continents, play the piano, and am writing a personal essay for my grandchildren to carry my voice forward.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to…

Read and write more—document stories, lessons, and reflections for the next generation of changemakers.

If you Googled me, you still wouldn’t know…

The late nights I spend advocating for staff, the tears I shed in service of justice, or the joy I find in playing the piano.

The future excites me because…

Every day is a gift to me. New voices are rising, and they are bold, brilliant, and unstoppable!

Connect with Effat Ghassemi on LinkedIn.