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Thunder Bay Kenyans

Newcomers, Mark Your Calendar: Stay in the Bay on Oct. 28, Plus IRCC's Status Tracker Is Back

By Wakenyatbay · October 22, 2026

Karibu! Two bits of good news this week for Kenyans settling in Thunder Bay: a free afternoon to meet other newcomers, and an easier way to keep an eye on your immigration application.

Stay in the Bay 3.0: Wednesday, October 28

The Thunder Bay Multicultural Association is bringing back Stay in the Bay, its Newcomer Welcome Day (Thunder Bay Multicultural Association).

  • When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.
  • Where: Italian Cultural Centre, 132 Algoma St. S., Thunder Bay
  • What: Free snacks, activities, a raffle draw and a 360 photo booth

The organizers say it’s for everyone, whether you arrived last month or a few years ago. Partners include:

  • Lakehead University
  • the Thunder Bay CEDC
  • the Newcomer Legal Clinic
  • francophone community groups

So it’s also a good chance to meet the people behind local settlement services.

Bring a friend, bring the kids, and if you see other Wakenya there, say hello!

Details can change, so check the association’s events page before you go.

IRCC’s Application Status Tracker is back

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) took its online Application Status Tracker offline in May. It relaunched it on October 14 (CIC News).

Here’s how it works:

  • It covers work permits, study permits, visitor visas, and some permanent residence streams:
    • Express Entry (and Express Entry-linked provincial nominee applications)
    • sponsorship of a spouse or dependent child
  • You can see where each part of your file stands, such as eligibility, medical exam, background check and biometrics.
  • Each part shows a status like “Not started”, “Waiting on you”, “In progress” or “Completed”.
  • The information is updated daily.
  • You’ll need your application number and your UCI (Unique Client Identifier). You sign in through your bank or with a GCKey.
  • You can only use it after you’ve received your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR).

A tip from us: if any part of your file says “Waiting on you,” act on it quickly. That usually means IRCC needs a document or more information from you.

If you’re unsure what to send, the Newcomer Legal Clinic and other settlement agencies in Thunder Bay can help, and Stay in the Bay is a great place to ask them in person.

Know of a newcomer event in Thunder Bay or elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario? Send it to us and we’ll help spread the word.