You don't have to do Thunder Bay alone.

1. Wakenyatbay

That's us: a volunteer group for Kenyans in Thunder Bay. Join and we'll welcome you, tell you about events like Jamhuri Day on December 12, and connect you with wakenya who have been here a while.

Join Wakenyatbay See events

2. Newcomer and settlement help

The Thunder Bay Multicultural Association is the city's settlement agency. Besides practical help, it runs orientation sessions, English classes and citizenship classes, which are good places to meet other newcomers. Their contact details are in our First 30 Days guide.

Source: Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, newcomer services

3. Students at Lakehead and Confederation

• Lakehead University International Student Services offers orientation, immigration advice, peer mentors and emergency help. It is on the ground floor of the Chancellor Paterson Library on the Thunder Bay campus. Email international@lakeheadu.ca.
• Student clubs at Lakehead, all active in the Lakehead University Student Union's club directory: the African Caribbean Student Association, the Thunder Bay Nigerian Students group, the Muslim Student Association, the International Students Advocacy Collective, and WUSC, which supports refugee students.
• Confederation College students: start with the college's international education office.

Source: Lakehead University, International Student Services and the LUSU club pages linked above

4. Places of worship

Thunder Bay Masjid, run by the Thunder Bay Muslim Religious Association, is at 591 John Street. Its website posts daily prayer times and Friday (Jumu'ah) prayer times, and it publishes a helpful guide for Muslims new to the city.

Source: Thunder Bay Muslim Religious Association

Thunder Bay has many churches. We haven't yet listed the ones wakenya go to, because we only list what someone in the community has told us. If your church, fellowship or Swahili service welcomes Kenyans, tell us about it.

5. African and Black community events

Look out for Black History Month events every February. In 2026, for example, the City of Thunder Bay's event calendar listed the "Roots & Routes" Black History Month dinner and gala, presented by Sisters for Canadian Black Community and Northwest Black Collective. We'll post events like this on our events page as we hear about them.

Source: City of Thunder Bay event calendar

6. Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the fastest ways to meet people, practise English, and get a Canadian reference for your resume. Volunteer Thunder Bay lists opportunities across the city, plus workshops and a youth program.

Source: Volunteer Thunder Bay

7. Kenyan organisations in Canada

• The Kenya High Commission in Ottawa handles passports, ID, emergency travel documents and registration of Kenyans living in Canada. See our consular guide, or go to kenyahighcommission.ca.
• The Kenyan Community in Ontario is a province-wide not-for-profit that brings together Kenyan, African and African Canadian communities: kcontario.ca.
• Every other Kenyan community group we know of, province by province: Kenyan associations across Canada.
• Kenyan-owned and community-friendly businesses: our business directory.