Levant Canada

What Levant Canada does

Levant Canada is a Kitchener, Ontario-based nonprofit community organization founded in 2014 (operating since 2013 under the name Najda Now) that supports refugees and newcomers to Canada, particularly those from Syria and the broader Levant region, through cultural, arts, and sports programming. The organization delivers Dabke dance workshops, a free soccer club for newcomer youth, accessible dance for participants with disabilities, youth theatre and film workshops, cooking classes, women's empowerment workshops, and an annual summer camp, all designed to ease cultural integration, build community, and support mental health through cultural expression.

The core product surface is a portfolio of in-person community programs rather than a technology platform, anchored by proprietary cultural content such as Dabke choreography drawn from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Kurdistan, plus traditional wedding and storytelling repertoire. Programs are operated by two co-founders (Siba and Awatef al-Khadour), one seasonal staff member, and a network of volunteers including a professional soccer player and a Syrian-born visual artist. Delivery occurs at community venues in Kitchener-Waterloo including the Downtown Community Centre at 44 Gaukel Street.

The revenue model is donation- and grant-based: the organization raises funds through individual donations, fundraising events (galas, bazaars), and institutional grants from regional foundations including the Waterloo Region Community Foundation, Hallman Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, United Way Waterloo, Jumpstart, and the Canadian Red Cross. Most programs are offered free or at nominal cost (e.g., $15 per cooking class) to remove participation barriers for low-income newcomer families. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, partnerships with local businesses, and participation in multicultural festivals.

Name

Levant Canada

Legal name

Levant Canada

Website

https://levantcanada.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Levant Canada is a Kitchener-Waterloo nonprofit founded in 2014 that supports refugees and newcomers through cultural, arts, and sports programs including Dabke dance, soccer, theatre, and accessible dance for participants with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services for Refugees and Newcomers

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement programs
• Newcomer integration services
• Community cultural programs
• Settlement support services
• Nonprofit community arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Kitchener

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Levant Canada relies primarily on donations from individuals and organizations, as well as fundraising events such as galas, bazaars, and community events. The organization also receives support from sponsors and partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Levant Canada is a nonprofit community organization that runs free or low-cost arts, sports, and cultural programs for refugees and newcomers in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Core offerings include the Levant Soccer Club, Levant Community Dabke Group, Steps Dance Club, Youth Theatre Group, Cooking 101, Powerful Women Workshops, the STEPS Program, and Levant Summer Camp — designed to support settlement, integration, and cultural connection.

Product overview

Levant Canada is a community organization offering a portfolio of cultural, arts, sports, and social programs supporting refugees and newcomers in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. The core offerings include: Levant Soccer Club (free soccer training for newcomer youth ages 6-13), Levant Community Dabke Group (traditional Levantine dance), Steps Dance Club (accessible dance for people with disabilities), Youth Theatre Group (film and theatre workshops), Cooking 101 (cooking skills for youth), Powerful Women Workshops, and the STEPS Program (visual art, music, acting and conversation circle). Programs are designed to facilitate settlement, integration, cross-cultural exchange, and community building through accessible arts, sports, and cultural activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Levant Dabke: Traditional Levantine dance group performing at cultural events and festivals, founded in 2014 by Awatef al-Khadour.
• Levant Soccer Club
• Steps Dance Club
• Youth Theatre Group
• STEPS Program

Products and services

• Levant Soccer Club A free professional soccer training program for newcomer kids ages 6-13, focusing on empowering girls and youth and breaking stigma around girls playing sports. Sessions are 1.5 hours with Junior and Senior groups.
• Levant Community Dabke Group A traditional Levantine Dabke (folk dance) group providing newcomers with a safe, familiar space for cultural expression and community building. The group includes over 30 members and offers Dabke for Kids programming.
• Steps Dance Club A dance program for newcomers and refugees with disabilities, providing a safe, accessible space to build connections and increase physical well-being through exercise. Sessions held on Saturdays for 1.5 hours.
• Youth Theatre Group Introduction to Film and Theatre workshop for young people from diverse backgrounds to learn the basics of theatre and filmmaking.
• Cooking 101 A 6-week cooking program for youth ages 14-19, teaching essential cooking skills through weekly sessions with participants receiving recipes and ingredients to their homes.
• Powerful Women Workshops Virtual evening workshops for women featuring craft supplies sharing, crochet tips, jewellery-making techniques, and recipe exchanges.
• STEPS Program A program bringing people together through visual art, music, acting, and a weekly conversation circle designed with accessibility at its heart, open to anyone wanting to participate.
• Levant Summer Camp An annual summer camp for children offering activities including painting, performing arts, film screenings, outdoor and indoor play. Runs over two weeks with options to join for all or selected days.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ families resettled in KW area
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canadian Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organization supporting refugee resettlement and emergency response initiatives.
• 1001 Nights ShawarmaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Middle Eastern restaurant in Kitchener featured on Levant Canada's local businesses page as a community partner.
• Arabesque Family RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLebanese restaurant in Kitchener since 2009, partnered with Levant for community events and cultural promotion.
• Mada TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArabic-language theatre company founded by Majdi Bou-Matar and Nada Humsi, producing performances exploring themes of identity, migration, and the refugee experience. Collaborates on theatrical productions with Levant.
• Children and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted Cooking 101 program in collaboration with Children and Family Services, providing culinary training for youth ages 14-19.
• 7Spices TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatrical partner collaborating on Olive Mountain play production, combining theatre with traditional Dabke performances.
• ArabyOnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArabic language and cultural education center at 44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener. Cultural education partner for the community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre: Local peer serving the same Kitchener-Waterloo region with settlement, language, and community programs for newcomers. Most directly comparable given shared geography and overlapping newcomer/refugee focus.
• North York Community House: Toronto-based community organization providing newcomer settlement, cultural programs, and community development services. Comparable as a community-led nonprofit with cultural programming for immigrant populations.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: One of Canada's largest immigrant-serving agencies with programs across the GTA and southern Ontario. Comparable as a settlement services organization serving newcomers and refugees, though broader in scope than Levant Canada's cultural-arts focus.
• CultureLink Settlement Services: Toronto-based settlement agency providing newcomer support programs including cultural orientation, youth services, and community engagement. Directly comparable as a community-led settlement organization serving immigrants through culturally-specific programming.
• Mada Theatre: Arabic-language theatre company producing works exploring identity, migration, and refugee experience. Directly comparable as an Arabic/Levantine arts organization and existing collaboration partner of Levant Canada.
• YMCA Newcomer Services (Waterloo Region): Settlement and integration services for newcomers across the Waterloo Region including language training, employment support, and youth programs. Comparable as a multi-service community organization for newcomers in the same geography.

Regional players

• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Major refugee settlement agency in Calgary serving newcomers with comprehensive integration services. Comparable as a settlement organization, though operating in a different geography and with a broader service mandate.
• Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC): British Columbia's largest immigrant-serving agency with settlement, language, and community programs. Comparable as a settlement services nonprofit, though geographically separate and with broader scope.

Broad incumbents

• The 519 (Church Street Community Centre): Toronto's largest LGBTQ2S community centre providing cultural programming, newcomer services, and community space. Comparable as a community cultural organization serving diverse populations including newcomer communities.

Others

• Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) - Waterloo Region: Coordinating body for immigrant-serving organizations in the Waterloo Region. Listed as an ecosystem participant: Levant Canada operates within this network and competes for the same pool of settlement funding and community partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1BPHmCvLpFhkfnd5s_jQIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/levantdabke
• Instagraminstagram.com/levantdabke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/levantcanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Levant Canada