Eight out of eleven candidates for mayor met in a unique forum focusing on issues surrounding newcomers and immigrants on Saturday.

Damhat Zagros received Canadian citizenship two months ago - which means he can now participate in the upcoming municipal elections. Zagros said, "This will be the first time I vote in my entire life.

I never voted even at home, and I am very excited about that."

Zagros is among dozens of immigrants who attended the municipal forum on newcomer issues on Saturday afternoon.

The event was organized by Immigration Partnership Winnipeg and other newcomer organizations.

Erica Fry, project director at Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, said, "We want to increase voter turnout in newcomer communities.

Our city has become more diverse. There is an expectation that 43 percent of our city will be filled with newcomers and immigrants."

Some candidates began by sharing their own experiences as newcomers.

Mayoral candidate Rana Bukhari said, "My father and mother came here in the seventies and were the first generation to leave Pakistan."

Sean Looney, another mayoral candidate, explained, "Unemployment for me was frustrating and exciting because there are jobs people can do.

We just need to have different business models." Candidate Glenn Murray pointed out, "I would expect the number of people we can bring here safely who are no longer able to live safely due to war, epidemics, or due to the environmental crisis."

Candidates Chris Klassio, Idris Adilakon, and Rick Shawn shared their views on opinions and information that voters like Zagros can take to the polls.

Zagoros said, "There were some questions on my mind and I got answers." "So now I can make my own decision."

The three mayoral candidates Jenny Motkaluk, Kevin Klein, and Don Woodstock were the three candidates who did not attend the forum.

Winnipeggers will cast their votes on October 26.