Rivo debuts amid a rising global anti-immigration narrative to center and amplify underrepresented voices and diverse communities through authentic storytelling.
June is a significant month in Canada, marked by National Indigenous History Month, Pride Month, World Refugee Day, and Canadian Multiculturalism Day. Against this backdrop of reflection, diversity, and belonging, New Horizons Media Inc., a Toronto-based social enterprise, is announcing the soft launch of a new platform, Rivo, into the streaming landscape.
At a time when divisive sentiments around immigration are plaguing the world, the introduction of a multicultural, representation-driven streaming platform is an intentional move to reclaim how immigrant stories are told and who gets to tell them.
“We couldn’t just sit back and watch as public conversation around immigrants and refugees takes a negative turn, so much so that even the words ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ feel like they’re under attack. We built Rivo to flip the narrative, putting multicultural content right at the center. The name Rivo combines ‘river’ and ‘voyage’ to represent the constant movement, adaptation, and resilience of the immigrant journey. And the tagline, ‘Where every journey finds its voice’, captures our mission,” says Gerard Keledjian, Managing Director, New Horizons Media Inc.
“With Rivo, stories of migration, identity, belonging, and new beginnings that rarely receive the visibility they deserve now have a permanent home.”
Rivo bridges origins and new beginnings through shows, documentaries, interviews, community features, and dedicated programming. Audiences can stream Rivo for free on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV, or on mobile via the iOS and Android apps.
The launch marks a natural evolution for New Horizons Media Inc., building on over a decade of community impact through its national New Canadians TV show and Immigrant Business Expo series. For 11 years, the organization has worked closely with community partners, businesses, and thought leaders to empower newcomers, sharing lived experiences and vital resources through its New Canadians TV show
and its extended digital platforms.
With the United Nations estimating that there are over 304 million international migrants globally, Rivo targets a massive, underserved global community. Beyond celebrating cultural diversity, the platform’s strategy includes providing vital pre-arrival and educational resources—positioning Rivo as a trusted companion for immigrants before they even pack their bags for Canada, accelerating social integration and strengthening their economic contributions from day one.
Leaders across the multicultural communications and newcomer sectors have welcomed the platform’s authentic, representation-driven approach.
“Most platforms market at multicultural communities. Rivo builds with them. That’s the difference between performing diversity and earning trust,” says Joycelyn David, Owner and CEO, AV Communications, a leading multicultural marketing agency in North America. “Rivo understands that diverse audiences aren’t a segment anymore. They’re the new mainstream.”
Shelly D’Mello, CEO of Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria in British Columbia, emphasizes the societal need for this shift. “Representation is not just about visibility; it’s about accuracy, dignity, and truth. Without it, we risk reinforcing incomplete or even harmful narratives. Rivo shifts the perspective—instead of seeing newcomers through a deficit lens, audiences are exposed to stories of
everyday contribution, talent, and agency.”
Designed for an audience that demands authenticity, Rivo offers community-led storytelling that spans generations and geographies. The platform features unfiltered perspectives from both Indigenous Peoples—the original caretakers of the land—and migrants who have travelled across continents. Launching with a growing catalogue of content, Rivo aims to be more than a streaming service. It is a space built for true connection and cross-cultural understanding.
