A big Acadian welcome

Initiative launched to help greet new residents to community

“We want to provide them with a bit of orientation on what is happening in our community and where various activities take place, as well as to answer their questions. At the same time, we’ll be able to talk to them about volunteering in our community and events – all things that will help them to meet new people and get more integrated into the region.” – Nick Arsenault

Several Acadian community groups have partnered with the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline (CSCE) to establish a new welcome program for people new to the area.

The “Bienvenue/Welcome Évangéline” initiative was launched recently in Abram-Village.

“We want to help these people integrate themselves more into our community so that they will feel right at home, which will undoubtedly encourage them to stay here on a permanent basis,” said CSCE executive director Nick Arsenault.

Arsenault explained that new residents will get a visit from two project representatives. During the visit, families or individuals will be presented a bilingual booklet containing listings of all the businesses and public and community services available in the area.

They will also be offered a bag from the Wellington Rural Action Centre filled with pamphlets and small welcome gifts provided by various organizations and businesses from the community. The initiative is similar to the Welcome Wagon concept that exists in various P.E.I. and Canadian communities.

“The clientele for this new initiative can be people from other countries, other provinces, other regions of P.E.I. or even people originally from here who are returning to the area after living away for many years,” said Arsenault.

“We want to provide them with a bit of orientation on what is happening in our community and where various activities take place, as well as to answer their questions. At the same time, we’ll be able to talk to them about volunteering in our community and events – all things that will help them to meet new people and get more integrated into the region.”

Other partners of the project are RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I. and the Coopérative d’intégration francophone de I’Î.-P.-É.

Any local business or organizations wanting to add product samples, gifts, promotional items or information to promote themselves, contact the CSCE at 902854-2166.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Partners of “Bienvenue/Welcome Évangéline” launch the new initiative recently in Abram-Village by presenting the guide, information and gift bag to newcomers, originally from France, who now live in Mont-Carmel. From left are Robyn Gallant from the Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Î.-P.-É., seen presenting the guide to Félicienne Otchoun and her son, Zacharie, while her husband, Josph Pobey, accepts the bag from Nick Arsenault of the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline.