New regional immigration partnership launches
Helping communities welcome newcomers
TRURO - Welcoming newcomers to Canada is an effort that communities play a crucial role in, something a new regional partnership plans to help co-ordinate.
The North Shore Local Immigration Partnership was founded in December 2021 under the umbrella of the YMCA of Greater Halifax/ Dartmouth and with funding from the federal government. One of four LIP partnerships in Nova Scotia, it includes Colchester, Pictou and Antigonish counties and focuses on newcomers born outside of Canada who are new to the community.
Its newly launched strategic plan for 2022-2025 focuses on settlement and integration, collaboration and co-ordination and social cohesion.
Wholly recognized is that municipalities are key to this mission.
“Attracting and retaining newcomers is becoming a necessity for many communities as there is a growing reliance on immigration as the source of population, skills and labour force growth,” said Bejarano. “Our mission is to enhance community level collaboration and coordination of welcoming and inclusive spaces that improve attraction, support and retention of newcomers.”
Safety and security are also important, with the area recognizing racism and systemic issues that immigrants face and ensuring diversity is celebrated.
“Integration is a two-way process that involves commitment on the part of immigrants to adapt to life in Canada, and on the part of Canada to welcome and adapt to new peoples and cultures.”
Katia Andrade shared a bit about her experience about deciding where to live when her husband, Ahmad Al-mallahi, got a job offer at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus. Their multi-ethnic family was living in Japan at the time for work.
“I think one thought that is common among families moving here, let’s move to Halifax,” said Andrade. “Just because we have more information about Halifax, and we are scared to go to a place where we don’t have very shortly needed information on the internet.”
Fortunately, her husband arrived a few months early to
learn more about the community. He found a place to live and they did not need to commute.
A newcomers advisory committee, which Andrade is part of, was formed last year, starting with 17 newcomers of various experiences – including permanent residents, those who have gained citizenship, international students and those on work permits. Meeting four times a year, these members share their lived experiences and act as liaisons, identifying newcomer challenges and opportunities.
“I’m really hoping that our work … is going to be of great help for the newcomers,” said Andrade. “To let them feel not only welcome but integrated and soon after they come, they can try to produce and give back to the community because I think that’s why people stay. They come, they are welcomed, they integrate and then they start giving back.”
During the plan’s launch on
March 29 at the Truro Fire Hall, small gifts of Peace by Chocolate treats were a special nod to the Syrian family business based out of Antigonish.
The symbolism of community support was evident by the crowd of representatives present from across a spectrum of interest groups. The LIP recognizes collaborating between organizations and stakeholders as key, including identifying and using existing resources.
One such resource is the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS). Local onboard employer engager Cliff Macdonald said they have over 1,200 clients working with employers and job candidates. Macdonald, who will soon be overseeing Mainland Nova Scotia, also said they offer a multitude of tools and workshops, as well as helping newcomers gain work experience and references.
RAMPING UP AGAIN
COVID made welcoming newcomers a challenge, with vital social activities like potlucks, outings, library programming, classes and greeting them at their homes, cut off.
“The social network piece really got hindered, and that’s kind of one of the biggest things that makes people want to stay,” said Bejarano.
Yreach has nine locations outside of Halifax Regional Municipality across the province, including in Truro and New Glasgow. The North Shore designation was made with federal input and Yreach locations.
Truro Yreach co-ordinator Karen Kittilsen Levine said programming is returning.
Some services offered by Yreach include language supports, “recipes around the world” food nights and collaborations with the Colchestereast Hants Public Library.
And establishing the NSLIP during COVID meant a lot of word of mouth and virtual co-ordination.
“Starting April 1, that’s when the working groups will be established, that’s when we’ll actually see more tangible things happening in the community,” said Bejarano.
Truro Mayor Bill Mills was enthusiastic about the work and saw the occasion as one he described as “lift off.”
“There’s been a lot of hard, hard work … and we’re grateful for that,” said Mills to the crowd. “Because I think we’re now starting to see the fruits of your labour.”
He added that locals are looking at ways to soon welcome Ukrainians escaping conflict.
Municipality of Colchester Mayor Christine Blair says the community’s presence is crucial, adding that it should be for all kinds of newcomers, pointing to the significant international population at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus as an example.
“it’s not just the folks that want to come here and live permanently,” said Blair. “But it’s the people that are also part of our community temporarily.”
Her mother was a Scottish war bride who experienced culture shock immigrating to Earltown.
“It’s a cultural adjustment no matter how welcoming the community is, there’s a huge adjustment and we have to be supportive in recognizing that.”