Multiculturalism Centre opens

North Bay's growing diversity.

Multiculturalism in the city is a growing industry and to meet the needs an office has opened to assist North Bay’s newest residents with the transition.

Although the North Bay and District Multiculturalism Centre - Immigrant Settlement Services has been in the works for several years the true celebration took place Friday with a cake cutting ceremony.

“It’s been a long time coming we have been working on this for more than two years so yes it’s a great 'day for us actually to get our signs up on the building and get our business cards out and let people know that yes we are here and we’re offering services for immigrants. And a number of immigrants coming to North Bay increasing and it’s only going to get larger as the city launches its immigration strategy so yes it’s a wonderful day for us,” states Executive Director Don Curry.

Along with the official opening officials announced that Minister Diane Finley confirmed $194,000 in federal funding to help immigrants settle and integrate into the community, including help with finding employment, accessing healthcare and networking.

Curry says it is important to help the area’s new residents settle into their new lives, as they are part of the equation that addresses and will help to fix the North’s ever shrinking population. He says it is doubly important for understanding and acceptance become an everyday practice in our community as new Canadians in the North don’t just fade into the background like others do in Southern Ontario.

“Part of what we have to do now is work on educating the community to make it a welcoming community, because you’re going to see more diversity,” he explains.

“Because we live in Northern Ontario we don’t see diversity, you may recall we did a racism study in North Bay about three years ago and it showed that there is racism in the city and it’s directed mainly to aboriginal people, but now that we see more and more diversity people coming from Asian and African countries that’s something we’re going to have to look at.”

Mayor Victor Fedeli agreed stating that the immigrants who are coming today bring a lot of skills.

“They bring a lot of different traditions as well and all of these things, and because we have a real need for skilled labour, a real shrinking workforce in North Bay, and so it’s good to see that to know that we are filling it through immigration is really satisfying as a mayor of what I like to think of as a progressive city.”

Officials also confirmed that Big Sisters will receive $86,000 for the agency to deliver a mentoring program that matches volunteers with newcomer youth.