New immigrants to North Bay will feel the love as the City plans a “Welcome to North Bay” event for newcomers.
"North Bay has always been a place where people from all backgrounds find a welcoming home," said Mayor Peter Chirico. "The Welcome to North Bay event will be an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives that enrich our community. We look forward to making this event a memorable experience for everyone involved."
Everyone is encouraged to come out to Memorial Gardens on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to "connect with community organizations; and to extend a warm welcome to new residents of all backgrounds to our community" according to a news release.
"The Welcome to North Bay event will give newcomers an opportunity to connect with services, recreational clubs, places of worship, and social and volunteer opportunities. These organizations all contribute to the enrichment of our community, and we hope this event helps support new opportunities for newcomers. The event will also include a welcoming ceremony and free kid’s activities," says the release.
This initiative is part of Welcoming Week 2023, which runs Sept. 8-17, and is an opportunity for communities around the globe to come together to build strong connections, affirm the importance of being welcoming and inclusive to achieve collective prosperity for everyone.
One in four people in Canada were born in another country. The three most popular countries people immigrated to Canada from are India, China, and Afghanistan.
“We are so pleased to come together to welcome newcomers to our city, offer some connections to local organizations, and look forward to this becoming an annual event,” said Donna Backer, President of the local Chamber of Commerce.
The effort is a partnership among the City of North Bay, the North Bay and Area Local Immigration Partnership, North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce, and the North Bay and Area Rural Northern Immigration Pilot.
See: Keep immigration incentive says local Chamber of Commerce
