jillumbach General Information, Partner Activities, Upcoming Events

Welcoming Communities Forum 2 coming up on Nov 8

7 October 2013
The May Welcoming Communities Forum was a great success, and thanks again to everyone who made it happen.
Over the summer Joan and Colleen have continued to research and follow up on the recommendations from the May Forum:

·      Contact with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to discuss potential funding, Pathways to Prosperity, an alliance of university, community, and government partners dedicated to fostering welcoming communities and promoting the integration of immigrants and minorities across Canada and with the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

·      Contact with Renfrew County, Simcoe County and North Bay about their Local Immigration Partnership programs and what we can learn from them.

·      Contact with the Guelph Local Immigration Partnership program and Alex Goss.

·      The City of Owen Sound Economic Development Committee has developed a Welcoming Communities strategy and will be attending a trade fair in Toronto.

·      Meeting with Bert Loopstra, Chamber of Commerce to discuss this initiative’s importance for the business sector, and opportunities for work together.

·      Presentations to Grey and Bruce County Economic Development Committees and to Bluewater Board of Education are planned for the fall.

The most important follow up item was to provide information on what other communities like ours have done to build Welcoming Communities.  We are very pleases that with the support of the City of Owen Sound, we able to bring speakers from North Bay, Simcoe and Renfrew – Lanack to present on the experiences, challenges and successes that their Welcoming Communities Initiatives have made over the past three years.
We invite you, and community stakeholders to attend Welcoming Communities Forum 2 on November 8, 2013 at the Shoreline Room, Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena from 9:00 – 12:00 noon. 
There is no charge and all are welcome.
Attached is a flyer and an agenda for the Forum.  Flyer Forum 2
Please feel free to distribute this to people who are interested in building a Welcoming Community in Grey and Bruce.
If you have any questions, please contact Joan Irvine:  irvine@bmts.com or Colleen Purdon:cpurdon@bmts.com
jillumbach Partner Activities, Upcoming Events

Welcoming Communities – Inclusive Communties Grey Bruce Community Forum

Poster Welcoming Communitiesfinal

Welcoming Communities – Inclusive Communities
Grey Bruce Community Forum
Thursday, May 9th 2013
9am – 12:00
Shoreline Room, Harry Lumley Bayshore
Everyone welcome

Community Forum presented by the Grey Bruce Welcoming Communities Initiative. Asking our community How can we attract and support newcomers, new businesses, and new Canadians? What can we learn from the experience of other communities? How are we welcoming? What supports and services do newcomers need? What action is needed and who needs to be involved?