Many presenters shared their data and facilitated community discussions | Photo by B. Shakyaver
The air was abuzz with discussion at South Huron’s Newcomer Networking Event on Monday (February 12).
A group of interested community members was presented with some unfortunate statistics about newcomer retention – despite a large number of new Canadians choosing South Huron as their home, after five years, very few remained in the area.
Statistics presented by Immigration Partnership Manager for the County of Huron Mark Nonkes painted a picture of a community that struggled to retain newcomers due to a variety of factors, including lack of affordable housing, public transportation and religious diversity.
A study presented by University of Guelph’s Rana Telfah MSc brought newcomers to the area and recorded their experiences in a 2018 trip. A series of findings and reccomendations was presented in her report, including an overall welcoming community, despite an noted lack of visible diversity in schools and professional spaces.
Community discussion groups brainstormed about the strengths and weaknesses of South Huron | Photo by B. Shakyaver
Even back in 2018, it was noted that there was a lack of housing – a problem which has only grown worse in the last six years.
With these statistics and studies in mind, community members met in collaborative groups to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the community. Major points emphasized by the group was a desire to aggregate resources and community events into accessible places for new comers, more language supports, and continued desire to create a more family oriented community.
Written by: B. Shakyaver