What makes a community welcoming and inclusive?
This was a question posed at a St. Lawrence-Rideau Immigrant Partnership community event hosted in the fall of 2016. An engaged group of immigrants, local residents, service providers, students, local elected officials, and business owners attended the event to discuss the current and future state of welcoming and inclusive communities in Leeds Grenville. A common theme emerged from these discussions — that to enhance the sense of belonging for residents of all backgrounds, local communities should be doing more to recognize and celebrate the diversity of individuals living in Leeds Grenville.
This suggestion spurred the St. Lawrence-Rideau Immigration Partnership to launch the community-driven campaign ‘We Are Neighbours’.
As part of this campaign that was launched on July 5 2017, long-time residents, new and established immigrants, business owners and students have contributed their stories to this initiative. Immigration Partnership staff led interviews that provided participants with the opportunity to share their stories and experiences of living in Leeds Grenville, in addition to providing friendly advice to people new to the area. Participants who arrived to Leeds Grenville from elsewhere in Canada, or elsewhere around the globe, were encouraged to share their settlement story or what brought them to their current destination.
The campaign extended its reach into Leeds Grenville communities in the fall of 2017, when a community engagement display filled with stories and photos gathered during initial campaign stages was hosted at public spaces across the region. Local residents had the chance to read the stories and were prompted with the question, ‘what makes a good neighbour’?
It is hoped that by showcasing stories of different people across Leeds Grenville that residents will find pride and excitement in the diversity of people, experiences, skills and lifestyles that exist locally. Diversity has long been a Canadian strength—culturally, socially, politically and economically. It is also a Leeds Grenville strength.
This suggestion spurred the St. Lawrence-Rideau Immigration Partnership to launch the community-driven campaign ‘We Are Neighbours’.
As part of this campaign that was launched on July 5 2017, long-time residents, new and established immigrants, business owners and students have contributed their stories to this initiative. Immigration Partnership staff led interviews that provided participants with the opportunity to share their stories and experiences of living in Leeds Grenville, in addition to providing friendly advice to people new to the area. Participants who arrived to Leeds Grenville from elsewhere in Canada, or elsewhere around the globe, were encouraged to share their settlement story or what brought them to their current destination.
The campaign extended its reach into Leeds Grenville communities in the fall of 2017, when a community engagement display filled with stories and photos gathered during initial campaign stages was hosted at public spaces across the region. Local residents had the chance to read the stories and were prompted with the question, ‘what makes a good neighbour’?
It is hoped that by showcasing stories of different people across Leeds Grenville that residents will find pride and excitement in the diversity of people, experiences, skills and lifestyles that exist locally. Diversity has long been a Canadian strength—culturally, socially, politically and economically. It is also a Leeds Grenville strength.
Meet Your Neighbours!
Meet AliceBROCKVILLE, ON
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Meet BenGANANOQUE, ON
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Meet TakouhiPORTLAND, RIDEAU LAKES
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