Based on the positive response to the 3rd Annual Welcome to North Bay event held at the West Ferris Area, newcomers to the North Bay area, are anxious to meet people and get involved in the community.

“Our numbers have been fairly steady in terms of the clients that we serve, so it is great to have opportunities like this to show newcomers what is available in North Bay, and some of the services and programs we offer,” shared Deborah Robertson executive director of the Northeastern Ontario Multicultural Centre.

“The Centre offers settlement services for newcomers to the area, so we help guide newcomers to services they may be eligible for. We organize cultural events, we organize group activities so they’re able to meet people, and expand their network, practice their English and get involved in the community.”   

Whether the newcomers are new to the country or to the community, the event was an opportunity to inform them about the variety of organizations available that help make the community grow.

The arena was lined with booths representing 66 vendors, providing community information from local non-profit organizations, municipal services, educational programs, social clubs, sports and recreation, cultural and religious groups and volunteer opportunities.

“One of the important things we love about this event is, it is a great networking opportunity for these not-for-profit organizations to meet people, talk to people, and make partnerships. So, it has been really great,” observed Donna Backer, President North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce

Karyn Ngoma, program director for the Northern Ontario Black Economic Empowerment Program (NOBEEP) found the event beneficial for her organization.

“It is an opportunity for us to connect with the community here. We support black entrepreneurs who want to start their own business or expand,” shared Ngoma who said she received a good response at her booth.

“I have seen a lot of black entrepreneurs who want to connect with us and want to work with us.”

In his welcoming address, Mayor Peter Chirico said that North Bay has “always been a place where people from all backgrounds find a welcoming home.”

“As our community continues to grow and diversify, it is important for us to celebrate, welcome and connect with newcomers while supporting their integration into the city,” Chirico stated.

“Welcome to North Bay is part of the global Welcoming Week initiative-an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions and perspectives that enrich our community.”

Welcoming Week, which runs until September 21, “encourages communities to come together to celebrate and welcome our neighbours of different backgrounds to our city,” Chirico continued.

“It gives us a chance to encourage strong community connections, affirm the importance of being a welcoming and inclusive city that promotes collective prosperity for everyone.”

Hosting the event in West Ferris was also a good way to drive people’s attention to that area of the city.

“Our city is vast, so we want to be able to have things in different parts of the community in different neighbourhoods. And it is great to showcase all of the assets we have in our community. So, having it here is wonderful, it gets people down to this part of the town. There’s lots of businesses down here to support and things to do,” added the Chamber President.   

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