Huron County's Immigration Committee hosted a social event Saturday at the Clinton Public School. (Bob Montgomery photo)Huron County's Immigration Committee hosted a social event Saturday at the Clinton Public School. (Bob Montgomery photo)
Midwestern

Huron County Newcomers Attend Social Event In Clinton

Close to 100 people attended the first social event for Huron County immigrants and sponsor groups on Saturday at the Clinton Public School.

Immigration Liaison Kristin Crane explains the event is about creating the sense of community for newcomers to Huron County.

In some cases, the men already work together but their wives might not know anyone in their community and the social event was an opportunity to make those connections.

She points out that in many cases there is only one vehicle in the family and if one person has a job, that's where the vehicle goes and their partner is left at home, so the social event was a very successful attempt to address that concern.

Crane says their original intention was to make an annual event but based on Saturday's turnout, once a year won't be enough.  She says the Immigration Partnership is already looking at a summer event.

According to Crane, "These are people that are already here and we want them to stay. And if we want them to stay then we have to create opportunities for people to get to know each other. People are coming from all over the county; even from just outside of the county; and we're connecting them from some of the social supports that are here or events just connecting them with each other."

The event was hosted by the Huron County Local Immigration Partnership and the YMCA of Western Ontario’s Newcomer Services who are both funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

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