Welcome Week has extra significance this year as Chatham-Kent welcomes some Ukranians fleeing the war.
The second annual Welcome Week started on Friday and events are taking place until September 18, 2022 to celebrate immigrants and newcomers.
Chatham-Kent Welcome Week provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the people, places and values that help everyone feel welcome and helps emphasize that they belong in their local community, no matter where they come from, according to the municipality. Officials said it is also a chance to promote the community and to continue to highlight why Chatham-Kent was designated as Canada’s First Welcoming Community.
"Chatham-Kent is thrilled for the opportunity to showcase cultural diversity and inclusivity in our community through the events during Welcome Week," said Peter Sulman, Project Coordinator of Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership (CK LIP). "We look forward to shining a spotlight on immigrants and newcomers in CK and what they bring to the community."
Chatham-Kent is one of many communities across Canada celebrating Welcome Week as a national initiative by the Government of Canada. This initiative strives to bring together new and long-time residents to build strong connections and to reaffirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity in Chatham-Kent.
“CK LIP consists of 40 community organizations working collectively to make our community welcoming and we are delighted to have this opportunity to support a national initiative at a local level.” said Tracy Callaghan, Co-Chair of the Chatham- Kent Local Immigration Partnership. “Our partner organizations have planned a number of great events that will give newcomers the opportunity to meet new people in the community, including employers."
The other CK LIP Co-Chair, Tristan Fehrenbach, said making these kinds of connections are crucial for helping people become established.
Click here for a full list of CK Welcome Week events.