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Council hosts welcome reception for new immigrants

Immigration a key driver of economic growth in Nanaimo

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed March 13, 2015 9:30 AM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo will be hosting a reception for new arrivals to Nanaimo in the Newcastle Island Lobby of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 101 Gordon Street, on Saturday March 14th, at 2:00 pm. In attendance will be Municipal, Federal and Provincial elected officials, Snuneymuxw First Nations, RCMP, staff and board members of the Immigrant Welcome Centre and the Social Planning Advisory Committee. Invitations have been extended to all those who have arrived in Nanaimo from outside Canada within the last year.

Link to Strategic Plan: The attraction and retention of immigrants is vital to the economic health and social vitality of the community.

Key Points

  • Nanaimo has a birth rate of 0.8, insufficient to maintain or grow the population; as such all our population growth comes from immigration, both from within Canada and from outside the country. Population growth is a key driver of our economy.
  • Immigrants contribute significantly to the cultural vitality of Nanaimo; from Chinese New Year to the German Cultural Centre, each wave of immigration has left a cultural mark on the city.

Quotes

"We are pleased to welcome to our community those who have chosen Canada, and Nanaimo in particular, as their home. Newcomers bring a vitality and cultural richness to our community that benefits everyone and we want to be sure they feel welcomed when they come here."

Bill McKay
Mayor of Nanaimo
City of Nanaimo

"We consider it a privilege to co-host the Welcome Reception for newcomers to Nanaimo; having Mayor, Council and other elected officials personally meet and greet immigrants to our community sends a message that we value the contributions that immigrants make to our city."

Sharif Kishawi
Chair, Board of Directors, Immigrant Welcome Centre
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society
-30-

Contact:

John Horn
Social Planner
City of Nanaimo
250-755-4491
Hilde Schlosar
Executive Director
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society
250-753-6911

Print News Release

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