Welcoming

Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce is committed to building a welcoming and inclusive community for all residents in the region.  We are building on over a decade of community-based work.  Grey Bruce is part of a national vision, supported by values, projects and policies shared by communities across Canada.

Pathways to Prosperity: Canada

An alliance of university, community, and government partners dedicated to fostering welcoming communities and promoting the integration of immigrants and minorities across Canada.  Check this website for the history, successes and best practices of Welcoming Communities’ initiatives across Canada.

https://p2pcanada.ca/the-project/

Welcoming Communities – Timeline

August 152019 Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce receives notification of Incorporation (date of incorporation June 28,2019).
July 2019Rural Pathways for Newcomer Women in Grey Bruce: A 16-month pilot project to develop and evaluate new pathways to employment for visible minority newcomer women in rural communities without settlement services (July 2019 – December 2021).

Partners:  United Way Bruce Grey and Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce
Funder:  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
January 2018Making Grey Bruce Home: A 15 month pilot project to develop, implement and evaluate a rural service delivery model that enhances the capacity of communities and service providers to support the social and economic integration of refugees and vulnerable newcomers (Jan.2018 – March 2019)

Partners:  Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce and United Way Bruce Grey
Funder:  Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
2017New to Grey:  A one year grant to the County of Grey to make Grey County a more attractive community for immigrants by training employers, service providers and the public in all 9 municipalities in Grey County on cultural competency, attracting and retaining newcomers, and supporting newcomers, and by engaging citizens in welcoming and celebrating the contributions that immigrants make to the community (2017-2018).

Partners:  Grey County and Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce
Funder:  Municipal Immigration Program, Ontario Municipal Affairs.
May 2016Rural Economic Development Newcomer Grant:  6 month grant to build capacity with employers, local employment services and service providers to support, integrate and attract refugees and newcomers in Grey Bruce (2016-2017).

Partners:  United Way Bruce Grey, Welcoming Communities Initiative.
Funder:  Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Bruce Power.
August 2015Grey Bruce Newcomer Network:  Sponsors, Faith communities, and Welcoming Communities provided supports and shared information for refugees arriving in Grey Bruce (2015 – present)
2015Good Neighbours Network and Mentor Toolkit:  A group of volunteers (involved with Welcoming Communities Initiative) developed and conducted training for volunteers who wished to be mentors for newcomers, and set up a network to match newcomers with trained volunteers.
2013Grey Bruce Welcoming Communities Initiative:  The formation of a new group that came about as a result of community discussions on the lack of settlement and welcoming services and support for newcomers:Two community meetings (January and February 2013) with community and agency stakeholders to look at the need for a community response to improve supports and welcoming for newcomers, immigrants and refugees coming to the area.The Welcoming Communities Initiative held two Forums in 2013:

2013 Grey Bruce Welcoming Communities Forum:  A one-day forum (May 9, 2013) with 70 community stakeholders (agencies, business, community members) presented by the Grey Bruce Welcoming Communities Initiative.  A Summary Report provided recommendations from round table discussions on needs and next steps.

2013 Welcoming Communities Forum 2 – Learning from Others: A half day Forum (Nov.8, 2013) with presentations from Renfrew, Simcoe, and North Bay on their experience with Welcoming Communities and Local Immigration Partnership projects and their learning in rural communities.
Funding:  In kind funding (City of Owen Sound), volunteer contributions.
2010Grey Bruce One World Festival:  A one day festival to celebrate diversity in Grey Bruce organized by the Inclusive Communities Committee Grey Bruce in Owen Sound.  The focus of the festival is on young children (2010 – present).

Partners:  Inclusive Communities Committee, ETFO, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Area Schools. N’Wikwedong Cultural Resource Centre and more.
Funding:  Bruce Power, OPG, ETFO, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
2005Grey Bruce Inclusive Communities Committee:  a community committee that began as a subcommittee of Violence Prevention Grey Bruce in response to reports of racism within the social service system directed towards Indigenous peoples.  The sub committee held two Weaving Our Communities Forums (2006, 2007) to address racism and engage service providers and youth in building a more inclusive and welcoming community.  It also developed (with Indigenous people) and delivered training at area workplaces to address racism towards Indigenous people (2008-2009).

Partners:  Indigenous partners (First Nations, Métis), social service agencies.
Funding:  Bruce Power, OPG, Trillium Foundation, Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, In Kind