TIMMINS, ON – Community partners in Timmins will once again be spreading the message of inclusion over the coming week as part of a larger global initiative. Welcoming Week is an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate the people, places and values that help everyone feel welcome and that they belong in their local community, no matter where they come from. This year Welcoming Week takes place September 9 to 18.

“Our City’s success depends on ensuring that all residents of Timmins feel welcome here,” said Mayor Kristin Murray, proclaiming the week of September 9 to 18, 2022 Welcoming Week in Timmins. “Regardless of where we are born or what we look like, we are members of this community. Let’s come together to recognize the contributions every individual makes to the vibrant diversity we all value, and reaffirm that Timmins is a welcoming community.”

Over the past few years, Timmins has seen numerous cultural groups and organizations form or expand, adding to the City’s growing diversity. Earlier in 2022, the City’s first Sikh temple opened downtown, spurred in part by the increasing international student population from India studying at Northern College. In August, the Filipino Association of Timmins hosted its inaugural Filipino Fiesta, and recently the Timmins Ontario Malayalee Association held its first general meeting.

“Building a welcoming community is essential to the retention of both newcomers and long-term Timmins residents alike,” said Christy Marinig, CEO of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC). “With our population aging and retiring, our local businesses and economy depend on groups typically underrepresented in the labour market, such as Indigenous persons, newcomers, and racialized groups, among others. The more welcoming we are as a community, the more people feel at home here and want to put down roots.”

Throughout the week, the TEDC will be encouraging organizations and businesses to take selfies with a Welcomer sign and post it to social media with the hashtags #WelcomingWeekTimmins and #WelcomingWeek2022, sharing how they are creating a welcoming place for newcomers.

Events throughout the week include:

• Collège Boréal Settlement Services is offering an ‘Orientation to Ontario’ workshop in French (L’Ontario, c’est chez moi) on September 10 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information or to register, contact imm.timmins@collegeboreal.ca or fill out the online registration form here.
• The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) is hosting a noon hour webinar ‘Contributing to an Inclusive Timmins’ on September 13 at 12:00 pm. To register, visit the Eventbrite page here.
• The Timmins & District Multicultural Centre and Collège Boréal Settlement Services are holding an open house at their new location (330 Second Avenue – Suite 105, Timmins, ON) on September 14 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Drop by to see their new space and meet the team!
• The TEDC and Timmins-Temiskaming Community Legal Clinic are hosting a presentation on ‘Tenant Rights 101: What you need to know about renting in Ontario’ on September 14 at 1:00 pm at Northern College (Room H116). For more information, visit the Facebook event page here.
• The Timmins Public Library and Employment Options Emploi are offering a ‘How to Prepare for Your First Job’ workshop on September 14 at 6:00 pm, open to everyone. For more information or to register, visit the Eventbrite page here.
• The Business Enterprise Centre is presenting a webinar on ‘Starting a Business as a Newcomer’ on September 14 at 6:00 pm. To register, visit the Eventbrite page here.
• The Timmins Public Library has put up a display in the lobby of the library building to highlight the importance of inclusion and creating a welcoming community. Be sure to check it out!

The IRCC has developed an online toolkit to help communities and organizations participate in Welcoming Week. The toolkit is available in both English and French and can be accessed here.

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For more information, please contact Madison Mizzau at madison.mizzau@timmins.ca or (705) 360-2656.

About the TEDC

The TEDC is the city’s non-profit community economic development team. We facilitate and support economic and social activity that creates jobs, diversifies the economy and improves quality of life.

About Welcoming Week

Welcoming Week is an annual campaign and celebration to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. This year’s Welcoming Week marks the 10th anniversary of what is now a global event, and Canada’s third year participating nationally.

About Welcoming International

Welcoming International is an initiative that consists of several programs: the Welcoming International Alliance of peer national networks supporting local actors to advance immigrant inclusion at the community level across the world, local-to-local learning exchanges, and technical assistance to national institutions on welcoming standards and strategies. Learn more at welcominginternational.org.