After Regina and Saskatoon, Swift Current is the next most popular destination for immigrants looking to start a new life in Saskatchewan, and that city and surrounding area is working hard to help its newest citizens feel at home.
The grand opening on Friday of the Swift Current Newcomer Welcome Centre is one more step in helping immigrants make the transition from former lives to new ones. The centre has been in operation since September and has seen more than 2,500 people come through its doors — a far cry from the approximate 100 people the staff had been expecting.
“I think we really surprised ourselves,” said Anika Henderson, immigrant settlement coordinator for the centre.
Spearheaded by Great Plains College and the Southwest Immigration Committee, and funded in part by the province’s Community Initiatives Fund, the centre offers programs and services for new Canadians as well as newcomers to the province or the area — such as a number of aboriginal people who moved due to the recent opening of Living Sky Casino. Most centre users, however, are the hundreds who have moved from other countries, many from the Philippines and Columbia.
“Our idea is that we wanted to create a place that was a one-stop shop (for) any newcomer or anyone who was involved in supporting or working with newcomers,” Henderson said. “If they had any questions, they were struggling with anything, anything was a challenge, if they were just kind of finding that they were a little bit isolated or bored or lonely, we wanted people to know that there’s this one place in town where no matter what your question is, no matter what your issue is, you can come and you’ll find some assistance and support.”
Mark Frison, president of Great Plains College, said the idea for the centre came from the realization that immigration to the area was growing.
“The record of small provinces in retaining newcomers hasn’t been stellar and we knew we were going to have to do everything we could to try to keep as many folks here for the long term as we could,” he said. “We know, especially in our part of the province, that having a high number of newcomers is going to be important, both for creating a strong and diverse society as well as the economic imperative relative to the labour shortage.”
He said the centre has turned out “better than we ever could have imagined,” offering services to newcomers as well as a place where they can connect with others who share a similar experience. The centre offers help in finding a place to live, links to community organizations, and training in employment skills, computers and driving. Its volunteers also help organize cultural projects and events.
Henderson said the community as a whole has been very supportive of its newest members.
“Everyone’s kind of really got behind this and seen the value and the richness that newcomers have brought into our community,” she said.
