Simcoe County's evolving approach to support newcomers unveiled in latest strategy
The County of Simcoe launched its latest Community Settlement Strategy on Monday to support newcomers to the region.
The County says it's made significant progress since the launch of its first strategy in 2016.
"I think one of the biggest learnings is when people realize how many new Canadians we have here in Simcoe County, and that number has doubled. As we move forward now, they have friends and family because that's the biggest shock to people when they move to a new country, is trying to get yourself grounded," said Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Simcoe County is home to more than 82,000 immigrants, an increase of over a third since 2016.
Last year alone, there were 1,830 permanent resident arrivals in the County.
"Sixty-three hundred international students studying at Georgian College last year, and that number has grown over the year and we're very proud of that. They come to us from over 85 countries speaking over 50 languages, so we know they are a source of immigration in our region," said Kevin Weaver, Georgian College president and CEO.
The new strategy is divided into three pillars:
- Living - to increase equitable access to local housing
- Working - to increase labour force recruitment and retention for immigrants and international students
- Belonging - to introduce immigrants and international students to local communities
"Being a community that's not only welcoming but also organized to support through its local networks is absolutely the difference between having a longer road ahead of you or having one you can navigate much easier," said Mina Fayez-Bahgat, Simcoe County Social and Community Services general manager.
Fayez Bahgat said a few main goals include setting up a multicultural centre.
"A second one is directly tying newcomers into a labour force strategy. I think that would be an ultimate focus area of impact and finally becoming a formal resettlement community for newcomers through the federal and provincial programs," said Fayez Bahgat.
Another part of the settlement strategy is launching a new immigration website containing over 300 pages of information for newcomers in the region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.