~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~

January 18, 2008

Lunenburg Queens Immigration Meeting a Success

BRIDGEWATER—On Thursday, January 17, the Lunenburg Queens Regional Development Agency hosted a meeting at the NSCC Lunenburg Campus to ask community members for their ideas on creating a more welcoming community for immigrants and newcomers.

With over 25 professionals and immigrants in attendance from both Lunenburg and Queens counties, energy was bounding and the room was full of positive ideas and suggestions.
Guest speaker, Fadia Ismail, an Egyptian immigrant and manager from the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, spoke about her personal experiences as an immigrant and the transferable principles she uses in her job that Lunenburg Queens can apply to build a successful immigrant settlement program.

“We must remember that ‘immigration’ is more than just statistical numbers,” says Corey Pickens, immigration navigator for the Lunenburg Queens Regional Development Agency. “Newcomers share the same concerns as the rest of us. Reaching out to immigrants means caring about the things that are important to them—namely, their kids, their heritage and their culture. Immigration is one factor we must not ignore in the equation of life here in Nova Scotia.”
Participants identified attributes in our communities, issues that need to be improved and possible solutions. The most prominent immigrant concerns specific to Lunenburg Queens were housing shortages, underemployment, and networking opportunities.

Within the next six months, Pickens will be establishing an Immigration Settlement Team to help
address these issues and provide information and resources for the approximately 60 new immigrants that make Lunenburg Queens their home each year.
“Newcomers choose to live in Nova Scotia for all kinds of reasons,” Pickens continues. “From our beautiful coastline to a sense of freedom and security, we have much to share with immigrants who choose to make this region their home.”

Media Contact:
Neil Emenau, Executive Director
Lunenburg Queens Regional Development Agency
Phone: 1-902-543-0491
Email: neilemenau@eastlink.ca