In the process of developing the settlement service delivery model, it’s important to engage the whole community in ongoing dialogue in order to create a common understanding and community ownership of the project.
Positive dialogue and engagement among the key stakeholders, based on our core values, will help us better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by our diverse community.
Mississauga, ON (Nov. 19, 2009):Strengthening the organizational capacity of agencies serving newcomers is vital to deliver effective and sustainable services for our newcomers, says Evelyn Myrie, director of the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group (PNSG). While speaking at a funders’ forum at the Living Arts Centre, Myrie said, “Our ability to make Peel Region a centre of excellence for the settlement and integration of newcomers depends a lot on the capacity of the agencies.”
Advancing social innovation and out-of-the-box approaches to the settlement and integration of newcomers was the emphasis of the event’s keynote speaker, Stephen Huddart, Vice-President of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration among government, business and the community sector to improve Canada’s ability to attract and retain foreign-trained professionals to stay competitive in the global economy, Huddart said, “For the first time, two philanthropic foundations – Maytree and McConnell – are using a variety of innovative means to raise public awareness, stimulate new programs and develop better public policy in this area.””In our programs we are learning to develop innovative solutions that can be applied in any community.”
More than 150 people representing newcomer serving agencies as well as public and private funding agencies and foundations attended the PNSG event. After the keynote presentation, 17 funding agencies and foundations gathered in a Café Style environment presenting, answering, and clarifying priorities and information related to funding resources available for access to newcomer agencies.
PNSG was formed in 2005 by United Way of Peel Region in collaboration with the Region of Peel. The mission of PNSG is to champion a collaborative strategy for the successful integration of newcomers in the economy and community of Peel.
PNSG is funded by the Government of Canada through Citizenship and Immigration Canada under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement.
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For further information or to arrange an interview with Evelyn Myrie, Director, Peel Newcomer Strategy Group, please contact:
Nikesh Amit
Communications Specialist
Peel Newcomer Strategy Group
165 Dundas Street West
Suite # 501
Mississauga, ON L5B 2N6
Tel: 905-276-0008, Ext. 113
Cell: 416-836-6871
Fax: 905-896-8048
Email:
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