1. What brought you to Leeds and Grenville/Canada?
I was born and raised here in Brockville.
2. What do you think this area does well in being welcoming?
The communities within Brockville are really strong, for example the Islamic Centre, they’re very tight-knit and open to everyone. I had the opportunity to work with them and found them unbelievably welcoming and amazing overall.
3. What do you think this area could do to be better for newcomers?
It can be tough coming into Brockville (as an immigrant to Canada or not), as it can be a very insular community and it’s tough if you’re not from the area. I know people who came to the area (immigrants and not) who have had difficulty finding social groups and people. I’ve met people and helped introduce them to local organizations and activities that helped them integrate, which I know would have been a struggle without having someone with inside knowledge of the community.
4. Have you been satisfied with the health care (physical and mental) in this area?
No. This is nothing against the wonderful people who work here, but I find we’re short in what’s needed. This isn’t a local issue, but more of a provincial and federal one. Unfortunately, we have these shortages but the people we do have are incredible.
5. Are you involved in the community? If so, how?
I play with the Brockville Privateeers Women’s team (Rugby), I do coaching with them as well. I volunteer extensively with a local elementary school, as well as Canadian Aid for Chernobyl. I used to be on the Refugees for Brockville committee (but had to quit when I moved abroad). I play Dungeons and Dragons weekly at Sequence Gaming’s drop-in.
6. What do you think is most important for people to know/think about when working/connecting with immigrants?
To keep in mind that compromise is sometimes key. I have the perspective having lived and worked in other countries, some that had similar cultures and others that were vastly different. It’s okay to have different opinions and viewpoints, but sometimes you need to compromise as others will have to as well. I’m a big fan of two yeses means we move ahead, and even one no means we don’t. Being open—minded is key. One of the biggest ways of connecting is with food, as it is intrinsic part of being human. I have wonderful memories of trying and learning to cook traditional meals, and it’s an amazing way to connect with people, share culture, and learn about others. It’s also delicious. The only problem is sometimes finding specific ingredients, ha ha.
7. What supports do you know about that can help newcomers in this area?
The Employment+Education Centre is good. TR Leger Immigrant Services is useful for a lot of newcomers. Leeds Pharmacy is fantastic, they advertise that they speak Arabic, which is a huge benefit to Arabic-speaking newcomers.
8. Do you think this area has changed over the years in regards to how welcoming it is? Why or why not?
We have a higher levels of diversity compared to when I was growing up. Not that the area was unwelcoming back then, but it just wasn’t an area that attracted a lot of immigrants. I think overall Brockville is trying to be welcoming, not everyone is, but that’s true everywhere. I’ve seen this community really try to rally, for example during the height of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in 2015, the community came together to try and help people. It was unexpected and really heart-warming from my perspective. I think we were at our peak then. I’d say overall we’re on the side of welcoming.
9. What have you heard from any immigrants you know about this area?
I’ve heard mixed things. There is a struggle being here because it is smaller, as there are fewer things available. It’s not super uncommon for younger immigrants to move to bigger areas for more of what they’re looking for, especially if there are well-established communities they can connect with there. This is also true for local youth, not just immigrants. There are some who have been here for ages and are so happy to be here. So it really depends on the person.
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