'We want them to build a life here': Association sees increase in newcomers

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The president of the board of the Multicultural Association Chaleur Region Inc. says the organization saw a significant increase in clients in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Jennifer Pitre said the association provided services to 114 more clients in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which runs from April to March, compared to the year prior. It helped 539 last year compared to 435 during the same timeframe in 2022-2023.

Pitre said the most common countries the association’s clients come from are Algeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire.

Though the increase in the association’s clientele is significant, Pitre said it doesn’t begin to show the complete picture of the number of newcomers to the region since people are not required to register with the association.

The increase in clients last year meant more work for employees, but it also meant opportunities to partner with other associations to offer more programs to newcomers to help them better integrate into the community, Pitre said.

The association is one of four Francophone refugee welcome centres outside of Quebec across the country, and received between 40 and 50 refugees last year, Pitre said.

She said different services are offered to different clientele based on need.

“Refugees have their own supports because they don’t have the same needs as those who have chosen to immigrate to the Chaleur region,” she said.

For those who chose the Chaleur region to settle, Pitre said a lot of the help the association provides is systemic, navigating tasks like getting a drivers licence, registering kids for school, or getting social insurance and health cards.

“Making sure they know how to navigate those systems because they’re often very different from one country to the next,” she said.

Another big challenge newcomers to the region face is the lack of public transportation. Pitre said insurance rates are often significantly higher for those who are new to the country and the cost of taxi trips adds up quickly. She said that’s a point the association is sure to tell people on exploratory visits to the region.

“As much as we want to welcome people to our community, if we don’t have the services that they need then they’re not going to be able to stay,” she said. “Retention is a big thing for us. We want them to come and we want them to be able to integrate into the community and stay here. We want them to build a life here.”

Those who decide to move to the region become important contributors to the community, helping to fill needs in employment, becoming business owners, and adding to the diversity and vibrancy of the community, Pitre said.

“It’s really nice to see people become part of our neighbourhoods – they become our neighbours and friends,” she said.

Pitre said the staff at the association organizes activities for newcomers to help them meet people and learn what their new home has to offer.

“We work so closely with these people to ensure they’re well-integrated in our community and that really is a labour of love by the employees who are at the association,” she said. “It’s a big job and it’s almost like a calling. You really become integrated in the lives of these people.”