CHARLOTTETOWN – Nov. 7, 2014 – It isn’t always easy for a newcomer to find his place and to integrate himself into a new community that he doesn’t know very well. But he will dramatically increase his chances of success if he finds the courage to ask questions and to make efforts to get actively involved in community activities.
Expressed by immigrants who’ve gone through the adjustment process, these comments were uttered during an interesting and friendly round table discussion in Charlottetown Nov. 6. In fact, the 20 participants at the early evening event shared a wide variety of opinions, experiences, challenges and suggestions.
Donald Arsenault from Stratford enjoyed hosting the discussion, which lasted a full hour more than expected since the participants were so involved in the exchange.
The Coopérative d’intégration francophone, RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s LIENS project and the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean jointly organized this round table on the occasion of National Francophone Immigration Week, specifically to given an opportunity to people, both from the immigrant community and the Island community, to openly share their feels about all questions surrounding immigration.
According to the organizers, these openhearted discussions were so appreciated by the participants that they requested that another such evening be held, perhaps next spring during the Rendez-vous de la francophone. They would appreciate having even more people in on the discussion.
The participants left, obviously pleased with the discussions and with the fact that the organizers would try their best to follow up on the suggestions that emerged during the evening.
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CUTLINE: The person having possession of the eagle feather, mounted on a tiny lobster trapped painted in the Acadian colors, had the right to speak frankly during a round table discussion on immigration Nov. 6 in Charlottetown. From left are Michaël Paulin, settlement and community outreach coordinator for the Eastern region of the Coopérative d’intégration francophone, immigrants Amélie Bétus and William Yin, and Catherine Rioux, co-ordinator of the LIENS project. (Photo by La Voix Acadienne)
For more information :
Catherine Rioux
Co-ordinator LIENS project
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
(902) 370-7333, Ext. 404
catherine@rdeeipe.org