You can talk inclusion in Stouffville

Yorkregion.com
May 6, 2015
By Sandra Bolan

Whitchurch-Stouffville has the highest immigration rate - 28 per cent - of York Region’s northern six municipalities, according to Jason Hastings, manager of human services strategy and partnerships for York Region.

Of the recent immigrants to Whitchurch-Stouffville, 18 per cent are Chinese and 11 per cent are Sri Lankan, Hastings told town council Tuesday night during his presentation on the region’s Let’s Talk Inclusion initiative.

The program is in conjunction with the Community Partnership Council and Municipal Multicultural Reference Group, of which Whitchurch-Stouffville is a member.

The purpose is to identify ways to accommodate immigrants and make York Region more welcoming and inclusive, according to Hastings.

An average of 10,700 new immigrants come to the region annually, he said.

Currently, 45 per cent of the region’s population identifies themselves as immigrants. By 2031, about 55 per cent of residents will be new immigrants, Hastings told council.

To help build strong, inclusive communities within the region, a number of local sessions are being held. People can share their perspectives on immigration and cultural diversity as well as provide ideas on how to make the region more inclusive of the diversity that immigration brings, so the full economic, cultural and social potential of all residents can be realized.

The Whitchurch-Stouffville session takes place May 21 at the Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment - Nineteen on the Park, starting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.yorkwelcome.ca.