A new campaign in Saint John celebrates newcomers’ valuable contributions to the community.
Our Region, Our Home is operated by the Saint John Local Immigration Partnership (SJLIP) and seeks to foster connections between newcomers and long-time residents.
It builds on an earlier effort called ‘See My Value, ‘ which also focused on inclusivity.
In their new campaign, SJLIP tells the personal stories of five newcomers living in Saint John:
- Borys and Nataliia, from Ukraine, are active in arts and culture.
- Isabel and Rafael, from Mexico, have settled in with their families.
- Nilton, from Taiwan, is an entrepreneur and architect.
- Theophile, from Cameroon, volunteers at schools and newcomer programs.
- Jumaboy, from Tajikistan, is a registered nurse working at the regional hospital.
Kathryn Melvin, from SJLIP and the project manager behind the campaign, says it’s about more than just celebrating diversity.
“We want to bring people together and create connections that foster inclusivity and belonging.”
The campaign officially launches on Friday, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
A launch event will take place at the Saint John Sea Dogs hockey game.
The event will feature videos about the campaign, newcomer involvement, and activities for community members.
To encourage conversations, newcomers attending the game will wear campaign t-shirts designed to spark discussions.
“You might be sitting next to someone and say, ‘Hey, what’s your t-shirt about?’ It’s really about creating that connection,” Melvin said.
She highlighted that creating a welcoming community starts with small actions, like listening to newcomers’ stories, fostering connections, and building understanding within the region.
Melvin expressed hope that the campaign will continue to feature more stories from newcomers in the future and adapt for events like Black History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.
