UPDATE: The “Know Your Neighbour” event scheduled for Thursday evening in Milltown has been cancelled.
See original story below.
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People in the Milltown area will get a chance to learn more about their neighbours Thursday night.
The St. Stephen chapter of Dialogue New Brunswick is hosting a “Know Your Neighbour” event.
Co-chair Don Olmstead said the idea is for local residents to get together and share their story.
“Typically, they will involve [people] growing up in that area, but often people who are also from a group that we might consider a minority, whether it be LGBTQ or an immigrant,” said Olmstead.
Three people are expected to speak at the event: Yolande Stuart, who has lived in Milltown her entire life; Ammar Said, who came to the community as a Syrian refugee; and Cynthia Howland, who is part of the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik.
Olmstead said the goal of the event is to build understanding and social harmony within the community.
“When people understand the story of people who grew up in slightly different communities than what they typically associate with, it really helps,” he said.
Olmstead adds the social health of our communities is just as important as economic health.
“All over the western world, we’re seeing more division into social and economic groups, and it harms us. Rich versus poor, immigrant versus local. There’s inherent resistance to people that they feel are different, but in fact, we aren’t.”
Olmstead said a similar event they held in Oak Hill in January drew between 25 and 50 people.
“Know Your Neighbour” takes place at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church hall in Milltown from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
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