Annual celebration features BBQ at City Hall                  photo courtesy CNC

Prince George, BC –  This afternoon’s annual party on the front lawn of City Hall is about so much more than just welcoming international students to our community…

During her presentation to City Council on today’s 7th Annual Welcoming Party, the College of New Caledonia’s Anne Harris says it’s also about celebrating the growing diversity in our community.

Harris said CNC is welcoming students from a number of new countries this year, including Ghana, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe, in addition to a growing number of students from the larger and more established markets of China and India.

“It’s just wonderful to see how international students – both as they study and as they stay in the city and work after graduation – are starting to make an impact into the growing diversity of our community,” said CNC’s Operations Manager for International Education.

Harris pointed out that as few as 10 to 15-years ago, there was no mosque in the city and few of the numerous restaurants and cultural activities that are part of this expansion.

Councillor Garth Frizzell said that his family has hosted students for a number of years and his children have had exposure to 28 different nationalities through the college’s program.  He noted that these students can choose to study anywhere in the world, so ‘you have to make a case for them to come here.’  He said the event is one means of letting them know they’re welcome in Prince George.

The party runs from 3pm until 5pm and will feature the Khas’tan Drummers performing a tradition welcome from the Lheidli T’enneh, BBQ, tour of Council Chambers and bus tour of the city.