'Welcome Mat' is Wet, But Still Inviting

By 250 News

Newly arrived international students attend Welcome BBQ at City Hall

Prince George, B.C. -  Rain has not put a damper on special events underway at City Hall to welcome international students to our community.

Organizer, Chris Bone, says while UNBC, CNC and the school district have been doing a great job of welcoming and orienting their students, the community had not been doing the same. She says the purpose of today's event is to do just that, "It's a chance for us as a community to come together and say, 'We're so glad you chose to study in Prince George' and to showcase some of the things we're proud of that we hope they'll be able to take part in while they're here."

Bone, the City's Manager of Social Development, says she had received confirmations from 300 people planning to attend today's BBQ and she's thrilled the weather does not seem to have been a deterrent.  "I can see that people are happy to be here and we know it's going to be a great afternoon because there are so many events planned."

Tours of Council Chambers at City Hall, and a walking tour over to the Civic Centre Plaza are running every 15-minutes.  Mayor Dan Rogers is scheduled to meet with the students at 4pm.

As for this first 'Welcome' event, Bone expects it may be the start of a new tradition.  "One of the great things about today's event was the City of Prince George's role was really to facillitate the involvement of partner agencies and the partner agencies were keen and they came to the table with lots of support."

Among the groups involved:  Downtown Prince George (DTPG hosted the BBQ), Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society, Multicultural Heritage Society, UNBC, CNC, Shecana International Students, Tourism Prince George.

"So it was lots of agencies coming together because they see the value," says Bone, "Not only in being a welcoming community, but also the value in really marketing our community as a place these students might want to stay and work in."

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