HUMBOLDT — Last May, a national organization focused on welcoming new residents to town with a basket of gifts closed for good. Now a local group is hoping to bring the tradition back.
The Humboldt Regional Newcomer Centre is hoping to restart what Welcome Wagon Canada had done for Humboldt for decades. Janine Hart, the centre’s executive director, said that when Welcome Wagon was in operation, they had a good relationship with each other.
“It was a really good way for us for our newcomers to feel connected with the city that they were coming to live in, predominantly Humboldt,” she said.
“When the pandemic hit and we no longer had that connection, we were looking for ways in how we could re-establish that really welcoming, personal welcoming touch that allowed our newcomers to engage with other organizations and other companies in the region.”
The centre contacted Welcome Wagon to ensure that they wouldn’t be duplicating other’s efforts, they found out that it closed.
“We thought: well, this is something that we need to continue doing,” Hart said. “It's a lot of hard work, but it's a good cause.”
At this point, the centre is still looking to partner with local businesses to get coupons, items and information needed to fill the gift baskets. Hart said such a token of kindness can encourage new residents of the area to visit a business they might not otherwise go to and establish a new relationship.
Once those partnerships are formed, the centre will announce when they are ready to deliver the gift baskets to new residents.
Hart said over the last six months, the centre has undergone some organizational changes, looking at new programming to better support any newcomer that comes into the region.
They are planning to mark International Women's Day on March 8 and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in the week prior to March 23. The centre is also doing some events in its Facebook group, including a dance workout each Wednesday.
