Website invites new Canadians to make Kingston
home"Kingston welcomes you!" at www.immigrationkingston.ca
KINGSTON, ONT. / - "Kingston welcomes you!/ Kingston vous souhaite la bienvenue!" That's the message at www.immigrationkingston.ca, the Newcomers Web Portal aimed at attracting new and migrating immigrants to Kingston. The bilingual (English and French) Portal, being launched this Friday, offers newcomers to Canada easy access to timely and relevant settlement information about all aspects of life in Kingston and promotes the benefits of making a home in our beautiful city. "We want to attract more new Canadians to Kingston to help grow our knowledge-based community, fill worker gaps in our health-care and skilled-trades communities, and generally grow our economy," says Mayor Harvey Rosen. He points out that immigrants make up 14 per cent of Kingston's population compared with 28 per cent for the province as a whole. Kingston has also had flat population growth in recent years - just 2.6 per cent between 2001 and 2006 as compared to the provincial average of 6.6 per cent. "We know that immigrants have a lot to offer us - so we want to show them what we already know: that Kingston is a picturesque and community-minded lakeside gem. We have lots of opportunities for higher learning, a vibrant arts community, and a superior quality of life. We're also close to major centres like Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, which makes us a great alternative for new Canadians who have relatives in those cities, but who may prefer a home in a welcoming city of a more manageable size." This Friday, John Gerretsen, Kingston and the Islands MPP, Mayor Harvey Rosen and representatives from the City and its community partners - Immigrant Services Kingston and Area, Kingston Community Health Centres, Kingston Employment and Youth Services and the Kingston Economic Development Corporation - at 11 a.m. in Memorial Hall, City Hall, 216 Ontario St., will officially introduce the Newcomers Web Portal. "My ministry is pleased to support this municipal immigration website, which will help to attract skilled newcomers and investment to Kingston," said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. "Ontario needs the skills and talents of newcomers to keep our province strong and prosperous." "This website gives our community the opportunity to promote itself to newcomers and potential immigrants from around the world as a great place to live, work and invest." said John Gerretsen, MPP Kingston and the Islands. In 2008, Kingston received $300,652 in funding from the Ontario and federal governments to develop the immigration portal. This funding is part of the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement to support municipalities in attracting newcomers and helping them settle in their communities. The Newcomers Web Portal can also be reached via www.cityofkingston.ca/newcomers .
