Newcomers explore North Bay’s natural beauty through spring event
Learning more about trail networks, native wildlife, and the surrounding natural environment was the focus of an event over the weekend for newcomers.
Learning more about trail networks, native wildlife, and the surrounding natural environment was the focus of an event over the weekend called “Welcome to Spring in North Bay Spring.”
The Friends of Laurier Woods provided a guided tour through the conservation area as part of a larger series of events hosted by the Local Immigration Partnership, in collaboration with the City of North Bay and the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re putting on a series of events throughout the year to celebrate all that North Bay has to offer and showcase the activities available to those who may not know or may need a refresher,” explained Deborah Robertson executive director of the Northeastern Ontario Multicultural Centre.
“During the winter we partnered with Les Compagnons at their Carnaval festival. We had several booths showcasing what’s available to North Bay residents during the winter months, with a focus on keeping people outside and active.”
The spring edition goes beyond exploring and hiking.
The hike along with the other events is an opportunity for newcomers to the city to discover what North Bay has to offer, to meet other people, and to network.
“As a newcomer, I do believe it is really important to have this type of event to feel that you are part of the community, to feel that you matter, and to feel that you are welcome and that there are people who are really interested in showing newcomers what North Bay is about and learning about the culture,” shared Grace Garcia Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator.
“I think sometimes when you’re from another country, the activities that you are doing in your country are completely different from what they are here. So, I think this is a great opportunity to get familiar with the Canadian culture and what Canadians usually do in their spare time.”
Being one with nature has many benefits.
“I do believe being in touch with nature is really important to protect our mental health. I also believe there are a lot of people who are really passionate that can share this passion with other people who may be having their first experience coming to the conservation area,” Garcia added.
The Multicultural Centre is noticing a steady increase in the number of newcomers arriving in the city.
Deeksha Poral Lakshmimarayama and her husband moved to North Bay from Dubai nearly two years ago.
The couple attended the event to explore the trails and get to know the city better.
“We find it very peaceful here. We love it here, and we want to make this a long-term home. These events actually help us get to know North Bay better. We love hiking trails and we love summers,” shared Poral Lakshmimarayama.
“Now since we call North Bay our home, we are more focused on exploring North Bay. So, we made a challenge to go on one trail and explore North Bay as a whole every weekend. Such events actually get us engaged more with a lot of people. We get to know tourism. We’ve connected with a lot of people so we can relate to it. I feel it is a very good initiative, and we should continue to do this, and we will participate in all events.”
In addition to discovering what Laurier Woods is all about, booths showcasing what North Bay has to offer in terms of trails and outdoor activities moving into the summer months were set up at the entrance to Laurier Woods by organizations such as Discovery Routes, and the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority.
“We’re just hoping that people will learn a little bit more about what is available in the community, and to try and get people outside and active, and making the most of what is available locally,” noted Robertson.
By Linda Holmes, BayToday.ca
