The ribbon and the cake have officially been cut and the Immigrant Welcome Centre at 19 A 9th Avenue South is now open.

City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski did the honours with city Councillors Denise Palleson and Bob Whetham in attendance as well as several immigrants and also representatives of a variety of Community Partners and staff from the Columbia Basin Alliance For Literacy.

Stetski noted that statistics show an increase in the number of immigrant settling in our community and stated that “Cranbrook is a community that welcomes diversity and celebrates culture; the more diverse we become the richer we are.”

The Welcoming Centre and the various community partner initiatives are made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C. The centre will offer assistance to immigrants needing information on our health care system, daycare, businesses, English as a Second Language, how to obtain a drivers license, applying for Canadian citizenship and much more.

The Cranbrook Centre is seeking volunteers. If you have two hours a week to spare and are a welcoming person please contact Anna at 250-581-2112. Training will be provided.

Above photo: Mayor Wayne Stetski (centre) does the official honours and declares the Immigrant Welcoming Centre open by cutting the ribbon and the cake.  On Stetski’s left is Coco Seitz, Settlement Facilitator and on his right is Anna Jordan who is the Immigrant Settlement Worker.

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