Cole Harbour Cares: Helping Newcomers

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth South.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I beg leave to make an introduction.

THE SPEAKER « » : Please do.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I draw the members' attention to the gallery opposite where we have a group of amazing volunteers, about whom I'm about to read a member statement. In the gallery we have the members of Cole Harbour Cares and I'd ask you to rise when I say your name. Diana and Danny Goodz, Anne Woods, Chris James, Dougald Kennedy, Marijke Simons, and Nancy Bowes - whom I should say, when the member earlier read the statement talking about the decades of work that has gone into the New Democratic Party and the component of our caucus, played a major role in that. Please receive the warm welcome of the House.

THE SPEAKER « » : Welcome. Nice to have you hear today to join us.

The honourable member for Dartmouth South.

COLE HARBOUR CARES: HELPING NEWCOMERS - THANKS

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Today I want to honour Cole Harbour Cares, a group of volunteers who've spent just shy of a decade helping newcomers settle in our province. The group worked tirelessly to bring two families to Nova Scotia: the Kilanis - a mom, dad, and three children - as well as the Al-Asadis - a mom, dad, and three kids, and they have since welcomed a fourth child since arriving. Every member of both families is now a Canadian citizen.

Cole Harbour Cares has had more than 30 volunteers and dozens of donors support them over the years, coming from two different denominations in the community, as well as the community at large, with no religious affiliation. Supporters gave their time and money, their furniture, their household goods, and found a suitable first apartment for each family.

Most importantly, they supported the newcomers in their first years in Canada, tutoring to help children adapt to Canadian schools, helped with finding doctors and dentists, driving teenage kids to soccer, cheering at the games, helping to find jobs, and adjusting to new languages, culture, and climate. Please join me in thanking Cole Harbour Cares for their decade of community support.