New Resident Welcome Service

The phenomenon of youth out-migration is growing. Recent population censuses indicate that rural areas, overall, are losing more and more young professionals who, for the most part, leave the countryside in hopes of finding more attractive options in the city. This situation is a threat to our region’s future development.

Faced with this problem, the Pontiac Carrefour jeunesse-emploi [youth employment centre] and the Pontiac Regional Country Municipality (MRC) combined forces with the Centre de santé et service sociaux du Pontiac [Pontiac health and social services centre] and the Table jeunesse de l’Outaouais [Outaouais youth council] to clearly define a local reception and labour retention program to maintain the quality of public services in the Pontiac region.

The reception program facilitates the integration of new residents and their families into the local community.

The guiding principle for the program’s integration goals is respect for the values of Pontiac society and for the needs of new residents.

Mission

The Pontiac MRC reception program will make it possible to develop innovative measures for welcoming new residents such as personalized accompaniment through activities for integration into the local community. Integration of new residents into the Pontiac community will benefit the process of economic, social and cultural development.

Goals

To encourage integration between new residents and the Pontiac community
To develop local actors’ commitment to labour attraction and retention strategies
To involve new residents in the Pontiac’s development process
To incite new residents to participate in Pontiac socio-cultural activities
To publicize the welcoming character of the Pontiac MRC
To work with other labour retention programs already active in rural areas

Services, advice and partnership

Where to settle?

Since new residents face difficulties finding a place to live, we provide personalized, professional service in partnership with a real estate agent to facilitate housing access while also taking the new residents’ specific needs into consideration. (maybe link to an agent??)

Local services

Our region is well endowed with services such as schools, day care, health services, businesses and sports and leisure services. These services are promoted mainly through a regularly updated information directory provided to the public. (link for resources)

Culture

More and more, culture is becoming an important characteristic of the Pontiac region. We have permanent activities that are already famous, for example, the Pontiac Artists’ Studio tour is one of the many activities on our cultural calendar. This year’s creation of the School of the Arts in Portage du Fort, which provides training programs in painting, ceramics, sculpture, etc., is also a good example of the community’s desire to develop the MRC’s cultural component. (link to the MRC cultural calendar)

Leisure and outdoor

The Pontiac region is a rich and favourable environment for outdoor activities. The area offers a wide variety of options and infrastructure. (links outdoor, leisure, hunting, fishing, etc.)

Social and community life

Integration is unquestionably the major goal of our reception service. In addition to the existing activities in the Pontiac region that have already been mentioned on the MRC’s events calendar, other activities will be organized by our reception program, such as information sessions, barbeque, suppers, etc.

Communication and partnership

Pontiac’s reception program will also educate and inform the Pontiac community and its representatives of the challenges inherent newcomer integration and will encourage all local actors to work together to feature and promote Pontiac hospitality.

“Ponticization”

So that new residents have the opportunity to become familiar with Pontiac’s social, historical and economic development, we will provide information sessions, such as conferences and workshops, in various locations throughout the region. Individuals from the region will talk about Pontiac characteristics, addressing various themes such as traditional cuisine, history and any other subject characteristic of the Pontiac.

Mireille Chartrand
Reception Officer
819 648 50 65
mchartrand@crep.qc.ca
www.crep.qc.ca