Annual Report

2008 was an important year for the establishment and development of the Miramichi Regional Multicultural Association (MRMA) and expansion of MRMA's multicultural promotion activities. In addition, MRMA launched a new immigrant settlement and integration services program in 2008. By year-end, MRMA demonstrated significant progress and achievements in a number of areas that are highlighted below.

Promotion

The Public Education Program started in March 2008 with the school program, promoting diversity in local school, reaching more than two hundred students.

MRMA Board Members held two multicultural promotion meetings in April 2008 with each of the City's downtown business associations - Newcastle and Chatham.

In May 2008, several MRMA Board Members travelled to Fredericton to meet with Business New Brunswick Minister, the Hon. Greg Byrn, to address the need for an office and a full time staff to help newcomers and provide settlement services in the Miramichi region.

In June 2008, MRMA Board Members addressed each of the City's Rotary Clubs - Chatham and Newcastle - to promote multiculturalism.

MRMA maintained contact with other ethno-cultural organisations during 2008, meeting with Irish, Acadian, and Scottish cultural groups to exchange ideas for program development.

MRMA recieved visitors from the Population Growth Secretariat in April, June and December of 2008. During the June visit, a public meeting was arranged where the CEO, Mr. Humphrey Sheehan, Mr. Ashraf Ghenem, Manager Settlement and Multiculturalism, and Ms. Beverly Woznow, Immigration Manager, spoke to MRMA members and guests. They were very well recieved and much interest was generated.

MRMA held its third Annual Multicultural Evening in June in conjunctionwith celebrating Canadian Multiculturalism Day. Attendance was again higher than 2007. Residents of the region have demonstrated tremendous support and interest in this event and for MRMA.

Settlement and Multicultural Promotion Capacity

In July 2008, MRMA incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the New Brunswick Company Act.

In September 2008, MRMA recieved a grant from the New Brunswick Population Growth Secretariat under the Multicultrual Grants Program. The grant was for the immediate establishment of settlement services in the Miramichi Region for a ten-week period.

In November 2008, MRMA opened its new Settlement Services Office at 158 Wellington Street, Miramichi, co-lated with Enterprise Miramichi. During the same month, MRMA engaged a full time Coordinator.

The MRMA website is an important vehicle for information dissemination about MRMA and its services and to draw positive attention to the Miramichi region as a welcomming community for newcomers and those not so new. The site was redesigned and updated in 2008, with the support of the City of Miramichi. It is expected that the website will become a more important tool in drawing visitors and newcomers to relocate to the region.

Settlement Services

The Coordinator promoted MRMA's new settlement services; endeavoured to identify and expand MRMA's client base; identified priority needs of newcomers; and, commenced development of programs in response to those needs. The settlement services office worked to build bridges and connect with other service groups and support networks to help newcomers settle in the region as well as support local businesses and institutions to better meet the needs of newcomers.

In a short period of time, from its opening in November 2008, to the end of December 2008, the Settlement Services Office fielded 40 telephone inquiries; recieved two newcomers in the office; and had a client-base of four families. Needs of these newcomers and inquiries relate to language training and assessment; recognition of foreign credentials and employment.

Conclusions

2008 has indeed been a busy year for MRMA and taking stock of all achievements, we take pride in how far we have come after years of effort.

Thanks are extended to all our partners: the New Brunswick Population Growth Secretariat; Canadian Heritage; the New Brunswick Multicultural Council; and, the City of Miramichi. Their valuable support and advice has helped MRMA achieve its goals in 2008 and put MRMA on a solid footing for 2009.

Also, acknowledgement and special thanks are extended to MRMA Board members whose commitment and hard work has made the significant progress and achievements of 2008 possible.