Marlene & Jamaica / Cynthia & Nigeria / Aaron & Trinidad-Tobago

Flags from over 40 countries around the world fly in front of the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. Each of them represents and contributes an important part to the community’s local fabric. And every individual has a story.

On this episode we meet LIP Coordinator, Syed Islam from the capital Doha, Qatar; Marlene Henry-Smith originally from Kingston, Jamaica and living in the Sault since 2014; Cynthia Ima Osagie of Nigeria, Africa and now a resident in the city; Aaron Smith who found his way to Sault College from Trinidad-Tobago and then made the city his home.

Visit: ssmlip.ca

SSMLIP created the Immigrant Advisory Committee (formerly known as the Newcomer Advisory Roundtable) in response to the growing need to have the representation and input of Sault Ste. Marie’s immigrants and refugees included in its research and planning processes.

The IAC provides an opportunity for the direct participation of newcomers in SSMLIP’s operations, thereby increasing a collaboration base of organizations and individuals on overlapping issues related to diversity, inclusion and immigration. The IAC also serves to provide newcomers, refugees and members of racialized or religious minority communities in Sault Ste. Marie with a leadership role within SSMLIP’s governance structure.

Within SSMLIP, The Immigrant Advisory Committee plays three key roles:

To represent authentic voices of newcomer residents in SSMLIP’s strategic planning processes;
To help increase awareness of and engagement in intercultural issues and activities;
To reach out to other newcomers from ethnic, cultural or faith communities in Sault Ste. Marie to share information with them and encourage their participation in SSMLIP’s ongoing work in the community.