The Community Immigration Retention in Rural Ontario (CIRRO) pilot project was recently launched by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs to create a list of best practices for small communities welcoming immigrants.

Chatham-Kent is one of the two communities involved in the project, which seeks to attract more immigrants to small-town, rural Ontario. 

The project began last week, with a workshop to share information, come up with ideas, and start creating a plan.  Participants were told that small communities are attractive to newcomers because of lower real estate costs, safer environments for young families, and greater access to outdoor recreation. 

To develop the best practices list, Chatham-Kent will be studying the immigration success stories of other small communities in Canada, such as Innisfail, Alberta and Colchester, Nova Scotia.

The entire community of Innisfail, Alberta got involved in welcoming immigrants, by providing language services, translating services, and newcomer welcoming workshops.  

Lists of services and community information are provided in multiple languages and the local real estate board provides information sessions.  There is also a matching program for newcomers and local families.

Colchester, Nova Scotia has been successful in keeping a large proportion of its immigrant population.  The city offers business opportunities to newcomers and works with employers, schools, and community groups to make Colchester an increasingly attractive immigration destination.