Huron County, Ontario – Twelve community events throughout Huron County are being organized to bring people together to welcome new residents during Welcoming Week, September 10 to 19. Held annually, Welcoming Week aims to show new residents our communities’ welcoming spirit and create new connections among residents and local organizations.
“Everyone in Huron County wants to feel supported and truly welcomed by neighbours and the larger community. That kind of support takes effort and an ongoing commitment to foster a sense of belonging and community-wide connection. Welcoming Week is where this commitment can start,” said Immigration Partnership Co-Chair, Pam Somers.
Welcoming Week events are being organized in Brussels, Wingham, Clinton, Zurich, Exeter, Seaforth and Goderich. Coordinated by the Huron County Local Immigration Partnership, the events are hosted by community partners.
“Everyone is encouraged to come out and say hello to new residents, including immigrants, at these community events. Our goal is to create a community where everyone feels supported, at home and integrated into all spheres of life. Attending one of these events is a step towards achieving that goal,” said Phil Maier, a community volunteer and the other co-chair of Huron County’s Local Immigration Partnership.
Event Locations and Times
- Meet Your Neighbour Nights – The free events planned for 2026 include Meet Your Neighbour Nights at the Huron County Library branches in Brussels, Seaforth, Clinton and Zurich. Meet Your Neighbour nights offer new residents a chance to meet the people behind various community organizations and learn more about their new community.
- Brussels – September 9 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Zurich – September 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Clinton – September 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Seaforth – September 16, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Community Concert – A community concert is being planned at Cruikshank Park on September 9 at 6:30 p.m. Local performers will take the stage, and an open mic will offer other singers a chance to showcase their talent. Games and crafts are also being planned at the Wingham event.
- An Awards Gala for immigrants making a positive impact with a keynote address from Dr. Wayne Caldwell will take place on September 10 from 7 to 9pm at the upstairs of the Clinton arena (Libro Hall). The event will highlight the various contributions immigrants are making to our region’s well-being and highlight.
- Information Session – People interested in learning how temporary residents in Canada can become permanent residents are encouraged to attend an information session at Trivitt Memorial Church in Exeter on September 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The information session will be led by two Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants who work with newcomers and employers in Huron County.
- Brussels Fall Fair – First-time fair goers are encouraged to attend the Brussels Fall Fair on September 15 and 16, where tours will be led by fair volunteers. The tour will introduce people to the longstanding rural tradition of celebrating the community’s agricultural bounty and way of life with an annual community celebration.
- Exeter Community Block Party – A community Block Party will take place in Exeter on September 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the South Huron Municipal Office parking lot. The event will feature games, music, food trucks, and a chance to make art while meeting various organizations in the area.
- Community Curators Exhibit and Movie Nights – In Goderich, the stories of immigrants will be featured in a Community Curators exhibit at the Huron County Museum, which will launch on September 17 at 6:00 p.m. The launch will be followed by the premier of a new season of Multilingual Movie Nights. The film being screened will be The Mother and the Bear. The film follows the story of a young Korean immigrant in Winnipeg who falls into a coma, leading her overbearing mother to fly in from Seoul to be by her side and meddle in her life via a dating app.
- Children’s Storytime in Goderich – A special children’s storytime is being planned on Saturday, September 19 at the Goderich branch of the Huron County Library at 10:30 a.m. The storytime will be led by a special guest reader, originally from Iran, who will read from a picture book by an Iranian author.
- Bus Tour – The Huron Welcome Hub for Newcomers are organizing a bus tour to four farms in Huron County on September 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The bus tour is designed for newcomers to Canada and will introduce people to farmers who operate cattle, alpaca, organic and mushroom farms.
“Welcoming Week is a fun opportunity for people from all backgrounds to discover new stories, cultures, and connections together. These events are part of a global movement where communities around the world are focused on fostering deeper understanding and connection amount neighbours. We are excited to continue to offer these events in Huron County,” said Pam Somers.
For more details about Welcoming Week events in Huron County, Visit www.huroncounty.ca/economic-development/welcoming-week
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About the Huron County Immigration Partnership | Operating since 2010, the Huron County Immigration Partnership aims to enhance newcomer experiences by enhancing collaboration among organizations, organizing training events, coordinating events that bring the community together to welcome newcomers, developing information resources and conducting research. It is funded with support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
About Welcoming Week | Welcoming Week is an annual campaign and celebration to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and communities the opportunity to proclaim welcoming values through events and local initiatives that foster mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as deeper belonging for all.