Welcoming Week

September 10-19, 2026

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.  More than 4,000 people have celebrated in Huron County since 2021, with dozens of events organized throughout our communities.

Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America, Welcoming Week is a global initiative that provides individuals and communities the opportunity to proclaim welcoming values through events and local initiatives.  Overall, Welcoming Week aims to foster mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as deeper belonging for all.

Huron County participates in Welcoming Week each year.  It’s a time for people of all backgrounds to come together and demonstrate the importance of being welcoming to new neighbours.

    Join the 2026 Welcoming Week Events!

       Brussels

        Meet Your Neighbour Night

        Wednesday, September 9 | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

        Brussels Library Branch

        Your neighbours are more interesting than you think! Come find out. Learn about others in your community and make new connections. Join a Welcoming Week Meet Your Neighbour Night at the Brussels library branch. This is a casual event, geared towards adults, though families are welcome to attend.

        Tours of the Brussels Fall Fair

        Tuesday, September 15 | 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

        AND

        Wedensday, September 16 | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.

        Brussels Arena, Brussels

        New to the Brussels Fall Fair? Join a Welcoming Week Tour! This family-friendly event brings together locals and visitors to celebrate rural life, featuring livestock, crops, and home crafts. Enjoy live musical entertainment, face-painting clowns, inflatables, and escape rooms, plus lively competitions in baking, quilting, gardening, and craft works. Whether you’re anew to area or seeking a fun outing, the fair offers exciting entertainment, educational exhibits, and delicious food for everyone to enjoy. Ask for the tour at the entrance gate.

        Clinton

          I Am Huron Awards Celebration

          Thursday, September 10 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

          Libro Community Hall, Clinton

          Celebrate immigrants who make our area a better place to live. Awards presentation followed by refreshments. Everyone invited.

          Meet Your Neighbour Night

          Wednesday, September 16 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

          Clinton Library Branch

          If you are newly retired, new parents, new to town, new to Canada, or just want to learn more about your community, drop into the Clinton Branch Library Sept 16 at 6:30 pm to meet your neighbours. This is a drop-in program, designed for Adults, but families are welcome.

          Newcomers’ Fall Farm Frolic Bus Tour

          Saturday, September 19 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

          Meet in Libro Bank Parking Lot, Clinton
          This bus tour will visit four Huron County farms. Meet longhorn cows, alpalcas, horses, chickens and pigs. See how mushrooms are grown. Children’s activities planned. Watch special theatre and music performances on the farms. Lunch provided. Free.

          Exeter

            Pathways to Permanent Residency

            Sunday, September 14| 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

            Trivitt Memorial Church, Exeter

            Learn how temporary international workers can pursue permanent residency in Canada in this evening session with two Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. One-on-one introductory consultations are available at no cost. Spanish translation available.

            Hey Neighbour! Exeter Block Party

            Wednesday, September 16 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

            South Huron Municipal Parking Lot. Exeter

            Meet new neighbours at this family-friendly street party. Get to know some of the organizations in our community. Play yard games. Try lawn bowling. Enjoy music. Make art. Grab dinner from a food truck. Everyone welcome!

            Goderich

              I Am Huron Exhibit

              Thursday, September 17 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
              Huron County Museum, Goderich
              Celebrate Welcoming Week, the opening of the I am Huron exhibit and the premiere of a new season of Multilingual Movie Nights at the Huron County Museum! Multilingual Movie Nights celebrate the many languages spoken in Huron County with a film and free refreshments! The film screening will be The Mother and the Bear, a Canadian film about a Korean immigrant family living in Winnipeg. In English and Korean languages.

              Children’s Storytime: Tales from Iran

              Saturday, September 19 | 10:30 a.m.

              Goderich Library Branch

              Travel from Goderich to Iran at a special Welcoming Week Storytime at the Goderich Branch! We’ll be joined by our special guest reader, originally from Iran, featuring a picture book by an Iranian author. It’s a fun opportunity for children and families of all backgrounds to discover new stories, cultures, and connections together.

               Seaforth

                Meet Your Neighbour Night

                Wednesday, September 16 | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

                Seaforth Library Branch

                New to Seaforth? Entering a different phase of life? Get to know your community, build new connections, and meet some familiar faces at a Welcoming Week Meet Your Neighbour Night — happening at the Seaforth library branch. This is a casual, drop-in event geared toward adults, though families are welcome to attend.

                 Wingham

                  Music in the Park

                  Wednesday, September 9 | 6:30 p.m.

                  Cruikshank Park, Wingham

                  Everyone welcome!  Join us at Cruickshank Park in Wingham for an evening of live entertainment, family fun and community spirit! Enjoy performances from local talent, take part in our open mic, and bring the family along for fun games and crafts. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a great evening in the park!

                   Zurich

                    Meet Your Neighbour Night

                    Tuesday, September 15 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

                    Zurich Library Branch

                    New in town? New to parenthood? Newly retired? Meet others in Zurich and area. Find out how you can build connections and get involved in making the community better for everyone. Join a Welcoming Week Meet Your Neighbour Night at the Zurich library branch. This is a casual event, geared towards adults, though families are welcome to attend.

                     

                    Become a Welcoming Week Event Host

                    Are you interested in hosting a Welcoming Week event for your organization?

                    Huron County’s Immigration Partnership will support your efforts by:

                    • Providing mentoring and guidance
                    • Assisting with promotion
                    • Supporting an evaluation process of your event

                    Past events have included Welcome Hikes, a community cooking class, movie screenings, and an introduction to lawn bowling.

                    Welcoming America has created a Welcoming Week event toolkit to help you plan an activity.

                    Reach out to us at home@huroncounty.ca to tell us about your idea.