Grey County is kicking off the "New to Grey" initiative with a special event this Valentine's Day at Grey Roots. Attracting and retaining new people to the area is an important part of building the local labour force. The public is invited to come out and learn about the experiences newcomers bring to our communities and participate in discussions exploring the challenges and solutions of diversifying our workplaces.

"Newcomers have an abundance of skills, knowledge and experience to share. Before we look to attract newcomers to Grey County we need to learn from the people who are already here and understand their needs so we can keep them in our communities," said Stewart Halliday, Grey County Warden.

Newcomers are people who move to Grey County for employment or to live. They could be from another country or from within Canada.

The New to Grey kickoff event will be split into two sessions. The first half will focus on networking and education. Attendees will hear firsthand from newcomers about their experiences and there will be an opportunity for general discussions between participants.

The second half of the event will focus on workplace culture. Special guest speaker Lionel Laroche will share his wisdom and advice. Mr. Laroche has spent the last 20 years providing cross-cultural training and consulting to more than 100,000 people in 18 countries. He specializes in helping organizations turn the challenges often associated with cultural differences into a source of creativity and innovation.

"The regional workforce has 13,000 fewer people than it did five years ago. We know there are gaps that need to be filled. I hope members of the business community will capture this opportunity to learn how newcomers can strengthen their businesses," said Warden Halliday.

The event will be held at Grey Roots Museum, 102599 Grey Road 18, Owen Sound, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a free event and attendees must register in advance through Eventbrite.ca or the link on the Grey County's website, Grey.ca. Spaces are limited. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. February 15 is the designated snow date if required and attendees would be notified through Eventbrite.

The New to Grey initiative is a 15-month pilot supported by the Province of Ontario. Grey County has hired an outreach coordinator to work with the community and lead the project.

"Celebrating diversity and understanding the potential for innovation and creativity into our community and our workforce are the first steps to attracting and retaining newcomers," said Jacinda Rudolph, Outreach Coordinator with Grey County.

source: media release, Grey County