Videos encourage diversity and understanding in Timmins
A new initiative to illustrate the growing diversity of Timmins includes a series of videos to foster a welcoming and inclusive community.
Two videos were recently released as part of the Timmins Diversity Awareness Project.
“Because community members deserve to feel safe, valued and respected when living in their community, especially when … we know that Timmins requires population growth to keep up with our labour force shortage," said Madison Mizzau of the Timmins Economic Development Corp.
The videos feature local residents sharing stories and experiences, as well as inspiring messages of how everyone can help foster a welcoming and inclusive community for people from all cultural backgrounds.
Noemie Rodrigue is a local entrepreneur who volunteered to take part in the project. She was adopted from Haiti when she was an infant by a local francophone family.
To this day, she is still asked if she's new in town.
“I do enjoy people having a curiosity of like asking me but I am, am kind of stuck to oh well, you know, yeah I’m from here," Rodrigue said.
"You know they have that look and then I have to (say) I’m adopted, you know, and I have to really go into detail and sometimes I’m just in the grocery store.”
The second video features an Indigenous man and there are two more videos to come.
“People tend to connect more on a personal level, when it is shared from an individual," said Mizzau.
"We’ve seen within other communities that have been tackling similar issues that videos tend to do well spreading that message.”
Rodrigue is hoping the videos help people take the emphasis off connecting skin colour with a location.
“The approach less of like, 'oh where are you from?' or, you know, just a little bit more easygoing.”
According to the 2021 census, nearly 15 per cent of the population in Timmins identifies as Indigenous and nearly six per cent of the people living here don't identify English or French as their mother tongue.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.