$2 M will help settle newcomers in the area

From tbsource.com on August 27, 2008.

MP Joe Comuzzi announced $2 million in support for the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association Wednesday on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The funding will help settle and integrate newcomers into northwestern Ontario.

As the immigration rates continue to rise in Thunder Bay, over 800 newcomers will benefit from the multi-million dollar announcement in the Northwest region.

Executive director of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, Cathy Woodbeck , said the funding will provide support for a variety of their programs and the association's settlement and interpretation services. Comuzzi explained, ''It is basically how to get along in a whole, new world.''

Wahley Ray has been living in Thunder Bay for the last six years coming here from Burma, also known as Myanmar. He said the services offered by the Association are very beneficial pointing out some cities in Canada don't offer the programs at all. Ray said he faced many challenges when he first arrived in the city but took advantage of the many programs offered at the Multicultural Centre including language, job search, and early settlement which made the transition easier.